If what one does is referred to as work, then believing must be doing something.

On Ephesians 2:8-10, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

I have heard time and time again that since "grace is a gift", one has to take the gift in order to receive it. And since taking is not a work, then it's sensible to see that receiving God's gospel is not a work but a "taking" the gift. A preacher once offered a $5.00 (bill) from the pulpit as a gift. If a member goes to the front and takes it, the gift is his. In this case a member went forward and kept the $5.00. That's how to get around grace not being "worked for". But would not the true Bible definition of work be violated here because if what we do is work, then "taking" is certainly a doing; hence, it is work. Faith is also a work.

Since one is saved by faith (as well as grace), and faith is a work, then what does this "not of works" mean in this passage: Ephesians 2:9, "Not of works, lest any man should boast. Look at the previous verse: "not of yourselves". What kind of works would a man be able to boast of? Abraham could not boast of his works (Romans 4:1). We have seen the many, many different works referred to in the Bible. But the same word or equivalent is used. The context has to identify the works (the doing; the action).

Look at the next verse: Ephesians 2:10, "For we are His workmanship G4161, created in Christ Jesus unto good works G2041, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. If the "faith" of verse 8 is the means of creating us, then we are God's product (His work; or His workmanship); Paul identifies "the faith" as coming from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). A work of faith is not the work of [or from]man. In other words, isn't the Spirit speaking of the source for the action of the work and not simply speaking of all actions or works.

"Not of yourselves." "Of" is from the Greek "ex G1537" [we use this Greek word as a prefix in many of our English words]. Strong's "ex G1537" means "A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds), from, out". Is this not what we have concluded? It had to be the source (works not from man but from God) and it is in the Greek!

I believe this passage (Ephesians 2:8) is correctly translated in the NIV: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

Jesus said that believing in Jesus was a "work of God" (John 6:29).  The grammatical case "of God" according to Robinson's Morphological Analysis is Genative (possession, "of"; also origin or separation, "from"). The work "from" God. This was Jesus' answer to the question in verse 28, "What shall we do G4160, that we might work G2038 the works G2041 of God?"  The ERV version is clearer, " Jesus answered, 'The work God wants you to do is this: to believe in the one he sent.'" It is "the" faith once delivered (Jude 3) and revealed in the gospel (Romans 1:16, 17 "for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith").

Wherein can it be categorized as a gift then? "It is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Someone insists that we don't deserve God's love, grace, faith, gospel, salvation, etc. This is indisputable. But why take what is truth and force it into the definition of God's personality. The lack of man deserving God's compassion has nothing to do with the definition of God's grace any more than does with defining His wrath and vengeance or His work of faith. To do so is to confuse the message of God's grace.

Indeed, due to our lost condition God is not required to save anybody. He told our father Adam, do this (disobey me) and you will die. That would have been the end of it except for God's plan (Ephesians 1:3,4). God was obligated to keep His Word: for death is the wage of sin. But God's plan included a surprise gift as it were, a "second chance" offered to all of mankind (not just Adam). A surprise gift indeed for even the angels were anxious for it to be revealed (1 Peter 1:12 "things which angels desire to look into"). The devil was even taken by surprise! "For if they had known it they would not have crucified the Lord." If that had occurred, the devil would have won.

God is not required nor obligated to provide this package of [the] faith (Jude 3; includes Jesus' total atoning plan of salvation)! That's why it is called a "gift G1432". This word "gift G1432" is translated "without cause" in the condemnation of Jesus by his critics: "But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause G1432'" (John 15:25). This word translated "gift" is "gratuity". It is derived from the "gift G1435" of Ephesians 2:8. We use it when we leave a tip for a good service or just because we want to. But it is not required (generally) or nor are we obligated (to the financial hurt sometimes of the waitresses). But "gratuity" or "gift" does not rule out work in the work place or here.

The package of faith is a package of work. The work of faith. God's identified work. God's grace (favor and pleasure) is located therein! ("By grace are you saved through (the [definite article G3588 in the origianl]) faith", Ephesians 2:8). "Through" is the preposition denoting the channel of an act. The channel is identified as "the G3588 faith" [the same in Ephesians 2:8 as is in Jude 3 "contend for the G3588 faith which was once delivered unto the G3588 saints."

WHAT ABOUT SUCH PASSAGES THAT EXCLUDE WORKS FROM GRACE?

Romans 4:4, "Now to him that worketh G2038 is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt."

