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7. Characteristics of True Believers—Part Two

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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

What are characteristics of true believers? How does God save those he loves?

In Ephesians 2:1-7, Paul describes the Ephesians’ salvation experience—past, present, and future. They were dead in transgressions and sins; they followed the ways of the world, the devil, and the flesh. They were objects of wrath, but God, through his power, made them alive with Christ. He seated them in heavenly places. And his eternal purpose in their salvation is to display the glory of the riches of his grace. The believer’s salvation is for God—to bring glory to him.

These realities are true of every believer because of God’s power (cf. Eph 1:18-19). True believers have experienced the power of God in their lives. If we have not experienced these radical changes, we must ask whether or not we have truly been born again.

In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul further describes characteristics of a true believer’s salvation.

Big Question: What are the characteristics of true believers? What is the process of salvation?

True Believers Are Saved by Grace Alone

For it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:8)

Interpretation Question: What does “grace” mean, and how are believers saved by it?

Salvation is by grace because dead men cannot save themselves (Eph 2:1). Salvation comes through the unmerited favor of God on sinful people. It is by God’s initiative alone, not man’s. After the fall, man naturally began to hide from God, as Adam did. God had to seek after Adam to find him. This is the message of the Bible; it is the gospel—God seeking after man.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16, KJV). Salvation is by God’s initiative.

In fact, Paul says, “And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6). This means that one cannot be saved by church attendance, being born into a Christian family, baptism, observance of the Lord’s Supper, or any other “good work.”

It is a work totally of God. And for this reason, only those who recognize this can be saved. Listen to what Christ teaches in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

When he says “poor in spirit,” he is referring to those who recognize their spiritual poverty. They recognize that they can do nothing to merit salvation. They are spiritually bankrupt, and therefore need the riches of God’s grace. This is very similar to what Christ teaches in Matthew 18 about the kingdom of heaven. He held a child and said this to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (v. 3).

The word used for “child” was used of a very small child—an infant or toddler. Christ was saying, “Unless you recognize your weakness and inability to help yourself like an infant does, then you cannot be saved.” Salvation is only by grace.

Who or what are you trusting for salvation? Anything other than God’s grace will not work.

Application Questions: What are some common works that people trust in for their salvation? Why must salvation be by grace and not works?

True Believers Are Saved through Faith

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Not only is a person saved by grace, every person who will be saved must put his faith in Christ. We see this taught throughout Scripture.

In Acts 16:31, Paul said this to a jailer about how to be saved, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Similarly, John says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

John MacArthur tells a helpful story:

The story is told of a man who came eagerly but very late to a revival meeting and found the workmen tearing down the tent in which the meetings had been held. Frantic at missing the evangelist, he decided to ask one of the workers what he could do to be saved. The workman, who was a Christian, replied, “You can’t do anything. It’s too late.” Horrified, the man said, “What do you mean? How can it be too late?” “The work has already been accomplished,” he was told. “There is nothing you need to do but believe it.”1

Some people struggle with the concept of putting faith in Christ. However, faith is a crucial part of life and society. John MacArthur says,

Every person lives by faith. When we open a can of food or drink a glass of water we trust that it is not contaminated. When we go across a bridge we trust it to support us. When we put our money in the bank we trust it will be safe. Life is a constant series of acts of faith. No human being, no matter how skeptical and self–reliant, could live a day without exercising faith.2

Interpretation Question: What are the characteristics of true saving faith?

1. True faith believes the content of the gospel.

Paul declares that in order for a person to be saved, he must have belief, or faith (Eph 2:8). However, faith is only as good as the object of our faith. We don’t believe in faith; we believe in the object or the content of our faith.

What is the content of true saving faith?

  • The content includes an admission that we cannot save ourselves. We cannot work for our salvation, nor can we earn it. Everyone is totally lost because of sin. And as Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.”

Because of our sins, we are separated from a holy God, and we will ultimately be separated from him eternally in a burning fire that will not be quenched. The writer of Hebrews says, “Without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).

It is this reality that drives a person to come to Christ and be saved. He realizes that he needs a savior.

  • The content includes belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the sins of the world. Paul says,

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:2–4)

The content is both bad news and good news. The bad news is that we are both separated from and under the wrath of a just God because of our sins. But the good news is that God’s Son came to earth and died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day so that one day those who believe in him will rise again. This is the content of the gospel.

However, it must be noted that intellectual belief in the gospel alone is not sufficient for salvation.

