"By Grace are you saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8.
Grace is the first and last cause of salvation and faith, important as it is, is only an important part of the machinery which Grace employs. We must not look so much to faith as to exalt it above the Divine source of all blessings which lie in the Grace of God. Never make a Christ out of your faith, nor think of it as if it were the independent source of your salvation. Charles Spurgeon
When I was young, I thought I had faith then I was saved. In many ways, I'd boast about that in my heart, which is expressly condemned by God! "not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:9
The proper understanding is that we received God's grace the result is faith. The order isn't reversed. As Spurgeon says "Grace is the locomotive and faith is the chain by which the carriage of the soul is attached to the great motive power. "
Join me in reading Ephesians 2 and be encouraged!
