So, turn to Ephesians, the 1^st chapter. I’ll give you time to turn there…. Ephesians, the 1^st chapter—notice verse 13. Now, keep in mind [that] Paul is talking about the Ephesians: “In Whom you also trusted, after that you heard the Word of Truth [the Gospel of your salvation]….” Now, a question: After WHO had heard the Word of Truth? Those Ephesians! Who were the Ephesians? Number one: They were saved people. How were they saved? They were saved by grace through faith. What did they do, Paul? He said they “heard the Word of Truth.” So, one must logically, Scripturally and intelligently conclude [that] for man to be saved by grace through faith, he must hear the Word of God. That’s what the Ephesians did.

Let us read the rest of the verse: “…in Whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit [of promise]….” After WHO believed? After those Ephesians believed. Who were the Ephesians? They were saved people. How were they saved? They were saved by grace through faith. So, one must logically conclude, and Scripturally conclude, for man to be saved like those Ephesians, we learned so far, that he must hear and he must believe. That’s what the Ephesians did.

Now, turn to Acts, the 20^th chapter. Well, somebody says, “Why are you turning to Acts, the 20^th chapter?” Because, Paul’s talking about those Ephesians, and I want to know what those Ephesians DID to be saved by grace through faith. [In this Scripture, Paul is speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus, telling what he preached to the Ephesians when he was there among them.] Notice verse 21: “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” What did you preach to them Paul? He’d been there for many months, preaching the Gospel. And he said [that] he had preached to them repentance—to those people. To whom? To the Ephesians. Who were the Ephesians? They were saved people. How were they saved? They were saved by grace through faith. What did they do, Paul? He said, “I preached repentance to them!” So we must conclude that they repented of their sins.

Now, turn back one chapter to [Acts] chapter 19. Well, somebody says, “Why chapter 19?” Because Paul is talking about the Ephesians. And notice verse 18, “And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed [telling, declaring] their deeds.” Now, who came and confessed? Those Ephesians. Who were the Ephesians? They were saved people. How were they saved, Paul? They were saved by grace through faith. Well, what did you preach to them? What did they do? He said [that] they confessed. What all did they confess? I don’t know what all they confessed. I know they confessed the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, because that’s what Paul had been preaching to them for months and months!

Now, then, notice the 1^st verse in this same chapter, chapter 19. Notice what it says: “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus….” Now we find Paul in Ephesus, in the very city were those people were saved by grace through faith. He came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples, “he said unto them, have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” [“Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed?”] They said, “We’ve not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit.” [“And they (said) unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was (given).”]

And then, Paul asked, “Unto what were you baptized?” “And they said, Unto John’s baptism.”

“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after Him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

Now, notice verse 5: Now, “When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.” WHO were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Those Ephesians. “Well, how were they saved, Brother Black?” They were saved by grace through faith. Well, what did they do? Paul said [that] they were baptized!

Now, just suppose we had a chalk board here, and I’d go to the board, and I’d write the word “hear,” “believe,” “repent,” “confess,” and “baptize.” Then, I ask you to come to the chalk board, take an eraser and mark OUT the one that’s not essential. Mark out the one that’s not important. Here’s what the Ephesians did. Would you mark out “repentance”? Would you mark out “faith”? If so, why would you mark out “faith”? Or, would you mark out “baptism”? That’s what they did [—they were baptized].

Now, let me tell you something, my friends—I kinda know how to say it. There’s just no reason on God’s earth for an individual misunderstanding how a person is saved by grace through faith after hearing this lesson tonight. How could one make it plainer than that is? And all the confusion that there is in the church of our Lord this night over the world “GRACE”!! And yet, Paul tells us exactly how the grace of God works—how they were saved by grace. And the grace of God continues to operate in our lives.