Eph 2:8-9, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Faith, the instrument of salvation, is the gift of divine grace. Lest we forget or become weary of hearing this doctrine, Paul reminds us that the works of the law never saved us, that we were saved by God’s grace shown in the gospel. This salvation was obtained through the faith, but again even that faith is a gift. Also remember that Paul’s thread of messages are to show believers that is there is more to be tapped into once saved. The grace that saved us is the grace that keeps us. We are not saved by grace and maintained by the law.
The gospel, therefore is grace-centered, why? Because grace is love in action. Our message to the world must be that they have sinned against God and are under God’s wrath/judgment. He is angry with them and the only way they can escape the fiery judgment of God is to look upon Jesus, believe and live, that is love. This may truly be called exceeding riches of grace, for we and they are saved by divine grace.
“Grace is the only thing that can make us like God. I might be dragged through heaven, earth, and hell and I would still be the same sinful, polluted wretch unless God Himself should cleanse me by His grace.”, the dying words of one ancient saint. By grace have we been brought into this position, and by grace are we maintained in it