Draw Me a Diagram: Ephesians 2

See previous diagram and a short explanation of what I’m doing in these posts here and here.

Here’s the text from Ephesians 2:8-9:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

When I looked at this, I immediately saw two phrases that are very similar: not your own doing and not a result of works. They are both negative statements—about not doing or not working. When I made the little chart that you see below, I added an unstated your to the second phrase, giving me not of your own doing and not a result of your works.

Okay, since it (or this), which I’m taking to refer to salvation*, is not of your doing and not of your works, where does it come from? It is the gift of God. This is a contrasting parallel, if there is such a thing, to the other two phrases. Salvation is not of your works, but it is a gift. In other words, you don’t earn our salvation, but it comes to you as a gift. What’s more, it is not of your own doing, but of God. The source of you salvation is not you, but God.

I made a simple little sticky note chart or diagram of the relationships between the phrases and stuck it along the margin next to this passage in my study Bible. (If I’ve really studied a passage of scripture, I’ve probably got stickies stuck all over it.) Here’s a scan of that note.

I wish I’d not added the your to not of works, because the contrast between works and gift would be  clearer that way. Similarly, if I’d used not of yourself—which is what some versions say—instead of not of your own doing, there would be a clearer contrast with of God. If I’d done those two things, the chart would be better wouldn’t it?

It’s a good thing the point of making these simple charts is not to have a perfect one, but to learn something about the relationships between the words and ideas in a text of scripture. This chart has flaws, but it still gives a picture of what it means to be saved by grace. That our salvation is by grace means that it has its source in God, not us and comes as a gift, not as a result of anything we do to earn or merit it.

*My apologies to those who think that “it is the gift of God” refers back to faith and that this is the perfect text to prove that faith is a gift. I do believe that faith is a gift, but I wouldn’t use this verse to prove it.

Round the Sphere Again: Dressing for Less (and with Less)

Thrift Store Shopping
Several reasons to love it. (Nicole Starling) I’m already a regular at my local Salvation Army thrift store, so I don’t need convincing. I’m especially pleased that Nicole tackles the common misconception that those with enough ought to leave the thrift store goodies for people without anything. She explains why it’s ethical to op-shop, as she calls it.

[W]e went to a church that was involved in running an op shop (as a point of contact with locals, not as a fundraiser) and I saw things from the other side, and realised how much more stock comes in than they are ever able to sell, and how glad they are to shift it.  So now I don’t feel guilty about shopping there!

And chances are your local charity-run store makes money to fund other charity programs and if you don’t buy, there is less funding.

Ten Days of Traveling
With only a carry-on. “Heather Poole, a flight attendant from Los Angeles, [demonstrates] how to pack enough for a 10-day trip into a single standard carry-on.” (The New York Times)

I’ve read traveling-light articles, and  they always seem to require a few  well-chosen and versatile pieces purchased especially for travellng. Not so with Heather’s system. She packs “three pairs of shorts, three pairs of dress pants, one skirt, three pairs of casual pants or jeans, three nightgowns, three bathing suits, one sarong, three lightweight sweaters, four dresses, 10 casual shirts, six dress shirts, a clutch, toiletries and two pairs of shoes” in her one standard carry-on. The key is not packing fewer items, but packing those items in the right way.

12 Hour Sale

Monergism Memorial Day 12-hour sale

An additional 10% off any order over $50. Type memorialday in the coupon code box at checkout and click apply. Sale ends at midnight tonight.