How does Acts 20:32 connect with Ephesians 2:8-9 about grace and inheritance? Setting the Stage “And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.” “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.” Shared Theme: Grace at the Center • Both passages anchor every spiritual blessing in God’s unearned favor. • Grace is not a supplement to human effort; it is the sole source of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9) and spiritual growth (Acts 20:32). • The same grace that brings us to Christ also keeps shaping us after conversion (Titus 2:11-12). Grace as Gift and Power • Ephesians highlights grace as the gift that rescues: “you have been saved.” • Acts portrays grace as the power that “builds you up,” strengthening believers day by day (2 Corinthians 12:9). • Together, the verses show grace operating both at the starting line and throughout the race (Philippians 1:6). Grace, Faith, and the Word • Ephesians links grace to faith—our trusting reception of God’s gift. • Acts links grace to “the word,” revealing the channel through which grace is preached, believed, and applied (Romans 10:17). • Word and faith are inseparable: the Word proclaims grace; faith responds to it. Inheritance Promised by Grace • Acts 20:32 moves from present strengthening to future possession: “give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.” • This inheritance is secured by the same grace that saves (Ephesians 1:11, 14; 1 Peter 1:4). • Because salvation is “not by works,” the inheritance is guaranteed, not earned (Romans 8:17). Living the Connection • Rest in grace: salvation and inheritance are settled gifts, freeing us from striving. • Feed on the Word: grace builds us up through daily exposure to Scripture. • Walk by faith: the same trusting dependence that saved us sustains us, ensuring we grow into the full enjoyment of our inheritance (Colossians 1:12-13). |
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