Grace And Faith
Much has been said and written concerning the question, "What shall I do to be saved?". There is a great deal of confusion in the religious world today on this question. It is certainly one of the most important of all in the world, because upon the manner in which it is answered depends the eternal salvation of the soul. The widespread confusion is not necessary; in fact, it would not exist if men would be content to study the word of God and take the answer found therein. Confusion would readily disappear.
One of the clearest passages of all on this subject is in Ephesians 2:8, where Paul declares, "For by grace are ye saved through faith." Let us study the two-fold aspect of man's salvation as it is set forth in this brief statement.
Grace
"For by grace are ye saved." It was grace, unmerited favor, favor which man did not deserve that caused God to give man the chance to be saved. God did not owe man anything; he was under no obligation of any sort to provide for man's salvation. But in spite of that He freely gave to man:
1. A Savior. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.) That was grace. Christ was not obligated to come; God was not obligated to send him. But God did send him, and Christ did come. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9.)
2. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin because they believe not on me; of righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:7-13.) This sending of the Comforter was an act of grace, it was unmerited favor.
3. The Scriptures. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16, 17.) This is an act of grace. God was under no obligation to give us the Bible.
4. Eternal Salvation. The final act of God's grace will be to give to us "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:4.) All these things are involved in God's "grace"; not a one of them does man deserve. And the fact that God has made the reception of these blessings conditional upon something man must do, does not in any sense destroy the fact that they are of God's grace.
Faith
Having considered grace, let us look now at the second element of Ephesians 2:8, which is "faith." The Bible plainly teaches that man is justified, purified, sanctified, and saved "by faith." It does not teach that this is done by faith alone, as the creeds both old and new affirm. James bluntly gives this lie to this denominational doctrine when he asks, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?" He answers his question once and for all in the ringing words of eternal truth, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24.) Between Paul and James there is absolute agreement. By the deeds of Moses' law, according to Paul, no flesh shall be justified. By faith apart from works salvation is equally impossible. In Galatians 5:6 Paul harmonizes the two positions in these words, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."
The Bible teaches that for a man's faith to save him that faith must move the man to obedience. Here are the things that are needful:
1. Hearing the gospel. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me." (John 6:44-45.) No man can come to Christ until he has heard, learned, been taught.
2. Belief in Christ as God's Son. "But these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life in his name." (John 20:30, 31.)
3. Repentance from past sins. "That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all the nations beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47.) "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." (Acts 17:30.)
4. Confession of faith in Christ. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 10:32.) "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:9-10.)
5. Baptism into Christ. The person who has heard the gospel, believed in Christ, repented of his sins, and confessed his faith in Christ is now ready to obey God's positive command to be baptized into Christ for the remission of his sins. "Repent ye and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38.) "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." (Mark 16:16.)
The Lord adds to his church all those who obey this simple plan of salvation. This is God's plan, not man's. It was given by God's grace, and must be accepted and appropriated by man's faith. Thus salvation is "by grace, through faith." If you accept it and become obedient to it, you will be obeying God. If you reject it, you will be rejecting god. What is your answer? It is up to you, my friend; but choose wisely! for you will meet your choice at the judgment.