We are saved by God's grace through faith, as a gift, not by anything we do.
Ephesians 2 does not tell us to save ourselves; it tells us that God makes dead sinners alive. Paul says this salvation is by grace through faith, and even that is not of ourselves — it is the gift of God. Works are expressly excluded so that no one can boast. The chapter closes by showing that the saved person is God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the good works God prepared for him to walk in.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — This is the core text answering how salvation happens: by grace through faith, as a gift, not of works.
Ephesians 2:4-5 — Shows the source of salvation in God's mercy, love, and life-giving power.
Ephesians 2:10 — Explains the purpose and result of salvation: God's workmanship created for good works.
Ephesians 2 opens by describing the human condition: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Apart from God's intervention, people are spiritually dead and "were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Paul then turns to God's action: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" The salvation described is God's own work of making dead sinners alive. Verses 8-10 give the means and purpose: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Scripture says salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, and that believers are created for good works.
Les Feldick repeatedly takes his listeners to Israel standing at the Red Sea. Just as Moses and Israel could not open the sea, the lost sinner cannot do anything to save himself. God alone must open the way, and He has done that through Christ's finished work. Les emphasizes that Paul says we are saved by grace through faith — and faith here is not a work; it is simply believing. He reads Ephesians 2:8-9 as excluding every human contribution: "that not of yourselves," "it is the gift of God," "not of works, lest any man should boast." Les also stresses the result of salvation: believers are God's workmanship, a new creation with a new personality. The saved person is not left as a wreck. The good works of Ephesians 2:10 are not the cause of salvation but the result. As Les says, "we can work after it, but you can't work for it." He even connects workmanship to the Greek word poema, comparing God's work in the believer to a beautiful poem.
Paul writes, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." The verse itself says the salvation being described does not come from yourselves. Les Feldick presses that point: "that not of yourselves" means there is not anything that you and I can do. He compares it to Israel at the Red Sea, who could not open the waters; they could only stand still and believe. God did the saving, and He gives the gift.
Les makes it clear: repentance, baptism, church membership, and good works are "not in here. That doesn't save us." He says these are all part of salvation's reward or result, not its cause. If we attach works to faith, salvation becomes nothing — it becomes worthless. The book says it is not of works; it is all of faith.
Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Les explains that when God saves someone, He does not leave them like a wreck. He makes a new person, with a whole new personality. He also notes that the Greek word rendered workmanship is poema, the source of our word poem — God's work in the believer is a beautiful creation.
Ephesians 2:9 gives the reason: "Not of works, lest any man should boast." Since salvation is a gift and not a wage, no one can take credit. Les says grace and works are mutually exclusive: "if it's works, it's not grace." Both Jew and Gentile must come God's way, and God's way is by faith, faith alone.
The Red Sea Dilemma and Believing
Les teaches that salvation is not doing something but believing: Israel could only stand still and let the God of the Scriptures open the Red Sea, and Paul preaches Christ crucified as what was done for us to give us eternal life.
Grace Through Faith: Ephesians 2:8
Les unpacks Ephesians 2:8 verse by verse, showing that 'that not of yourselves' means there is nothing we can do, and a gift is not something you work for or merit.
But God: Quickened Together with Christ
Les uses 'But God' to show the turn: God is rich in mercy and love, and after making us alive with Christ, the salvation formula is by grace through faith plus nothing else.
God's Workmanship After Salvation
Faith appropriates Christ's finished work; God imputes righteousness, and then He makes the believer a new person — His workmanship.
Works Are Not the Means of Salvation
Repentance, baptism, church membership, and good works do not save; adding works to salvation makes it worthless — it is all of faith.
Made Alive When Dead in Sins
Even when we were dead in sins, God's mercy and love quickened us together with Christ — by grace we are saved through faith.
Salvation Is a Gift; Work After It
Les shows salvation cannot be worked for; it is a gift. But after salvation believers can work, and God's workmanship in the believer is like a poem.
Works Cannot Be Mixed with Grace
If salvation is based on works, it cannot be grace; both Jews and Gentiles must come God's way by faith alone.
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
This verse establishes the starting point of salvation: the sinner is dead in trespasses and sins before God acts.
Ephesians 2:4: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
The 'But God' turn reveals God's mercy and love as the source of salvation.
Ephesians 2:5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
God's life-giving act is the essence of salvation — and Paul parenthetically calls it grace.
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
The central verse answers how: by grace through faith, with salvation as God's gift, not our work.
Ephesians 2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Works are excluded from the cause of salvation, eliminating grounds for boasting.
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.
Good works have their place after salvation; we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for them.
Ephesians 2:8 says salvation is the gift of God: "and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Les Feldick teaches that the "not of yourselves" means there is nothing we can do to earn it. The plain reading is that the whole salvation package, including the grace through which we are saved, is God's gift.
Because Ephesians 2:8-9 excludes works as the cause: "Not of works, lest any man should boast." Les explains that when works are attached to faith, salvation becomes worthless; works are the result of salvation, not the reason for it.
Israel stood trapped before the Red Sea and could do nothing; God opened the water. In the same way, a sinner is helpless and must simply believe that the God of Scriptures can bring him out of his dilemma.
Yes. Les teaches that when God saves us, He does not leave us like a wreck; He makes us a new person with a whole new personality. Ephesians 2:10 says we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
Watch the Teaching: Paul's Gospel vs. Peter's: What You Must Believe to Be Saved