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"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Text: Ephesians 2:8-9

SEMANTIC FIELD OF “FAITH”

We have another important semantic faith to bear in mind. This time the key word is “faith”.

1. Faith (“pistis”- noun; “pisteuo”- verb) Ephesians 1:15; 2:8

2. Hope (“elpis”- noun; “elpizo”- verb) Ephesians1:18 (translated by the word “trusted” in NKJV)

3. Believe (“pisteuo”- verb) Ephesians 1:13, 19

4. Works (“erga”- noun) 1 Thessalonians 1:3 “work of faith” (Cf. James 2:14-26)
“Labour of love” 1 Thessalonians 1:3; Ephesians 1:15 “love for all the saints”

SAVED THROUGH FAITH

How are we saved through faith? Let us ponder what Paul meant.

1. “By grace through faith” (“te chariti dia pisteos”)

a) The phrase “by grace” (“te charity”)

The emphasis here is the “means”. (Paul’s use of the dative is significant. By means of grace, we obtain salvation. The dative is significantly used as a marker of instrumentality.)

b) The phrase “through faith” (“dia pisteos”)

The emphasis is “agency”. Faith does not in itself save. We are saved by God’s grace and not by our faith. (The genitive emphasis of agency is distinguished from the dative instrumental idea.)

2. Kind of faith

It is possible that Paul also wanted to highlight the kind of faith that one must possess. In his epistle to the Romans, Paul highlighted the agency of faith. Let us consider the following texts:-

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is
revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ…”
ROMANS 3:21-22

“Being justified by His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus.”
ROMANS 3:24

3. What does faith do?

a) It enables us to believe the Lord Jesus Christ.

b) God honours genuine faith and He blesses expressed faith.

c) Genuine faith and works cannot be separated.