2 Peter 3:16, "As also in all his (Paul's) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. "

Now if Peter is correct, and I believe that since he is the apostle of Jesus and His spokesman just like Paul, then we must use care and not wrest this passage to our destruction. We have to decide what work Paul is referrring to that is outside the realm of grace.

If we determine that this passage cannot contradict nor negate the rest of the Bible (as well as Paul's writings) then we must accept the fact that the works that exclude grace are the works under consideration. Don't forget that the items under consideration are mutually exclusive: grace--works. In Ephesians, the works that are excluded from grace are those that man can boast of. What he habitually does. Ephesians 2 says "(those men) were by nature [by habit or custom] the children of wrath, even as others." This is a logical interpretation of the context of Romans 4.   Look at verse 1: the subject is Abraham receiving God's grace. When was God pleased with Abraham?   Verse 1 & 2- Abraham found no way to boast of justification according to the flesh [i.e., man's works, i.e., his].   Rather, he believed. Remember that Jesus said that "believing" is a work [which source is not from man but from God].   Abraham did something that produced the favor of God: he believed God's promise and responded.

Do you believe God's promises to the one that believes the gospel, repents of his sins, confesses his faith in Jesus as God's Son, and is baptized in water by the command of the Lord Jesus must be honored by God?

2 Peter 1: 4, "by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature".   Has God not obligated Himself to save the "obedient" believer [of His works]? Do you believe that God created people "to do [His] good works"? Then by their walking in a newness of life, will they not be saved by the "grace" of God? Do you not have that assurance? God promises to be faithful "to those that do His good works" and He will keep His promise to reward them (you and me).

What about the one who goes back to "wallowing in the mire" by reconstituting the old man of sin?   2 Peter 2:22, "But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: 'A dog returns to his own vomit,' and, 'a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.'" These "works" (anti-God actions) negate God's grace (favor) and nullify His promises.

Repeat: Why then did Jesus say that believing was a work?

Since "work" is what one "DOES", when one believes God, he doing what God wants. Again, he does. Hence, he is Bible working the right kind of doing, the work designated "of God."

A preacher holds up a dollar and offers it as a gift to anyone that would come forward to receive it. To compare this to grace, is ludicrous, to say the least. The illustration is proposing a person "do something" for the gift. This is supposed to answer those that say (including the speaker) "We cannot do anything to save ourselves." Walking up to get money in our day and time is definitely "doing something." And "believing" is surely "doing something." But it is a work of God for us to do. The illustration of the gift of a dollar is reasonable only if it is conceded that one can do something for his salvaton.

Jesus compares the kingdom to workers who get paid:

To question award payment is to question Matthew 20:1-16, "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers G2040 for his vineyard. "Now when he had agreed with the laborers G2040for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle G692 [a (not) + G2041] in the marketplace, "and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle G692 [a (not) + G2041], and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle G692 [a (not) + G2041] all day?'   "They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.' "So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers G2040 and give them their wages G3408 [pay for service--hire, reward, wages (Strong)], beginning with the last to the first.' "And when those came who were hired [understood and added by the translators] about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. "But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. "And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, "saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' "But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 'Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen." (NKJV).

Parables tell Truth. This parable is consistent with the coming of Jesus in Revelation 22:12, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward G3408[pay for service--hire, reward, wages (Strong)]is with Me, to give to every one according to his work G2041." (NKJV).

GOOD VERSUS EVIL WORKS

John 7:7, "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil."

Romans 13:3, "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. "

Revelation 2:2, "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;" (NKJV).

***In Matthew 5:16 Jesus uses works G2041: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your goodG2570 works,G2041"

In Ephesians 5:8-11, Paul by the Spirit uses works G2041 in telling how these "children of light" are not to walk. They are no longer of "darkness" but "light", nor are they to have fellowship with unfruitful works G2041 of darkness. Their walk is referred to as the fruit of the Spirit in "all goodness, and righteousness, and truth". That word "goodness" by the way is from "agathos" G18 which is the "beneficial" good .

They are also to walk in "love" (v. 2) and to give "thanks" (v. 4). The "unfruitful" (opposite of the "fruit" of the Spirit) works [what one does] are listed in verses 3-6. Going back in the context (chapter 4:22-32) children of light are to put off the old man behavior and put on the new man by speaking truth, work G2041 with his hands that which is good (beneficial good G18: grace, edifying) communication, kindness, tenderhearted, and forgiving.