“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
God saves us by His grace working through faith. The grace and the faith, as well as God’s decision to save us, all comes from God as a gift. Therefore it isn’t of us. It isn’t something we have earned, or that we work hard to attain. The very fact that our salvation is a gift eliminates any possibility that it is somehow earned or deserved. Consequently, there is nothing we can brag about as if we had done it.
The Message Bible says: “We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing!”
If someone walked up to you and offered you a thousand dollars, would you take it? You may wonder what strings are attached or what you had to do to earn it. But if it were a true gift, the sponsor would have no strings or liabilities in connection with it.
It would be yours if you simply trusted the benefactor and took it. So it is with God’s gift. Salvation is not by works, so that no man may take glory unto himself.
I receive God’s gift of salvation. It is not of myself, not of works, lest I would boast.
- Reading Plan A: 1 Corinthians 3
- Reading Plan B: Romans 6
- Reading Plan C: Psalms 119:1-48; 1 Corinthians 3
by Tim Davidson
Excerpt permission granted by
Word of Faith Church & Outreach Center
Called to the Body of Christ as a pastor and teacher, Tim Davidson pioneered Word of Faith Church in Bismarck in 1980. He served as its Lead Pastor for 35 years and now serves as Founding Pastor. Pastor Tim has pioneered 6 churches in North Dakota and now serves as Regional Director for Rhema Ministerial Association International. Teaching believers foundational truths from God's Word is his passion.
He has authored 3 yearly devotion books that are used both here and overseas to help believers become "rooted and grounded" in their faith.
God is now calling Pastor Tim to share the treasury of wisdom and knowledge God has given to him with other pastors and churches.