The Hubs on: "resurrection" faith

Week 3:
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

Background: 
Part of the letter that Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus. Food for thought - Paul spent a number of years in Ephesus proclaiming this cross-cultural message of grace. Epaphras was so moved by Paul what said in Ephesus, he returned to his home and started the church of Colossae (Colossians).

Observations: 
This message is not only cross-cultural, it is counter-cultural. A gift from God? I don't have to do anything to earn it? I don't have to do anything in return? My mind doesn't work like that. My mind keeps track of who paid for the last lunch outing with my friends, or who initiated the last phone conversation with my recovery buddies. It feels awkward to not be able to earn/payback this gift.. I feel insufficient.. I guess it's a reminder of my unrighteousness (what could a sinner possibly do that is righteous?).
This last week in the college group we studied about "resurrection" faith - belief that God will take what is dead and bring life out of it. It was in regard to Abram and Sarah - their infertility. God promised them a line of children but it was physically impossible. Yet, they still believed that it will happen - "resurrection" faith.
This is the same for us today. God requires that everyone have "resurrection" faith in order to receive His promises. A sinner can believe that God WILL DO what He has promised - and that is righteous. God WILL take a dead sinner and bring them to everlasting life.

Break it down: 
Salvation is God's work “For by grace you have been saved”, in God's way “through faith, and that not of yourselves”, according to God's will “it is the gift of God”

So far: 
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.