Yes—according to Ephesians 2, we are saved by God's grace through faith, not by any works of our own.
Ephesians 2 teaches that we were dead in trespasses and sins, but God, rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ. Verse 8 states we are saved by grace through faith, and it is the gift of God, not of works, so no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — These verses directly state that salvation is by grace through faith and not works.
Ephesians 2:5-6 — These verses show God's action of making us alive, raising us, and seating us in Christ.
Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." This shows that before salvation, we were spiritually dead. Verse 5 says, "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" and verse 6 says, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." God is the one who takes the initiative to bring us from death to life. Verses 8 and 9 state clearly: "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." Thus, salvation is entirely a gift, received through faith, not earned by human effort. Verse 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 emphasizes that Ephesians 2 is a natural follow-up to the crucifixion teaching. He points out that we are dead in trespasses and sins because of Adam's federal headship—everyone is born spiritually dead. But God, in His mercy and love, quickens (makes alive) every believer together with Christ. Les explains that when Christ died on the cross, God saw every believer in Him, and we are reckoned as crucified, buried, and raised with Christ. Les stresses that salvation is "by grace through faith," and faith is simply believing—nothing else. It is not based on anything we can do; like Israel at the Red Sea, we are helpless and hopeless, but we believe, and God does everything. He calls it "unmerited favor," and since it is a gift, we cannot work for it or merit it. Verses 8-9 exclude all works and all boasting. Les also highlights verse 10: we are God's workmanship, created for good works, but these works are the result of salvation, not the cause.
Les teaches that we are born in a state of spiritual death because Adam, the federal head of the human race, plunged every person into that condition. We are born spiritually dead, unable to help ourselves. God, however, makes us alive together with Christ—this is an act of God, not our own doing.
Les explains that Ephesians 2:8 says we are saved by grace through faith, and faith is simply believing. Like Israel standing at the Red Sea, there was nothing they could do—they just believed, and God did everything. Faith is not a work; it is the opposite. The gift of God is received by believing, and that leaves no room for human merit.
Les points out that Ephesians 2:6 says God has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. From God's perspective, believers are already seated in the heavenlies in Christ. Even though we may not feel it in our daily experience, God sees us as citizens of heaven, already in His presence. This gives believers comfort that death is not something to fear.
Crucified with Christ
Les explains that God saw every believer in Christ at the cross, so we are reckoned as dying with Him and buried with Him, ready for resurrection to new life.
Saved by Grace Through Faith
Les walks through Ephesians 2:1 and 2:8-10, emphasizing that we are dead in sins but God makes us alive, and salvation is by grace through faith—just believing—not of works.
No Work for a Gift
Les reinforces that by grace are we saved through faith, and it is the gift of God. Since it is a gift, you cannot work for it or merit it.
God's Mercy and Quickening
Les highlights Ephesians 2:4-9, showing that God's mercy and love led Him to make us alive together with Christ, and that this salvation is by grace through faith, not works.
Born Spiritually Dead
Les explains that we are born spiritually dead because Adam, as federal head, plunged the human race into that state; God makes believers alive spiritually as a result of salvation.
Seated in the Heavenlies
Les teaches that believers are already seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, so death is not to be feared because we are already citizens of heaven.
Adam's Impact on Humanity
Les mentions Adam as the head of the race, leaving every child born spiritually dead, and connects it to Ephesians 2 where God quickens us together with Christ.
Why Did Adam's Sin Affect All of Us? Romans 5:10-14
It's one of the crucial terms in Paul's letters, that the work of the cross now has made reconciliation not just possible, but available to the whole human race. And so if we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled. Now He's talking to you and I as believers. We shall be saved by His, not His death now, but by His what? His life, see.
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Shows that before salvation, we were spiritually dead—unable to save ourselves.
Ephesians 2:5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
God's action of making us alive together with Christ, emphasizing it is by grace.
Ephesians 2:6: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
God raises believers and seats them in heavenly places, showing our position in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Central verse: salvation is a gift received through faith, not from ourselves.
Ephesians 2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Explicitly rules out works as the basis for salvation, eliminating 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.
Shows that saved people are created for good works, but these are the result of salvation, not the means.
No. Ephesians 2:9 says explicitly "Not of works, lest any man should boast." Les Feldick drives home that salvation is by grace through faith alone, and any good works in a believer's life are the result of being God's workmanship, not the cause of salvation.
To be quickened means to be made alive. In Ephesians 2, God makes us alive together with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses and sins. Les explains that this is an act of God—something we do not and cannot do ourselves.
Les teaches that we are not saved just to relax. Ephesians 2:10 says we are God's workmanship created for good works. However, these works are the outworking of salvation, not the basis for it. We are saved by grace through faith, and then we walk in the good works God prepared for us.
Watch the Teaching: What Does It Mean to Be Crucified With Christ?