Ephesians 2:8-10 … By Grace ever Saved (05/17/17)
“For by Grace you have been saved through Faith, and this [Grace] is not of your own doing; It is the Gift of God … For we are what He has made us; created in Christ for good works.” ~ unknown (Ephesians 2:8-10)
First & foremost, the book of Ephesians was almost certainly not written by Paul. Many important terms in Ephesians (e.g. “heavenly places”, a “dividing wall”, & “fellow citizen”) are not used by Paul at all in his authentic letters, and some of Paul’s more characteristic terms are either given new meanings in Ephesians (e.g. “mystery” & “church”) or are completely absent (e.g. “the Jews” & “justification”). In addition, the verbose Greek of Ephesians is not characteristic of Paul’s earlier writings, and there are significant theological divergences therein as well – especially Ephesians’ emphasis on a believer’s Here&Now salvation (see Ephesians 1:3-12 & Ephesians 2:4-10). While it is possible that this work was simply written at the very end of Paul’s life and that these theological discrepancies reflect an evolution in his spiritual understanding (though suddenly choosing to believe in a Christ-harmonized, Here&Now salvation would be a most radical departure indeed), it is far more likely that the author of Ephesians simply copied and amended Colossians sometime after Paul’s death …
That having been said, Ephesians 2:8-10 remains a prominent passage for those worshipping the unway of Paul – i.e. those who believe that mere mental faith and mere verbal professing of subservience to Jesus “as Lord” are all that is required for one to be saved (see Acts 16:31 & Romans 10:9 et al); and this, contrary both to at least one statement from Paul in his earlier letter to the Galatians (see Galatians 5:6) and to the teachings of Jesus himself (see Matthew 7:21-24, Matthew 24:12-14, John 13:15-17 et al).
Indeed, as far as “Grace” is concerned, note that it (at least according to Jesus Christ) is actually a trinity of gifts given unconditionally to all humans by an all-Loving God (note that John 1:1-9+16 = John 5:22 + Matthew 5:48 & 1 John 4:18 + Luke 6:36); not a hollow conditional reward given only to the few by a celestial tyrant (see Romans 2:16, Romans 3:24, Romans 5:21, Romans 9:27, Romans 14:10-12 et al) … Grace is conscious awareness (see Matthew 25:1-13, Luke 21:36 et al), plus an internal moral compass (see John 14:20-26 & John 15:26) plus the ability to use that guidance to choose to Love anyway (see Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 25:35-40 et al).
Also note that this passage indirectly references Paul’s gospel – a gospel that directly contradicts the Gospel offered by Jesus Christ (compare Ephesians 2:8-10 with 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and contrast them both with Matthew 10:7 & Matthew 24:12-14).
Penultimately, please note that Paul (or in this case, the later adherent of Paulinism who actually wrote Ephesians) believed that good works were a consequence of (and evidence for) being previously saved though faith, whereas for Jesus, good works were the means to a very different and far more potent form of salvation (see John 13:15-17 + every single parable uttered during his ministry + John 14:12 + Matthew 7:15-20 + John 10:37-38 + Matthew 16:28 etc etc etc).
Finally, please note that for Paul, being “in Christ” meant “able to accept Jesus as God”, while for Jesus being “in Christ” meant actively enlivening his Way of Selfless Love (see John 12:47-48 & John 14:13-14 et al).
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