你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信
你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信。这并不是出于自己，乃是 神所赐的（以弗所2:8）
救恩是透过信心
亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，我们得救不是出于自己，乃是出于上帝的恩典。救恩的获得是透过信服上帝所显明的旨意，就是信服祂的儿子是为拯救众人而死，除了信心，没有任何方法能使我们得到救赎的恩典。我们全人类因犯罪和悖逆，公正地被定罪灭亡。因为，凡自以为义、破坏上帝公义律法的人，决不能站在上帝面前。正因为“没有义人，连一个也没有”（罗马书3:10），所以全人类都需要上帝的恩典和恩惠。
全人类中没有一个人有资格和途径，能够要求或请求上帝救恩的祝福。所以，上帝需要亲自作出拯救人类的第一步，并且祂已经这样做了。在第一对人类夫妻（亚当和夏娃）进了宽路而导致了死之后，耶和华上帝作出承诺，最终会从撒旦的权势中救赎人类，并与人类恢复和好的关系。上帝尤其喜悦那些相信并服从祂话语的人，虽然只是极少数人回应祂的承诺，但是凡对上帝所显明的旨意作出回应的人，都会得到极大的祝福，其中就有挪亚。“恩典”一词首先用在圣经里，就与挪亚有关（惟有挪亚在耶和华眼前蒙恩---创世纪6:8）。挪亚持守坚定的信心，信服上帝的承诺，从洪水的灭亡中拯救他和他的全家。
而现今，主耶稣已经献出祂人的生命作为全人类罪的赎价，凡靠着信心跟从他们天赐救赎主的脚步之人，就能够得到永生的救恩。而这等信心，使万事都改变一新：那些远离 神的人，现已得亲近；他们是出死入生，从悖逆之子到现今得 神儿子的名分，从行恶到现今行善，从肉体的私欲到现今有圣灵的同在，从可怒之子到现今能与基督一同坐在天上。这些关系的改善正如使徒保罗所述：
以弗所2:1-13 你们死在过犯罪恶之中，祂叫你们活过来。
2:2 那时，你们在其中行事为人随从今世的风俗，顺服空中掌权者的首领，就是现今在悖逆之子心中运行的邪灵。
2:3 我们从前也都在他们中间，放纵肉体的私欲，随着肉体和心中所喜好的去行，本为可怒之子，和别人一样。
2:4 然而， 神既有丰富的怜悯，因祂爱我们的大爱，
2:5 当我们死在过犯中的时候，便叫我们与基督一同活过来。（你们得救是本乎恩)
2:6 祂又叫我们与基督耶稣一同复活、一同坐在天上，
2:7 要将祂极丰富的恩典，就是祂在基督耶稣里向我们所施的恩慈，显明给后来的世代看。
2:8 你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信，这并不是出于自己，乃是 神所赐的。
2:9 也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。
2:10 我们原是祂的工作，在基督耶稣里造成的，为要叫我们行善，就是 神所预备叫我们行的。
2:11 所以你们应当记念，你们从前按肉体是外邦人，是称为没受割礼的，这名原是那些凭人手在肉身上称为受割礼之人所起的。
2:12 那时你们与基督无关，在以色列国民以外，在所应许的诸约上是局外人，并且活在世上没有指望、没有 神。
2:13 你们从前远离 神的人，如今却在基督耶稣里、靠着祂的血，已经得亲近了。
得到救恩的方法
罪、死并伴着各样的不幸一直延续在历年历代，就如现今一样，为此引发很多人来探究上帝救赎的恩典。我们既承认了上帝的祝福，就对自己的罪和不足产生懊悔，进而以真心来信服上帝。“当信主耶稣，你和你一家都必得救”（使徒行传16:31），这句保罗回答禁卒的话到今天仍是确实的，所以我们只管坦然无惧地信靠主耶稣。主耶稣用祂的宝血赎回了全人类，祂已经得到天上地下所有的权柄，救恩使所有信靠并靠着信心继续跟从祂的人得以自由。所有献身于上帝的信徒，有权柄代表基督发言：我们是以真诚和诚实替基督劝“你们与 神和好”（哥林多后书5:20）。我们的职任是，引导那些背负罪孽和负重担的人们，归向全人类的救主！
主耶稣清楚地教导我们，救恩要透过信心（我实实在在的告诉你们，那听我话，又信差我来者的，就有永生，不至于定罪，是已经出死入生了---约翰福音5:24）。而信心是从上帝的话语而来，正如保罗所写：“可见信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的”（罗马书10:17）。
毫无疑问，这是真理！我们得救是本乎恩，也透过信心和信服真理。福音承诺了救恩、丰盛和自由，上帝慈爱的怜悯是“佳音”，为所有背负罪孽和负重担的人白白地提供了自由，并不用他们的金钱和价值（以赛亚55:1-3）。
我们对上帝活泼有效的爱不断扩大，是我们对上帝的感恩之心不断扩大，因为在极大的救恩中我们得到不配得的恩惠（我们爱，因为 神先爱我们---约翰一书4:19）。当我们爱上帝和我们的主耶稣时，就要爱那些怀着同一心志的弟兄姊妹们，在他们信心的争战中，对他们有充满爱的怜悯，以致我们能够爱所有的人，因为上帝爱所有人，差遣祂的独生子受痛苦的死，为众人付了罪的赎价。
来自上帝的恩赐
主耶稣是奉差遣，“将祂的百姓从罪恶里救出来”（马太福音1:21）。祂从死里救出我们，死是因罪所致，所以蒙拯救的人因此而有永生（这见证就是 神赐给我们永生，这永生也是在祂儿子里面。人有（信服）了 神的儿子就有生命，没有（不信服） 神的儿子就没有生命---约翰一书5:11-12）。靠着上帝的恩典，救恩的生命是获得自由，是透过信心而得的恩赐。
圣经里，上帝的恩赐一次又一次地被肯定，其中有主耶稣对尼哥底母说：“上帝爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的不至灭亡，反得永生”（约翰福音3:16）
又有主耶稣对撒玛利亚妇人说：“人若喝我所赐的水，就永远不渴；我所赐的水，要在他里头成为泉源，直涌到永生”（约翰福音4:14）
还有保罗对哥林多教会的信徒们说：“感谢 神，因祂有说不尽的恩赐”（哥林多后书9:15）
在此，我们夫妻感谢上帝，我们主耶稣基督的父，赐给我们美好的一天，也赐给我们你们这些忠心于主的弟兄姊妹们。
（以上所写的，你们可以用来建造耶稣基督的国度）
By grace are ye saved through faith
"...by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD." ---Ephesians 2:8
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Salvation through Faith
Salvation is not of ourselves. We are saved by grace. The salvation comes through faith in GOD's revealed purpose in HIS SON who died for all, nothing aside from faith would enable our receiving of the gift of salvation. We of the human family were justly condemned to death for sin and disobedience. Those who break GOD's righteous law have no standing before HIM in their own righteousness. Inasmuch as "there is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10) all need GOD's grace and favour.
