By Faith, Not Efforts, We are Saved

"By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned." (Hebrews 11: 29)

We are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

We are not saved from the world by what we do, but by what Christ Jesus has done.

This truth is revealed in the types presented in the above verse

By faith, the Israelites passed through the Red Sea. Not relying on their efforts, they had the power and wisdom of God on their side, ushering them through a parted sea, walking on dry land:

"He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him." (Psalm 66: 6)

Notice that God turned the sea into dry land, and the Israelites had nothing to do with it:

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." (Exodus 14: 13)

Faith is the evidence of things unseen: His salvation was present to the Israelites, even though they could not physically see Him. Yet he divided the Red Sea, and bore them away from the Egyptians.

Compared the passage of the Israelites with the attempts of the Egyptians, who represent the world, who "assayed" or tried to pass over on their own.

In the same way, if we try in our own efforts to save ourselves, we will drown:

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 8)

and also

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" (Titus 3: 5)

This regeneration, this renewing of the Holy Spirit we find typified in the above passage, too:

"They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." (1 Corinthians 10: 2)

While the Israelites at that time were baptized into Moses, we today are baptized into Christ:

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3: 27)

We are not saved by our efforts, but rather by the grace of God, which we receive by faith.