2. True faith is committed to the Lord of the Gospel.

The word “faith” used here in Ephesians 2:8 is more than just intellectual belief. In Greek this word can be translated as “trust,” “commit,” or even “obedience.” The word in classical Greek was used of those in a contractual relationship.3 There is a commitment of the will and not just the mind.

This is important to say because there are some who say that intellectual belief alone is enough for salvation. However, James tells us that even the demons believe and shudder—and they’re obviously not saved (James 2:19). Simple belief that Jesus is God and Savior isn’t enough. We must also choose to follow and obey him. In Luke 14:26-27, Jesus says this:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

To have faith means to accept Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives (cf. Rom 10:9-10). It includes repentance as a person turns away from his former life and begins to follow Christ. A transfer of leadership must take place. This is important to understand because many make false confessions. Christ warns us about this in the Sermon on the Mount. He says,

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21–23)

Many in the church have only belief—only profession. They have right doctrine. They know that Christ is Lord, and they even serve him in the church, but they are not truly saved. Christ says true faith leads to doing the “will” of the Father in heaven (v. 21).

3. True faith is a gift of God.

Warren Wiersbe says, “The word ‘that’ in Eph. 2:8 [this in the NIV], in the Greek, is neuter; while ‘faith’ is feminine. Therefore ‘that’ cannot refer to ‘faith.’ It refers to the whole experience of salvation, including faith.”4 Faith is a gift that God gives believers by his grace. Consider these verses:

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, (Philippians 1:29)

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” (Acts 11:18)

True faith is a gift from God, and for this reason no one can boast about saving themselves. In heaven, there will not be a bunch of people beating their chests over achieving salvation. All will be humbled before God’s great grace.

Application Questions: Why do you believe false faith is so common in the church (cf. Matt 7:21-23)? What are some characteristics of false faith?

True Believers Are Saved Eternally

For it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:8)

Not only is salvation by grace and through faith, salvation is also eternal. We can see this in the Greek tense used in “you have been saved” (Eph 2:8). “The tense of the Greek participle shows that salvation has happened in the past with continuing results. It’s a done deal.”5 Salvation is eternal and cannot be lost.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Eternal life by nature is life that never ends. If a person could lose this life or if it stopped, it would have never been eternal.

Interpretation Question: How does Scripture teach that salvation is eternal and cannot be lost?

1. Salvation is eternal because Christ keeps believers eternally.

Listen to what Christ says about the salvation of those who come to him:

“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:38-40)

Christ came down to earth to do his Father’s will, and his Father’s will was that he would lose none of those given to him. Who are the ones given to him? They are the elect, chosen before the foundation of the earth, as Paul talks about in Ephesians 1:4. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”

All those who were chosen before the foundation of the earth, all those who come to Christ, shall have eternal life and be raised up on the last day. If Christ could fail at this, how could he be God—for God cannot fail?

Interpretation Question: How does Christ keep those who are saved?

  • In heaven, Christ prays for the believers. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” He prays for those who come to him so he can save them “completely.” This is exactly what Christ did for Peter when he was tempted by Satan to deny Christ. He said, “I have prayed for your faith so that it will not fail” (Lk 22:32, paraphrase).
  • Christ never allows believers to be tempted beyond what they are able to bear (1 Cor 10:13). In John 18, when Jesus was betrayed, he protected the disciples from being taken by the soldiers. John says, “This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: ‘I have not lost one of those you gave me’” (John 18:9). Christ did this because he knew the disciples’ faith was too weak. They would have ultimately fallen away from God if they had to give their lives for Christ at that point. He protected their faith in the trial.
  • Christ keeps believers secure in his hand. In John 10:28, he says, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

2. Salvation is eternal because the Holy Spirit keeps believers eternally.

Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” He seals and keeps believers until eternal redemption.”

3. Salvation is eternal because God, the Father, keeps believers eternally.

John 10:29 says, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

Salvation is eternal because God does it. He saves his people by grace. It is not based on anything they did or will do. It is based totally on the unmerited favor of God. Therefore, salvation is eternal. It was completed in the past and has continuing results in the future. The entire Trinity keeps the salvation of believers through grace.

Application Questions: Many believers believe that one can lose his salvation. Why? What is the evidence for this position? Which view do you believe is most supported by Scripture?

True Believers Are Saved for Good Works

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

Interpretation Question: What does it mean for believers to be God’s “workmanship”?

