Titus 3:5
About this verseGod saved us because of his mercy, not because of any good we had done, washing us and making us new by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8-9
We are saved by God's grace through faith — a gift from him, not something earned by what we do, so no one can boast.
For it is by this grace that you have been saved, through faith. None of this comes from you; it is God’s gift. It is not the result of what anyone has done, so there is no room for anyone to boast.
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Say the verse aloud, filling in each blank. Tap a blank for a hint.
What Ephesians 2:8-9 means
Paul closes every door to self-congratulation in two verses. Grace is the means, faith is the instrument through which it is received, and even that is not your own doing — the whole arrangement is described as the gift of God.
The stated reason is blunt: so that no one may boast. What follows in verse ten is the balance — we are his workmanship, created for good works. Works are the result of salvation, never the price of it, and memorising both verses together keeps that order straight.
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Questions about Ephesians 2:8-9
What does Ephesians 2:8-9 mean?
It means salvation comes as God’s gift, received through faith by grace — not earned by anything we do, so that no one has grounds to boast.
If works don’t save, do they matter?
Yes. The very next verse says we are created in Christ Jesus for good works. They are the evidence and purpose of salvation, not its cause.