Is salvation by faith alone according to Ephesians 1:13?
Yes. Ephesians 1:13 sets the sequence: a person hears the Word of Truth, the Gospel of salvation, believes in Christ, and is then sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The passage attaches no other requirements to salvation, so it presents faith plus nothing, salvation by faith alone.
Les explains that in Ephesians 1:13, the word "trusted" is italicized as a translator's word and could just as well be "believed." He sees a sequence: hear the Word of Truth, which is the Gospel, the Good News of salvation, and then believe. After believing, Paul says believers were sealed. Les stresses that the other things people attach to salvation today are not in this verse at all; he thinks they have been added by many who refuse to look at how Paul puts it. His conclusion is that it is faith plus nothing. The sealing is being branded with God's mark of ownership, sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. He also connects this to no condemnation: believers are sealed because there is no condemnation, and there is no condemnation because they are sealed.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
More Questions
Does Ephesians 1:13 teach that salvation is faith plus nothing?
In Ephesians 1:13 Paul attaches no other requirements to salvation besides faith; the other things people add to salvation are not in the verse, so salvation is faith plus nothing.
Does Ephesians 1:13 list anything other than believing as required for salvation?
In Ephesians 1:13 the only thing attached to salvation after hearing is believing; all the other things people attach to salvation today are not in the verse at all, so salvation is faith plus nothing.