Do you have the same interpretation of this bible verse as I do?

Question

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."

1. It is God's grace that saves a man from hell.

2. It is not a man's faith that saves him from hell because a man's faith is a gift from God. A man's faith is not some personal attribute that a man makes for himself.

3. It is not a man's good works that saves him from hell because doing good and being a good person is not enough to save a man from hell.

4. Therefore, it is not a man's faith or goodness that saves him from hell. The only thing that saves a man from hell is God rescueing him. Man is naturally doomed to go to hell unless God resues him.

5. God rescues man from the inevidibility of hell by way of Jesus and what He did on the cross. Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of man so that God would not judge man and send him to hell.

Answer 1

Yes, God does it all. There is another verse in Romans about the measure of faith that we've been given. This should support your interpretation.
Our part is ACCEPTANCE of the faith.

Answer 2

Prop 2 is wrong. In the text, "works" is denied, so Prop 1 is valid, but "faith" is affirmed. In this instance, "grace" and "faith" are being equated as the 2 things that save a person. Mark chapter 3 goes over the same thing. Only faith, not acts, is a ticket to heaven. So despite how much I personally disagree with the position, the two passages say that good works aren't good enough.

Answer 3

1 - agree, to the extent that we receive this grace through faith in Jesus
2 - disagree. It specifically says we are saved THROUGH FAITH. GRACE is the gift from God this scripture is referring to.
3- agree
4 - see #2
5 - agree - with a little 're-wording". God gives us the opportunity for salvation through the sacrifice of His Son. The the ONLY way we can be saved by Jesus atoning for our sins is to REPENT and accept Christ as our Saviour and Lord, in faith.

Answer 4

1. Yes

2. Wrong. Hebrews 11 says "without faith it is impossible to please God...He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him." You have a choice to believe or not to believe. God doesn't force Himself on anyone.

3 & 4 Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Believing without a corresponding action attached to it means nothing. You can't have one without the other. You can believe all day that the chair will hold you but without the corresponding action of sitting on the chair it means nothing.

5. Good answer but you need Romans 10: 9&10 with that because you must confess with your mouth & believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead...When Jesus died on the cross He took on the sins of the world because He was the only perfect sacrifice for the world & because we believe this God will not judge just as you've said.

God Bless

Answer 5

in case you're an Orthodox Christian then the Scriptures are understood universally. jointly as different denominations might have different interpretations - it particularly is ascribed frequently to a non-biblical attitude to Scripture the place "something is going" concerning very own interpretation as we examine in 2 Peter a million:20 understanding this time-honored, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any inner maximum interpretation. meaning: The Scriptures ought to be interpreted in the context of the Church Fathers and mothers. coming up a clean interpretation it is opposite to what has been known simply by fact the certainty until now; is obviously in errors. The source of certainty - a minimum of for bible believing Christians - is the Holy Church that Christ known. As we examine in a million Timothy 3:15 with regard to the Church's function as "the pillar and floor of the certainty". a million Timothy 3:15 yet as quickly as I tarry long, that thou mayest understand how thou oughtest to act thyself in the domicile of God, it is the church of the residing God, the pillar and floor of the certainty. in case you desire to forget approximately 2000 years of Christian witness, and create new interpretations of Scripture which at the instant are not in retaining with this consistent witness.... you will get into difficulty Theologically. that is inevitable.

Answer 6

I see it pretty much that way...There is a point there that our free will comes into play, but God gives us the faith to believe.
This is why being a Christian is to be humble as we can do nothing to save ourselves, but when we humble ourselves before God and seek him, then we find the right way..
I recieved a salvation that I don't deserve, and I will enter a Kingdom that someone else created and paid for, so that I could enter.. I remain only GRATEFUL.

Answer 7

1. I agree
2. I do not agree
3. I agree
4. I do not agree
5. I agree

---"The only thing that saves a man from hell is God rescueing him. Man is naturally doomed to go to hell unless God resues him."---

i think going to hell is a choice we make or else God wouldn't judge us..

-- thumbs up melanie G--

Answer 8

Yeah, pretty much. Except that there must be some initiative on the part of man to accept God's gift. I believe that man can reject God. I do not believe in predestination and election the way a 5 point Calvinist does.

Answer 9

I would add this:
6. Man bears the responsibility for exercising the faith given to him by God.

Answer 10

Like the girl above me said it is through faith that you are saved.Also to show your faith you have to do the will of god. Do what the bible tells you to do and have faith in god. You'll be fine. Plus yes faith is a gift from god and it is his choice who lives and dies no one Else's. But it is your choice to use the gifts god gave you.