The Apostle Paul taught that we are saved by grace – it is the gift of God not of works.  Nephi taught that we are saved AFTER all we can do.  Joseph Smith taught that we are saved by obedience to laws and ordinances.  Either Paul was right, or Nephi and Joseph were right.  Only the Bible makes the truth clear for us. Paul starts out in Chapter 2:1-3 reminding the believers in Ephesus that they were once spiritually dead in their sins before they met Christ.  They were worldly, carnal, sinful, and alienated from God.  “And were BY NATURE the children of disobedience.”  Not born an innocent child of God – but born with a sin nature – day one.   These first three verses present a hopeless humanity – trapped in sin, unable to save itself.  Then Paul wrote the small but glorious words – Verse 4 “But God” Behind those two words lies a cosmic plan so huge in scope and so vast in love that the human mind cannot fully comprehend it – all we can do is humbly receive it.  Let’s read Verses 4-7 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great (agape self-less) love wherewith he loved us,  Even when were dead (spiritually) in sin, hath quickened us (has given us new spiritual life) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved);  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  That in the ages to come (throughout the eternities) he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”  Christ defeated sin and death through His atonement – thus offering spiritual life to those dead in sins.   The verb form “have been saved” refers to a past event with present and ongoing results.  As believers, we have already passed from death to life.  Salvation is not something to be waited for – but something that has already been delivered.  This passage teaches that we are seated with Christ now “in heavenly places.”  Meaning that we now belong to the heavenly kingdom of God and are one with Him.  We now – while on earth – have an intimate relationship with God. The next couple of verses were conveniently skipped over in the Sunday School and Individual/family manuals.  As we cover them, I think you’ll understand why the Curriculum department of the LDS Church wouldn’t want to discuss them.  These are powerful words written by Paul to emphasize God’s great love and special favor towards those who put their trust in Him alone.  (Read Twice)  Verses 8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith (in Christ); and that not of yourselves (you can’t earn salvation): it is the gift of God:  Not of works (our works can’t save us), lest any man should boast (taking pride in thinking they are achieving salvation).”  Paul is firm that absolutely nothing is of our own doing – not salvation, not grace – everything is the gift of God.  It is a gift to be thankfully accepted.  When you receive a gift at Christmas or on your birthday – you don’t offer to pay back or contribute towards that thoughtful gift – you simply receive and accept the gift with gratitude.  It would be offensive and insulting to the giver of the gift for you to try and pay for it.  In that respect – we can’t take credit for our salvation.   It is not a reward for the good things we have done.  People find it difficult to accept something so free – so willingly given – so available to anyone.  We want to feel as though we did something – that we somehow earned our salvation by our merit.  We think or – are told by false teachers – that there has to be a certain amount of law keeping, ordinance keeping, covenant keeping – in order for us to receive salvation.  But Paul’s words are unmistakable – if salvation is by God’s grace and is accepted through faith – then it is not a reward.  If salvation could be earned by good works, then by nature we would be boastful or prideful.  The fact is – no one could ever be good enough to please a holy God.  If righteousness was something men ear