In the middle ages, Roman Catholicism taught that man earned his salvation. This position led to many abuses of the power the church wielded over people, such as the sale of indulgences as a means of securing forgiveness. This particular error was the breaking point for Martin Luther who fought tooth and claw against the corruption within the Catholic religion.
Unfortunately, Luther and other reformers (esp. John Calvin) took the opposition to works based salvation to an equally false conclusion, that man has no part to play in the process of salvation. While we must set the record straight concerning this error, we too must avoid swinging the pendulum back to the other extreme. Sadly, some in the Lord’s church have gone too far in fighting faulty concepts of God’s grace. As a result, many Christians shutter when someone says we are saved by grace. We must not allow those “…ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness…” (Jude 4) to rob us and our ministry of the rich blessings and power of knowing God’s grace.
Is the idea that we are saved by grace really at odds with the notion that one must possess an obedient faith? To answer we must define the term grace. A simple definition of grace is “unmerited favor.” To say it is unmerited is to say it is unearned. So, do we earn our salvation or do we not? Any right thinking person knows we cannot possibly earn salvation. Either salvation is an unearned gift or it is not, we cannot have it both ways. Paul clearly taught that we are “…justified freely by His grace” (Rom. 3:24). And again he said “For by grace you have been saved through faith…” (Eph. 2:8). Just because some people pervert God’s grace is no reason for us to feel like we have to modify the statement that we are saved by grace and not our own achievement. That we are saved by grace in no way removes our responsibility to be obedient to God’s will.
The rest of the thought in Ephesians 2:8 gives man’s part in salvation. It is “through faith” we access God’s free gift. The word ‘through’ indicates the way of access to the gift given by grace. This means salvation truly is only by God’s grace, yet our access to the gift is through the portal of faith. Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17), and biblical faith is an obedient faith (Jas. 2:14-26). Furthermore, God’s grace teaches us how to live (Tit. 2:11-14), and Paul left no room for concluding we may continue in sin because we are under grace (Rom. 6:1-2). Indeed “…the goodness of God leads you to repentance”, not license to sin (Rom. 2:4). We are not saved by our good works, but we are saved for good works (Eph. 2:9-10). Though we do not earn salvation, we are active in the reception of it.
Let us remember these truths and stop the pendulum from swinging again. As Charles Hodge wrote, “Tell men what God did before you tell men what to do.” All together now, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.”
Unfortunately, Luther and other reformers (esp. John Calvin) took the opposition to works based salvation to an equally false conclusion, that man has no part to play in the process of salvation. While we must set the record straight concerning this error, we too must avoid swinging the pendulum back to the other extreme. Sadly, some in the Lord’s church have gone too far in fighting faulty concepts of God’s grace. As a result, many Christians shutter when someone says we are saved by grace. We must not allow those “…ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness…” (Jude 4) to rob us and our ministry of the rich blessings and power of knowing God’s grace.
Is the idea that we are saved by grace really at odds with the notion that one must possess an obedient faith? To answer we must define the term grace. A simple definition of grace is “unmerited favor.” To say it is unmerited is to say it is unearned. So, do we earn our salvation or do we not? Any right thinking person knows we cannot possibly earn salvation. Either salvation is an unearned gift or it is not, we cannot have it both ways. Paul clearly taught that we are “…justified freely by His grace” (Rom. 3:24). And again he said “For by grace you have been saved through faith…” (Eph. 2:8). Just because some people pervert God’s grace is no reason for us to feel like we have to modify the statement that we are saved by grace and not our own achievement. That we are saved by grace in no way removes our responsibility to be obedient to God’s will.
The rest of the thought in Ephesians 2:8 gives man’s part in salvation. It is “through faith” we access God’s free gift. The word ‘through’ indicates the way of access to the gift given by grace. This means salvation truly is only by God’s grace, yet our access to the gift is through the portal of faith. Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17), and biblical faith is an obedient faith (Jas. 2:14-26). Furthermore, God’s grace teaches us how to live (Tit. 2:11-14), and Paul left no room for concluding we may continue in sin because we are under grace (Rom. 6:1-2). Indeed “…the goodness of God leads you to repentance”, not license to sin (Rom. 2:4). We are not saved by our good works, but we are saved for good works (Eph. 2:9-10). Though we do not earn salvation, we are active in the reception of it.
Let us remember these truths and stop the pendulum from swinging again. As Charles Hodge wrote, “Tell men what God did before you tell men what to do.” All together now, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.”