For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. Ephesians 2:8 (AMPC)
Faith and grace were designed to work together.
Without an understanding of grace, faith can turn into works. As we stand in faith for God’s promises, we start thinking that it’s all about how much or how fervently we pray. Without a knowledge of what grace is and how grace works, we think that we can somehow earn blessings from God.
On the other hand, when we understand grace but not faith, we start to think that everything in this world happens by God’s design. We develop a very hands-off approach to life, thinking that if God wants something to happen, He’ll make it happen. On this side of the ditch, we fail to realize the power of our beliefs and don’t learn to exercise our authority in Christ.
Today’s verse makes the connection between grace and faith clear: we receive salvation by grace through faith. The same is true with walking in all of God’s promises. His promises are ours, free gifts by His grace, but we need to reach out and claim them by faith.
Over the next few days, we’re going to continue discussing this connection, but for now, I want you to think about something. If you are in need of healing or any other promise in the Bible, that miracle is not in heaven. God isn’t holding on to it, waiting for you to believe enough, be good enough or pray hard enough to earn it.
God’s promises are a part of your salvation—gifts you’ve been given by grace. You need to claim them as yours, speaking them to yourself, releasing faith!