None in the human family has a vantage point or place of approach from which to require or demand GOD's blessing. GOD HIMSELF needed to make the first move in the rescue of man. And HE did. After the first human pair (Adam and Eve) entered the broad road leading into death, the LORD GOD made a promise intimating the eventual recovery of mankind from Satan's influence. And GOD is especially pleased with those who believe and obey HIS WORD, even though very few respond to HIS promises. Those who do respond to GOD's revealed will are greatly blessed. One of those was Noah. The word 'grace' is first used in Scripture in regard to him. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (Gen. 6:8) The faith of Noah in GOD's promises saved him and his family from death in the flood.
But now that JESUS has laid down his human life in sacrifice as an atonement for sin, those who follow on in faith in the steps of their heaven-sent Redeemer receive eternal-life salvation. Such faith makes all things new: those far off are brought nigh; they pass from death to life, from disobedience to son ship, from evil conduct to good works, from fleshly desires to spiritual fellowship, from children of wrath to sitting in the heavenly places. Those improved relationships are described by the Apostle Paul:
'And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But GOD, being rich in mercy, because of HIS great love with which HE loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with CHRIST (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with HIM, and seated us with HIM in the heavenly places, in CHRIST JESUS, in order that in the ages to come HE might show the surpassing riches in HIS grace in kindness toward us in CHRIST JESUS. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of GOD; not as a result of works, that no one should boast For we are HIS workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh,...were at that time separate from CHRIST, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers in the covenants of promise, having no hope and without GOD in the world. But now in CHRIST JESUS you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of CHRIST. "-Eph. 2:1-13 NASB
The Way of Salvation
Sin, death, and accompanying sorrows have through the ages, as today, prompted many to inquire into GOD's saving grace. Our recognition of GOD's blessing leads to confession of sins and shortcomings, and true heart belief. "Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31) That answer of Paul to the fearful prison keeper is still true. None need fear to put trust in JESUS. HE purchased all mankind with HIS own precious blood. HE has received all power in heaven and in earth. Salvation is free to all who trust in HIM and continue following on in faith. All devoted believers have authority to speak on behalf of CHRIST. We say in CHRIST's stead to the sincere and honest hearted, "be ye reconciled to GOD." (2 Cor. 5:20) Our commission is to direct the sin-weary and heavy-laden to the SAVIOUR of all men!
JESUS clearly taught that salvation comes through faith. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears MY word, and believes HIM who sent ME, has eternal life." (John 5:24 NASB) Faith is taking GOD at HIS WORD, as Paul wrote: "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of CHRIST."-Rom. 10:17 NASB
This is truth beyond doubting! We are saved by grace, through faith, through believing the WORD of truth. The gospel promises salvation, full and free. GOD's loving mercy is the "good news" message to the sin-sick and weary- -salvation offered freely to all, without money and without price.-Isa. 55:1-3
A living and active love for GOD expands with one's enlarging appreciation of HIS unmerited favour in the great salvation. "We love HIM, because HE first loved us." (1 John 4:19) And when we come to love GOD and our LORD JESUS, we come to love those who are of the same mind. We grow in loving sympathy for our brethren in their fight of faith. And we come to love all mankind, so loved by GOD as to send HIS only begotten SON to suffer cruel death, the price of human redemption.
Gifts from GOD
JESUS was sent to "save HIS people from their sins." (Mat. 1:21) HE came to save us from death, which is caused by sin. The saved thus have eternal life. "And this is the record that GOD hath given to us eternal life and this life is in HIS SON. He that hath [belief in] the SON hath life; and he that hath not [belief in] the SON of GOD hath not life." (1 John 5:11,12) By GOD's grace, salvation life is free as a gift through faith.
Again and again GODs gift was affirmed. By JESUS to Nicodemus: "For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3 16
Again by JESUS to the woman: "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." - John 4:14
By Paul to the Corinthians: "Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable [indescribable NASB] gift." - 2 Cor 9:15
We give thanks to GOD, the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, for this day and for you, faithful brothers and sisters.
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From Victor n Esther - "My life journey with Jesus"
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