Tuesday, 16 July 2013

One of *THOSE* bible verses

So I've discovered one of THOSE bible verses - the ones that make you go, 'Oh, so THAT'S what is has actually meant all this time!'

You might not agree with me. That's ok. Unless you're God, I don't care.

And I know that you're not God.

So I'm good.

Ok. The verse is one you probably know.

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

Now, previously I thought that this verse was saying that we can't save ourselves, we are only saved by grace. Which, it is, but there's more. I had a good look at this a couple of weeks ago and noticed something - the punctuation.

Firstly, thats a good thing because it means that Uni has actually helped me in some way.
Secondly, see those hyphen's, or M-dashes? (Hehe, thats a technical term. :D)

Yeah, I see them Grace. Your point?

Well, whilst previously I'd thought that the saving part is not of ourselves (which its not btw's) now I see that its the faith part that is not of ourselves. See?

For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith -  and this (faith) is not of yourselves, it is a gift of God - 

Faith is not our effort to really, truly, with all of our might believe - its a gift from God. When people says, 'have faith!' you already have it. When those bible verses say, 'Faith can move the mountains" - yeah, it can, but you only need the faith of a mustard seed and guess what? You've been given it.

Enough with the eyes-squeezing-shut-chanting-the-prayer thing. Faith is your gift, not your job.

How much more amazing is that verse now?

:)

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