Ephesians 2:8

“for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”

“For”: Such kindness is proof of God's unmerited favor. “God would have to be kind to offer pardon to one who openly violates His expressed word” (Caldwell p. 80). “By grace have ye been saved”: “More exactly by the grace, that is by this grace, the grace already mentioned” (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 289). While grace is unmerited and undeserved, such grace is also conditional. At least one condition is mentioned in this passage, that being faith. In the previous verse we learned that God's kindness (which logically includes His grace), is only available in "Christ Jesus". Therefore, baptism stands between one and the grace of God. Or, in other words, seeing that baptism stands between one and salvation (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21), the above phrase demands that we conclude that baptism also stands between one and God's mercy. Note, the text does not say, “For ye are saved by grace only”.

“Through faith”: God does not have any problem in attaching conditions to grace. Grace is undeserved but it still has conditions. Jesus equally attached conditions to salvation (Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47), and so did the apostles (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). Salvation by grace must have conditions, seeing that the grace of God has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11), and yet all men are not automatically and unconditionally saved (Matthew 7:13). The faith in this passage is not faith only, because faith by itself has never saved anyone (John 12:42). This faith includes repentance (Acts 2:38); confession (Romans 10:9) and baptism (Acts 22:16). In addition, it also includes. life of faithfulness following the initial conversion experience (2 Timothy 2:11). “And that not of yourselves”: “Is not due to yourselves” (TCNT). “It is not your own doing” (NEB). “It is the gift of God”: “The gift is God's” (TCNT).

Some have erroneously concluded that "faith" is the gift of God in this verse, and that man is so sinful that God must give him the faith in the first place, but that would contradict other passages. "Faith" involves human effort. One must listen to God's word (Romans 10:17), and must then be honest and humble (James 1:21). Instead of getting mad at the truth or resenting the preacher (Acts 7:54), one needs to be convicted of their own sins (Acts 2:37). Calvinism needs to be seriously opposed, because it makes God look dishonest and hypocritical. God clearly condemns the unbeliever (Mark 16:14; Mark 16:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8), but at the same time Calvinism asserts that God gives the faith. Calvinism presents. picture of. God who desires all men to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), and yet at the same time refuses to give all men the faith they need to gain salvation. Calvinism must logically say that the only reason people remain unbelievers, is because God refuses to help them. Even the translators of the NASV understood the "gift" to be salvation. Notice the side reference "i.e. that salvation". [Note:. New American Standard. Wide Margin Edition, Holman.] If you are interested in grammar, Boles argues, “Since faith is. word of feminine gender, and this and it are neuter gender, normal grammar disallows referring back to faith” (p. 226).

“ We shall not be able to strut round heaven like peacocks. Heaven will be filled with the exploits of Christ and the praises of God. There will indeed be display in heaven. Not self-display but rather of the incomparable wealth of God's grace, mercy and kindness through Jesus Christ” (Stott pp. 83-84).