In Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, Paul wrote, For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

How do we reconcile these verses with other passages that indicate the necessity of so-called works, such as repentance and baptism.

Keep listening to hear Dr. David K. Bernard respond to this frequently asked question.

Welcome to Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, a podcast dedicated to helping modern-day believers

live out the teachings of the first century church.

This podcast is part of the teaching ministry of Dr. David K. Bernard.

Dr. Bernard has dedicated his life to studying the Bible and helping believers apply its message

to their daily lives. In apostolic life in the 21st century, Dr. Bernard answers your questions about what the Bible teaches and how those teachings apply to everyday life.

In Ephesians 2,8 and 9, Paul said, for by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

Now, Christians have argued over the exact meaning of Paul's words, but a lot of Christians

have quoted these verses as proof that Christian practices like baptism cannot be necessary

for salvation because they are works, and salvation is a gift from God.

How should we interpret these verses and how do they fit with other passages of scripture, which do seem to indicate the importance of repentance,

baptism, a holy life, etc. Ephesians 289 is an absolutely critical, important, essential

statement of scripture. It's foundational,

fundamental. It explains the theology of our salvation. So grace is traditionally defined as

unmerited favor, something we don't deserve. I prefer the definition, grace is God's gift to us and God's work in us because grace is not

merely passive.

It's I'm just giving you something.

Grace is active.

I'm transforming you.

So the doctrine of grace says we're saved by God's love and God's action, not our works.

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