“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (v.5)
Entrance to heaven is a gift of grace and not a matter of personal merit. Paul emphasizes this fact in today’s passage by reminding us of our status prior to receiving Christ. The picture is not a pretty one. We were “foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures” (v. 2). In addition, we “lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” This reminder immediately follows Paul’s command to “show true humility toward all men” and is related to our obligation to submit to those in authority and to be peaceable and considerate of others (v.2).
There's a lot to chew on in these first five verses, but salvation by grace, and by grace alone is the key point (Romans 3:24). Meaning, we can do nothing to earn it - it's a gift from God. We simply acknowledge our sinfulness and the inability to save ourselves, then place our trust in Jesus, believing that He died on the cross for our sins, who then welcomes us into His grace.
God has provided salvation for you—that’s His part. Receiving it by faith—is yours.
The Truth: “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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
