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For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is<\/em><\/span> the gift of God,<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Salvation by grace, through faith, is God\u2019s gift.<\/p>\n \u201cSaved<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek verb s\u014ddz\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto save, deliver, protect, or preserve from danger.\u201d It is expressed here in the perfect tense which indicates past, completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the ongoing effect. Therefore this word means \u201cin the past you were saved and as a result you are now saved.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cthrough<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek preposition dia<\/em><\/span>. This word indicates either \u201cmotion through\u201d or \u201cthrough the instrumentality of something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFaith<\/span>\u201d is translated from pistis<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cfaith or belief.\u201d It is based on the verb peith\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto persuade or to win over.\u201d Hence, pistis<\/em><\/span> is the condition of having been convinced of a truth so that the person now believes the truth.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cgift<\/span>\u201d is doron<\/em><\/span>, which is derived from the verb did\u014dmi<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto give.\u201d Thus, doron<\/em><\/span> refers to \u201ca gift,\u201d specifically \u201ca sacrificial gift.\u201d<\/p>\n This is a very important verse with regard to our salvation, but there are some details that we need to investigate completely. Biblical scholars and commentators make a strong statement about the pronoun \u201cthat.\u201d Some make the assertion that it is a direct reference to \u201cfaith.\u201d Others claim that it is a direct reference to \u201csaved.\u201d Still others say that it is a direct reference to \u201cgrace.\u201d Here\u2019s the problem with all those claims. In Greek, any word modifying or referencing another word must agree in number and gender with the word it modifies or references.<\/p>\n The word \u201cthat<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word touto<\/em><\/span>, which is a neuter form of houtos<\/em><\/span>. The nouns translated \u201cgrace<\/span>\u201d and \u201cfaith\u201d are both feminine nouns, and the word translated \u201chave been saved<\/span>\u201d is a participle (a verbal adjective) which is masculine. Therefore, by standard rules of Greek grammar, the word \u201cthat<\/span>\u201d cannot specifically reference any of these three words. It must, therefore, be a reference to all three. In other words, Paul is saying \u201cthat which I have just described is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.\u201d This seems to corroborate what our Lord said in John\u2019s Gospel:<\/p>\n And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”<\/span> (John 6:65<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n And, he told his twelve disciples:<\/p>\n You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit,<\/span> (John 15:16<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n This is in keeping with how Paul started out this letter:<\/p>\n just as He<\/span> [the Father] chose us in Him<\/span> [Christ] before the foundation of the world<\/span> (Ephesians 1:3<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n This precious salvation is not something that we have earned. We did not do anything in and of ourselves to obtain it. Salvation and the faith that procured it are a gift of God\u2019s grace. They are a gift which He freely gave to us, simply because He decided to give it. Thank you, God, for our salvation through faith by your grace!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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