I Know I Can’t Earn the Savior!
Our Boasting

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

Key Verse: Ephesians 2:8-9

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.

People have tried for many centuries to gain favor with God by good behavior. The problem with that is that the human stain of sin keeps everyone falling short of the glory of God. Our best efforts truly look like filthy rags compared to the standards of God’s righteousness.

In our scripture reading section, the Apostle Paul reminds us that all of us gratified the cravings of our sinful nature and followed its desires and thoughts. Paul continues by pointing out that because of our sinful natures we became objects of God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:3). But Paul didn’t stop the message at verse three, thank God! He continued by telling us of God’s great love and rich mercy. The good news of the gospel is that God decided to make a way for sinful man to become alive with Christ Himself! Think about this: We, being dead spiritually (in transgressions), can be resurrected spiritually and become as “alive” as Jesus Christ!

The all-important “how” question is addressed in our key verses for today’s devotional. It is all, not partial but all, accomplished by the unmerited favor (grace) of God, and we obtain this gift from God by our faith in this work that God has done! We cannot boast about earning any part of our salvation. We must only give credit to God and Jesus Christ. We have been saved by grace through faith—not by works—it is a gift of God!

Father, forgive my boasting about the good deeds I’ve done. Remind me often that it’s your love and mercy that are worthy of my boasting. In Jesus’ Name, amen.