Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV): meaning and how to memorise it

What Ephesians 2:8–9 says

Paul says that we are saved by grace through faith. Salvation is the gift of God, not the result of works, so no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8–9 in context

⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ⁷That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ¹¹Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; ¹²That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Ephesians 2, verses 5–12. Read the whole chapter with John Brown’s notes in the Self-Interpreting Bible.

Ephesians 2:8–9 in the catechisms

The Reformation catechisms and confessions cite Ephesians 2:8–9 13 times as a proof text.

WSC 30
How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
WSC 86
What is faith in Jesus Christ?
WLC 59
Who are made partakers of redemption through Christ?
WLC 66
What is that union which the elect have with Christ?
WLC 67
What is effectual calling?
WLC 71
How is justification an act of God's free grace?
WCF 10.2
This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man; who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by…
WCF 11.1
Those whom God effectually calleth he also freely justifieth; not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their…
WCF 14.1
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the…
WCF 16.5
We cannot, by our best works, merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the…
HC 21
What is true faith?
HC 60
How are you righteous before God?
HC 65
Since then faith alone makes us share in Christ and all His benefits, where does this faith come from?

How to memorise Ephesians 2:8–9

Hearers breaks the verse into clauses and teaches each clause in four steps. Then it brings each clause back just before you forget it.

01
Read
Read the verse with the clauses marked. Listen to it read aloud.
02
Trace
Type the first letter of each word, with the words shown faintly.
03
Fade
Half of the words go. Type the text again, and fill the gaps from memory.
04
Recall
All the words go. Type it or say it aloud. Each clause gets its own grade and its own review date.