For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that
[salvation] not
of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works,
that no one should boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Grace is all that God is free to do for mankind on the basis of
the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Faith is a
nonmeritorious system of perception based on confidence in the
authority, veracity, and ability of God to provide salvation. Grace is
the gift of salvation; faith is the means. The object of faith,
our Lord Jesus Christ, has all the merit.
As Jesus Christ hung between
heaven and earth, God the Father imputed our sins to Him and judged
them.
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross. (1 Pet.
2:24a)
Jesus Christ paid the penalty of sin. He became
our substitute.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf
[as our substitute], that we might become the righteousness of
God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21)
Because of the work of Jesus Christ, salvation is available to
everyone.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
[uniquely born] Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
And they said,
