How does Luke 5:20 connect with Ephesians 2:8-9 on faith and grace? A Look at Luke 5:20 - “When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’” - The paralytic is utterly helpless; friends lower him through a roof. - Jesus notices one thing first: faith. - Forgiveness comes before any physical change—grace precedes the visible miracle. Ephesians 2:8-9 in Focus - “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” - Grace: God’s unearned favor. - Faith: the God-enabled response that receives that favor. - Works: explicitly excluded as the basis of salvation. Shared Thread Between the Passages 1. God’s initiative: • In Luke, Jesus forgives before the man can do anything. • In Ephesians, grace is a “gift of God.” 2. Faith as the conduit: • The friends’ trust in Christ’s power moves them to act. • Believers receive salvation “through faith.” 3. No room for boasting: • The paralytic cannot claim credit; he is carried in. • Paul says salvation is “not by works.” 4. Immediate, authoritative forgiveness: • Jesus speaks absolution on the spot. • Ephesians affirms the finished work that secures that forgiveness. Faith Recognized, Grace Bestowed - Luke 5:20 shows faith visibly expressed, yet forgiveness remains purely gracious. - Ephesians 2:8-9 explains the principle behind what Luke records: grace saves; faith merely receives. - Romans 3:24 reinforces this: “and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”. Grace as the Source, Christ as the Means - Christ’s authority to forgive (Luke 5:24) parallels the cross-grounded grace Paul celebrates (Ephesians 1:7). - Titus 3:5 echoes the same truth: “He saved us, not by works of righteousness we had done, but according to His mercy”. - The miracle points beyond the healing to the greater redemption secured at Calvary. Why Works Cannot Contribute - Luke does not mention the paralytic’s merits; his condition highlights inability. - Ephesians shuts the door on any performance-based addition to grace. - Galatians 2:16 drives it home: “a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ”. Living the Connection - Rely on Christ’s finished work, not personal effort, for right standing with God. - Let gratitude, not obligation, fuel every good work (Ephesians 2:10). - Approach the Lord with the same expectancy the four friends had, confident He welcomes faith and pours out grace. |
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