Ephesians 2:9

“not of works, that no man should glory”

“Not of works”: “Not won by works” (Con). “It has not been earned” (Gspd).

“No amount of good works can make up for our evil works. Keeping the law most of the time does not remove the guilt of breaking the law some of the time” (Boles p. 227). Even the conditions of salvation (faith, repentance, confession and baptism) are never to be viewed as something we did to earn my salvation. People who look at the above verse and then declare that there is nothing one can do to be saved, have it all wrong. Of course something stands between one and salvation, for if nothing stands between mankind and salvation, then all men would be saved! The point is, regardless of what conditions. must fulfill to obtain the forgiveness of my sins,. still do not deserve forgiveness. The apostles preached that we have to do something (Acts 2:37; Acts 16:30 ff). Even Jesus taught that the sinner had to do something to be saved (Acts 9:6). "Doing good" can never make up for not obeying Christ. Morality by itself cannot save one. “That no man should glory”: “So that it may be impossible for any one to boast” (Wey). “Or there would be room for pride” (Knox). “When men do try to work their way into God's favor, one of two things will happen. Sincere, honest men will despair of ever succeeding; smug, ignorant men will boast” (Boles p. 227). Since human merit is excluded, so is human boasting. Other passages stress that we need to "boast", that is proclaim how great God is (1 Corinthians 1:29; 1 Corinthians 1:31).