Yes—according to Ephesians 2, we are saved by grace through faith, not of works.
The chapter says we were spiritually dead, but God made us alive together with Christ. Salvation does not come from ourselves; it is the gift of God, received through faith, so that no one can boast. Believers are then God's workmanship, created for good works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — This is the passage that directly answers the question: salvation is by grace through faith, not of works.
Ephesians 2:1 — This establishes the human condition—dead in trespasses and sins—which requires God to make us alive.
Ephesians 2:10 — This shows the purpose of salvation: believers are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Ephesians 2 opens by describing those who were dead in trespasses and sins. Then in verse 8 the Scripture declares, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” The following verse adds, “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Verse 10 then states, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” The text itself makes clear that salvation is God's doing and not something we produce by works.
Les Feldick stresses that Paul is writing to believers who have already been made alive; he tells them, “you he hath quickened,” using the past tense. They were spiritually dead, and Les compares that to a dead car battery that must be charged from an outside source. Salvation is by grace through faith—faith being believing, nothing else. It is not of ourselves and it is not of works, or else it would no longer be a gift and would give grounds for boasting. As a result, believers are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus and made into new people. Good works follow salvation but do not earn it.
Paul writes to believers and says they were dead—spiritually dead. Les compares this to a car battery that is dead: it is useless until it is charged from an outside source. The human spirit needs regeneration, and God does that regenerating work, making the believer alive.
Les explains that “that not of yourselves” means there is nothing you and I can do. He uses Israel's helplessness as an illustration: they couldn't do anything to get across the sea; God did it all. Salvation is the gift of God—a gift is not worked for, because then it would no longer be a gift.
Les lists things people often trust in—sacrifices, repentance, baptism, church membership, good works—and says none of these save. When works are attached to salvation, it becomes worthless. It is by grace through faith; faith is believing, nothing else. Works cannot be mingled with grace, because then it is no longer grace.
After salvation, believers are God's workmanship. Les says God does not leave us like a wreck; He makes us a new person and gives us a whole new personality. We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works—the works are the result, not the cause, of salvation.
Ephesians 2 presents salvation as God’s work for people who were spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. God makes believers alive; they cannot accomplish this change by their own ability. Just as Israel could not open the Red Sea or make a way across it, people are helpless to save themselves. God must do what is needed. Salvation is by grace through faith. Faith is simply believing, not performing some action or adding human effort. It is not something that comes from ourselves, and it is God’s gift. Because salvation is not based on works, no one has reason to boast. Yet salvation is not merely escaping hell or receiving personal relief. Those who are saved are God’s workmanship. God has worked in their lives, making them a new creature and a new creation in Christ. This new life has a purpose: believers are not to live for self, but to bring glory to God’s name.
Salvation is by God’s grace through faith, not by anything a person can do. People were dead in trespasses and sins, under old Adam, and unable to help themselves. God dealt with that old life by crucifying old Adam and reckoning believers as dead and buried with Christ. Yet He did not leave them there. Just as Christ was not left in the tomb, God makes believers alive with resurrection power. Ephesians 2 presents this as something already accomplished: God has quickened, or made alive, those who were dead in sins. He has quickened them together with Christ, raised them up together, and, from God’s perspective, seated them together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Though believers may not feel as if they are seated in heaven, God already sees them there in Christ. This salvation is not obtained by works, joining something, or doing something. It is the unmerited favor of God, given as a gift. Faith receives what God has accomplished, but faith is not combined with works. The basis for being there is the finished work of the cross—faith plus nothing. Because salvation is not earned, no one has room to boast about what he or she did to get there.
Spiritual Death and Regeneration
Les says the believer was spiritually dead and needed God's quickening—like a dead battery that must be charged.
Grace Through Faith
Les defines faith as believing, explains that God does everything, and shows that believers are His workmanship.
Salvation Is a Gift
Les distinguishes grace as unmerited favor and stresses that a gift cannot be worked for without ceasing to be a gift.
Works Do Not Save
Les lists works people trust in and says none are part of salvation; attaching works to faith makes it worthless.
Works Versus Grace
Les states that if something is based on works, it cannot be grace; both Jew and Gentile must come God's way by faith alone.
God's Workmanship
Les interprets verse 10 as God making a saved person a new creation—not leaving them as they were—so good works are the result.
Faith Is the Vehicle
Les says grace makes salvation possible and faith is the vehicle or channel through which we receive it.
Righteousness Imputed by Faith
Les says righteousness is imputed as a result of believing the gospel; we don't work for it or deserve it.
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
This verse establishes the condition we are in before God makes us alive.
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
This is the key verse the question asks about—salvation by grace through faith as a gift.
Ephesians 2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This explicitly rules out works as the basis for salvation.
Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
This explains the purpose for saving us—God creates us for good works.
No. Ephesians 2:9 says 'Not of works, lest any man should boast.' Les says works do not save; salvation is a gift received by faith.
Faith is believing, nothing else. Les says 'for by grace are ye saved through faith' and faith is the vehicle; it doesn't add works to grace.
Good works result from salvation. Verse 10 says we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Les says when God saves us, He makes us a new person, and good works follow.
Watch the Teaching: Why Heaven Won't Be Full of Boasters: Faith vs. Works