Ephesians 2:10 can also be translated “created in Christ Jesus for good works,” as seen in the ESV. One of the reasons God created us was for the purpose of doing good works. Titus 2:13-14 says,

while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Christ is making a unique people on the earth who are eager for good works. Paul calls believers God’s workmanship. Kent Hughes said this:

The word “workmanship” comes from the Greek word poiema, from which we derive our English word “poem.” The Greek literally means, “that which has been made — a work — a making,” and sometimes it is even translated as “poem.” 6

This word can also be translated “masterpiece,” as in the New Living Translation. MacDonald adds:

In other words, God has a blueprint for every life. Before our conversion He mapped out a spiritual career for us. Our responsibility is to find His will for us and then obey it. We do not have to work out a plan for our lives, but only accept the plan which He has drawn up for us. This delivers us from fret and frenzy, and insures that our lives will be of maximum glory to Him, of most blessing to others, and of greatest reward to ourselves.7

God has a calling on each of our lives. In the same way God called Jeremiah to be a prophet even before he was born, he calls us for his purpose as well (cf. Jer 1:5). There are two things we must consider about this. (1) God works in us to prepare us for good works. (2) God works through us to complete the good works. Philippians 2:13 says, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

However, the order is important. Before God works through us, he must first work in us. How does God work in those he saves? How does he prepare his masterpieces?

Interpretation Question: How does God prepare his masterpieces? How does he work in those he has saved to prepare them for good works?

1. God prepares his masterpieces through giving them the Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel 36:27 says, “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” God gives us his Spirit to change us, to empower us, and to guide us into the good works he prepared for us. Romans 8:14 says that those who are sons are led by the Holy Spirit. God leads believers into good works as they submit to him.

2. God prepares his masterpieces through the Word of God.

Second Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Through studying Scripture, God conforms us into his image and equips us for every good work. If we aren’t studying his Word, we cannot complete the works God prepared for us. It is by his Word that he makes us grow. First Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

Are you allowing God to prepare you for good works through his Word?

3. God prepares his masterpieces through prayer.

Before Christ began his ministry, he spent forty days praying and fasting in the wilderness (cf. Lk 4:1-14). When he left the wilderness, he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit in order to do his ministry (v. 14).

In addition, there was a time when the disciples could not cast out a demon, even though Christ had given them the power to do so. When they asked why they couldn’t cast it out, Christ responded, “This kind only comes out through prayer” (Mark 9:29). This probably meant that the disciples had ceased to live a lifestyle of prayer, and therefore were powerless to do God’s work. Often, we can’t complete God’s work because we also have ceased to pray.

Moreover, God prepares his masterpieces through the prayers of others. Paul commonly asked for prayer in order to do the works God called him to accomplish. In Ephesians 6:19, Paul petitioned, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.”

Are you dwelling in prayer and asking others to continually pray for you? God prepares men and women for good works through prayer.

4. God prepares his masterpieces through waiting seasons.

Abraham was prepared through years of waiting in the promised land. Moses was trained by forty years of waiting in the wilderness. God prepared David through waiting. God prepared Paul through years in Arabia and then in Tarsus before he began his ministry in Antioch. Christ waited thirty years for his ministry. While waiting, God works in our hearts and teaches us how to trust him to fulfill his call on our lives.

Are you willing to patiently wait?

5. God prepares his masterpieces through trials.

Hebrews 12:7 and 11 say this:

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ...No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

God prepares his saints for a harvest of righteousness and peace through trials. God prepared Joseph while he served as a slave and a prisoner in Egypt. God prepared David by giving him an employer, King Saul, who constantly hunted and tried to kill him. God prepared Christ through the wilderness, temptation, and suffering (cf. Heb 5:8). God prepares his people for good works through trials. Paul says this:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Paul says the very reason God allowed him and his associates to suffer was so that they could comfort others with the comfort received from God. God prepares his ministers through trials.

Are you submitting to God in your trials so he can prepare you for greater ministry?

6. God prepares his masterpieces through the discipleship of other mature Christians.

Elisha was trained by Elijah. Samuel was trained by the priest Eli. The apostles were trained by Jesus. Mark was trained by Barnabas and Peter. Timothy was trained by Paul. In fact, Paul said this to Timothy: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). Through this relationship, God imparted a spiritual gift to Timothy. This was probably very similar to how Elisha received a double portion from Elijah.

In the same way, when one is discipled by a mature Christian, God will often impart the gifts of the discipler to the disciple. He gifts people in evangelism, counseling, helps, administration, leadership, etc. I personally have watched the gifts of others materialize in my life as I was poured into by them.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron so one sharpens another’s countenance.” God prepares his masterpieces for good works by the sharpening of other godly masterpieces.

Who is sharpening you? Who are you sharpening?

Let us remember that in order for God to work through us, we must allow him to work in us. He has given us his Spirit to guide this process. Are you allowing him to continually prepare you for good works?

