How does Galatians 2:15 connect with Ephesians 2:8-9 on salvation by faith? Galatians 2:15–16 Snapshot “We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners — know that a man is not justified by works of the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we too have believed in Christ Jesus that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law, because by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” Ephesians 2:8–9 Snapshot “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 Core: Faith, Not Works • Both passages cut the same path: Works cannot save; faith in Christ does. • Galatians highlights justification (being declared righteous); Ephesians highlights salvation (being rescued). Different angles, same grace-driven reality. • Each verse dismantles self-reliance and centers the cross as the only bridge. How Galatians 2:15 Lays the Groundwork • Paul starts with his Jewish pedigree, then levels the playing field: even the most law-schooled people are sinners in need of grace. • By placing “we” (Jews) alongside “Gentiles,” he shows that ethnicity or heritage offers zero advantage for justification. • This sets up 2:16’s punch line: faith in Jesus is the only solution—mirroring Ephesians’ “by grace…through faith.” Where Ephesians 2:8-9 Picks Up the Thread • Ephesians echoes Galatians but zooms out: salvation itself, not just justification, is a grace-gift. • “Not from yourselves” and “not by works” repeat Galatians’ “not by works of the Law,” reinforcing the same negative and positive statements: – Negative: Works cannot achieve righteousness. – Positive: Faith receives God’s gift. • Both culminate in God’s glory—Galatians in Christ’s cross, Ephesians in preventing human boasting. Grace → Faith → Justification & Salvation 1. Grace originates with God (Ephesians 2:8). 2. Faith is the God-enabled response (Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8). 3. Justification (Galatians 2:16) and salvation (Ephesians 2:8) flow from that faith. 4. Works follow as evidence (Ephesians 2:10) but never as basis. Supporting Verses That Echo the Unity • Romans 3:28 — “A man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” • Romans 4:5 — God justifies “the ungodly” who believe. • Titus 3:5 — “He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.” • John 3:16 — Whoever believes “shall not perish but have eternal life.” Living the Truth Today • Rest: Your standing with God is secured by Christ, not your checklist. • Humility: Boasting dies when salvation is grace-gifted. • Unity: Since all come the same way, there’s no room for spiritual hierarchy. • Obedience: Good works become gratitude-driven responses, not ladders to earn favor. |
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