Paul’s great teaching on man’s redemption is encapsulated in these few verses. They are plain, though often misunderstood by the biases and twisted theologies of men. What is affirmed?:
We have been saved by the grace of God. This is God’s love expressed by a freely given gift of salvation. The sin of man brought death upon him, and only God’s mercy can lift that burden. His justice demanded a sacrifice and God supplied His Son. This is a fact to which we all give assent.
Salvation is not universal. It is granted only to those who exhibit faith in Jesus. He is the sole Messiah. He is God’s chosen, we must not look to another.
With these two truths in hand, we know that we can’t earn our salvation. No one can boast about his standing with God because it comes despite, not because of what we have done.
God has created us to obey. To do His good works, works that God has determined beforehand we “should walk in them” (10).