Application Questions: In what ways has God prepared you for specific works? In what ways is God continually preparing you? Are there any ministry visions that God has given you?

True Believers Should Have Assurance of Salvation

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

The final thing that we must notice is that Paul knew the Ephesians were saved, with the implication that the Ephesians knew it as well. The doctrine of assurance of salvation is unique to Christianity. In other religions, there can be no assurance because salvation is based on one’s works. If people are saved by their works, how can they know if they attained salvation or are good enough to be accepted by God? Even Catholicism does not teach assurance of salvation. I recently read that when Pope Benedict XVI died, Pope Francis called for the faithful to pray him into heaven.8 If the Pope can’t have assurance of heaven, how can anybody else?

This is because Catholicism teaches that faith plus works is needed for salvation, and therefore, one cannot have assurance. However, Paul teaches that the Ephesians had “been saved”. Again, the perfect tense means something completed in the past with continuing results. And the rest of Scripture teaches this as well. Because we are saved by grace alone and not our works, lest any man should boast, we can have assurance of salvation.

In fact, Scripture teaches that every Christian should seek assurance. Assurance is different from eternal security. Eternal security teaches that if a person is truly saved, he will never lose his salvation because God will keep him. God knows those who are his (2 Tim 2:19); however, assurance is the believer knowing that he is saved. And this is something the believer must seek. Consider these passages:

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, (2 Peter 1:10)

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:20)

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Peter says that believers must make their calling and election sure. Paul says that after they repented, believers must prove their repentance by their deeds. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, he commands believers to test the reality of their salvation.

This is how one gains assurance. Believers are God’s workmanship, created for good works. These good works prove one’s salvation. If we are without them, then we are probably not saved. John Calvin wrote, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.”9 Similarly, consider what Christ declares in Matthew 7:21 about some who profess salvation. He says, ‘‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

These are the ones who are saved—those who faithfully do God’s will.

Interpretation Question: How can we test our salvation so we can have assurance?

1. Assurance of salvation comes from a changed relationship to sin.

First John 3:9-10 says,

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

The believers’ relationship to sin changes because God placed his divine nature within them. They don’t desire to sin and can’t enjoy it as they used to. When they fail, that failure leads to conviction and mourning. Has God changed your relationship to sin? This is one of the proofs of salvation.

2. Assurance of salvation comes from a changed relationship with other believers.

First John 3:14-15 says,

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

Christ says this in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’”

Has God given you a love for other believers? If so, you love to be with them. You love to serve them with your spiritual gifts. You love to pray for them. You love to sacrifice for them. This radical love for believers will identify you as a Christian to others, and it also will help assure you of your salvation.

3. Assurance of salvation comes from obedience to God’s Word.

Consider these texts:

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:22-27)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

The church is full of those who listen to the Word every Sunday but do not obey it. They are deceiving themselves about their salvation. One day the judgment will come and prove that the foundation of their house was not on God and his Word. Only those who do the Father’s will are saved (Matt 7:21).

It is God’s will for you to have not only salvation, but also assurance of salvation. Paul says, “Repent and prove your repentance by your deeds.” Peter says, “Make your election sure.” The way we do this is by growing. We are not saved by good works, but true salvation will always produce good works. Those who are truly saved are new creations in Christ; old things have passed away, all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17).

Do you have assurance of salvation?

Application Questions: Some have said that assurance of salvation is a lost doctrine—most churches don’t teach it and most Christians don’t understand it. Do you think this is true? Why or why not? Do you have assurance of salvation? If so, how? If not, why not?

Conclusion

  1. True believers are saved by grace alone.
  2. True believers are saved through faith.
  3. True believers are saved eternally.
  4. True believers are saved for good works.
  5. True believers should have assurance of salvation.

Copyright © 2016 Gregory Brown

Unless otherwise noted, the primary Scriptures used are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV or AKJV are from the King James Version or Authorized (King James) Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations and commentators’ quotations have been added.


1 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (p. 61). Chicago: Moody Press.

2 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (p. 61). Chicago: Moody Press.

3 G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Electronic ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964), 6:175.

4 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 19). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

5 Accessed 4/25/15 from https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-14-salvation-grace-through-faith-alone-ephesians-28-9

6 Hughes, R. K. (1990). Ephesians: the mystery of the body of Christ (pp. 80–81). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

7 MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1919). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

8 Accessed 4/25/15 from https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-14-salvation-grace-through-faith-alone-ephesians-28-9

9 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 20). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Related Topics: Basics for Christians, Christian Life

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