God has planned that the blessings of what Jesus has done should be received by us in ways you may not expect. Because the ideas in this chapter may be new to you, putting them together may take some time. It’s difficult to simplify a deep understanding of the Christian message without things becoming a little complicated to understand, so I encourage you to be patient with yourself. Despite this, the ideas in this chapter are helpful in making sense of how to receive a positive relationship with God.

Firstly, it’s important that some key terms are explained, which appear in the verse (Ephesians 2:8) at the beginning of the chapter.

‘Grace’

In the Bible, the word “grace” means undeserved blessing. This is a historical English use of the word but not our common meaning today. Today, we think of the word “grace” as meaning beauty or elegance. We tend to use the word grace to express that, for example, ice skaters or majestic animals are graceful in their movements. But in the New Testament, and for millennia, the word “grace” has been translated as “undeserved favour”. This means the verse at the beginning of the chapter is saying that God gives people favour or blessing they don’t deserve. This is very good news—it means we can be blessed by God in ways we don’t deserve, which is his grace. The catchy phrase Christians use to remember this truth is that ‘grace is a gift we don’t deserve’.

It’s also important to note that when the Bible mentions “God’s grace” it’s usually referring to what the greatest underserved favour of God actually is—which is Jesus death and resurrection on our behalf. Jesus taking our judgement upon himself is an ultimate gift of God’s favour (grace) we don’t deserve.

‘Faith’

But how do we understand the idea that this grace is received through faith (seen in Ephesians 2:8)? Is it saying that if we believe in God’s plan in our minds, we will receive God’s forgiveness and blessing? Surprisingly, the Bible says that this is only the first step. To understand the idea that grace is received by faith, we need to understand faith in the way the Bible does.

In a modern understanding, faith often refers to wishful thinking. Today, people usually think “faith” means believing in, or hoping for, something without evidence. But this isn’t the kind of faith the Bible says will receive God’s grace. In Christian thinking, true faith refers to the idea of trust in evidence. The Bible instructs people to trust in the evidence of Jesus work on earth, not wishful thinking (c.f. Acts 2:32, 1 Cor. 15:17).

So, to receive God’s grace, people require a trusting faith. And when you trust in something, you are confident to ‘lean into it’. For instance, if you buy a wooden chair, the only reason you would sit on it is because you trust that it really will hold your weight. Similarly, the Bible says that people have true faith in God when they trust in and obey his words. It’s this kind of faith that receives God’s grace. God knows our hearts, including whether we have faith in him and trust him.

If someone becomes a Christian, the Bible expects their life to undergo a dramatic change. This is because that person is no longer the leader of their own life but is committed to the more trustworthy eternal leadership of God. Gaining a positive relationship with God and trusting in him by faith leads to a changed life.

In this way, Christian faith is closely connected to the way Christians live. Those who truly believe in the truths of who Jesus is and what he taught are expected to live by his words, even if they will do so imperfectly. Christians are called to try their best in following him. Faith in Jesus isn’t meant to be just a wishful thought or feeling. Instead, true faith is validated by the Christian life. In the book of James, it says, “faith…if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). By saying this, James the Apostle is teaching that the kind of faith that receives God’s grace isn’t really held by people who don’t seek to follow the teachings of the Bible.

This kind of lived-out faith is important because God knows us like no other. We can’t pretend to be following him—he knows all our actions and secrets. In fact, the way we live is in full view of God. Because of this, the way we live speaks more loudly to God about our faith in him than mere spoken words can express.

And so, if true faith must be lived out, it’s important to note that there are two important ways to express faith through action in order to receive God’s grace.

1. Repentance

“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”

~ Matthew 3:8 (ESV)

Repentance is the act of saying sorry to God in both prayer and action. When it comes to prayer, prayers of ‘sorry’ repentance are important for Christians to pray in an ongoing way.

Those becoming Christian enter into a process whereby they continue to say sorry to God for their ongoing disobedience towards him. Although, as mentioned, this spoken repentance isn’t true unless it’s joined by action. This is seen in the verse from Matthew 3:8. The idea of ‘bearing fruit’ in keeping with repentance means, in other words, ‘act in ways that show you’re sorry’. If you say sorry to God for stealing, for instance, the Bible says you’re not truly sorry unless you work to actually stop stealing. And so, repentance in both prayer and action are important ways that faith is expressed. Although this idea that Christians must continually strive to remove sin in their lives should be balanced with the reality that they can’t live perfectly on earth. Sin will always persist in the Christian’s life. The Bible teaches that God will continue to lovingly forgive the sins of his followers as they continue to strive to live in repentance in an ongoing yet imperfect way.

2. Obedience

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

~ John 14:15 (ESV)

Another way Christians are expected to express the kind of faith that receives saving and continual grace is through obedience. Obedience does include repentance, but repentance describes the things that Christians want to stop doing to honour God (i.e., no more lying), in comparison to obedience, which also includes things God calls new believers to start doing (like loving others). An obedient life to the teachings of the Bible is an important way of expressing faith that receives God’s saving and ongoing grace.

‘Grace through Faith’

In essence, grace is given as an eternal gift to those who respond to God, first by initially believing the gospel, then as they practice lives of ongoing faith in true repentance and obedience. This response to Jesus sacrificial work on the cross is how people embark on, and continue in, a new and eternally restored relationship with God.

The Presence of the Holy Spirit

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

~ Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV)

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

~ Ephesians 4:30 (ESV)

The Bible says that Christians aren’t alone in the task of living for God. God gives Christians the Holy Spirit, who is God as part of the Trinity, to dwell with them. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a Helper (John 14:16), an Intercessor for us before God (Romans 8:26-27), and a Guide (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of Jesus Christ and of the Father, because each part of God in the Trinity is deeply connected (Romans 8:9, Matthew 10:20). Scripture also teaches that the Holy Spirit reveals divine truths to Christians in God's Word and empowers them to live according to his will.

If you’re a new Christian, while the task of living for God may feel daunting as you welcome God into your life and follow his loving leadership, it’s important to remember that God’s presence is now with you by his Holy Spirit. He will help you to live his way and follow him.

Ephesians 1:13-14 refers to the Holy Spirit as a seal, referring to God’s presence with us being a smaller measure now, compared with the fullness of God’s dwelling with us one day in heaven. In the ancient world, a ‘seal’ was used to protect, authenticate, and show belonging over something, like a royal seal made with wax on a scroll. In the same way, Christians are given the Holy Spirit as a spiritual mark of belonging to God. The Holy Spirit is a way of God dwelling with Christians in part now as they await the fullness of his presence with them in heaven.

Chapter Summary:

• In the Bible, the word “grace” means undeserved favour and blessing. These undeserved blessings from God include all that Jesus has done for those who turn to him.

• In the Bible, the idea of “faith” means trust in the evidence of the truth of Christian ideas. For this faith to be real, it must change a person’s life—it requires ongoing repentance and obedience.

• God’s presence is with Christians by the Holy Spirit, which helps them to live for him as they await the fullness of God’s presence with them in heaven.