Salvation is by grace
In Ephesians 2:8, Paul makes it clear we are/have been saved “by grace” and then emphasizes the point by saying, in the next verse, Ephesians 2:9, that it is “not by works”. As if that were not enough, Paul tells us that the reason our salvation is not by works is so that we would have no reason to boast.
So what does Paul mean by “saved by grace”? By using those words, Paul is saying that totally monergistic, made possible only because of what God did … and having nothing to do with any action (or work) on our part. (Titus 3:5)
Salvation is not by faith
By saying “by” grace and “through” faith, in Ephesians 2:8, Paul is making a distinction between grace and faith. Let us be clear … If salvation were by faith, then we would be saved BECAUSE we believed. Put another way, our salvation would be dependent on our believing, in which case, salvation would no longer a matter of grace, but of works.
We are saved by grace, by God’s favour. That favour is unearned and undeserved, which means that there is no work of ours that we can point to as the reason for our salvation. To be saved by grace means that everything about our salvation is entirely God’s work (on our behalf) from beginning to end.
Our faith is simply the act of accepting what God has already given us even though we didn’t deserve it. Faith doesn’t cause him to give it to us. It doesn’t convince him to give it to us. He doesn’t even withhold it from us until we have faith; he died for us while we were still sinners, before we ever had any faith (Romans 5:8).
The faith that Christian believers have is NOT a faith that has saved them, BUT a faith that they have been saved. Interestingly, even that “faith” (which a Christian has) is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8; 2 Peter 1:3)
Salvation is in Christ
According to Romans 8:1, there is no condemnation in Christ. In one sense, that is just another way of saying there is salvation in Christ. In other words, there is no condemnation in Christ because we have been saved in Christ.
Ephesians 1:7 seems to be saying the same thing by making the point that … in Christ Jesus, we were redeemed (rescued and delivered) … and forgiven of all our sins.
When we say that Christian believers are justified, we mean that they are viewed and treated, by God, as not guilty, and that they have declared righteous by God. However, that righteousness which we have, in God’s eyes, is in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:21). Some say the righteousness of Jesus Christ has been imputed to us, but, when all is said and done, salvation is possible for us because the righteousness we have is because we are in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 In Christ Jesus, God has saved us you have become a new creation.
Galatians 3:26 In Christ Jesus you have become a son of God.