8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Salvation can never be earned, not by works of self-righteousness, not by good works, and not by our own labour. It is the gift of God. Human labour can never produce salvation from sin’s plague; it is the work of God’s grace, benevolence, goodness, and mercy. Man can only be saved by grace through faith. So, going by the principle of faith, absolute trust in the Lord, through which salvation comes, there is no boasting. The principle of faith excludes boasting, for no flesh will glory in the Presence of God. Therefore, salvation is by grace through faith (Titus 3:5). Salvation was wrought for us by Jesus Christ in His substitutionary work. When He took our place and died instead of us, He consummated the work of salvation when He was raised from death as both Lord and Christ forever! (Acts 2:36).
There are two sides of salvation mentioned in today’s opening verse. One aspect deals with our justification by faith regarding what Christ did for us in His substitutionary work, while the other aspect deals with our regeneration as to what Christ has done in us as new creatures in Him. There are two streams of Scripture which highlight each aspect; and to walk and live in victory in this world, we must clearly understand the difference and know how to apply them appropriately. Justification has to do with our legal standing before God, while regeneration has to do with the infusion of divine life which we received at salvation. One aspect stresses our standing with God, while the other talks about our state in God. One aspect speaks of the legal truth that has set us free from sin’s bondage, while the other aspect talks about our literal experience of liberty in Christ. One aspect speaks of our authority by reason of Jesus’ victory for us, while the other speaks of our power because of Christ dwelling in us. One aspect is about our standing with Christ, while the other is about our walk in Him. To live in victory, you must be able to marry seamlessly both aspects for life and godliness.
MY SOLID FRONT (YOUR CONFESSION)
In the Name of Jesus Christ, I declare that I am a new creature in Christ; I have been made right with God by faith, therefore I walk in the rightness of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. The two sides of salvation merge seamlessly in my life, for the wisdom of God is at work in me. Amen.
Further Meditation: Romans 8:1; Galatians 2:20.