In all of Christendom, there’s no subject debated more than whether a person is saved by grace or works. Salvation is either through God’s grace or man’s efforts. One camp believes that a person is saved solely by trusting that the Lord Jesus paid the full penalty for their sins. The other camp believes that salvation is earned by doing good works and winning God’s favor. In this blog, “Saved by Grace or Works?”, we’ll examine the Scriptures for the answer.
The Penalty of Sin
Both camps rely on Scripture to support their doctrine. I should point out that the vast majority of the world’s religions believe that salvation is earned by self-effort (works). Depending on how one reads the Bible, it’s easy to see how someone can adopt a works-based belief system. The Bible has much to say about how we should live our lives, in terms of behavior and love.
All people have a conscience, which is a barometer of how well their life is progressing based on doing right and wrong. Because of their conscience, most can agree that they are sinners. The Apostle John affirms this conclusion in his first epistle: “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1John 1:8)
Based on these truths, many strive to do good, with the hope that their good will outweigh the bad. This hope is based on man’s standard of judgment. We are all somewhat tolerant of each other because we all succumb to evil, to one degree or another. The problem arises when we apply this standard of judgment to God, in Choosing Heaven.
Saved by Grace or Works?
Religious people rely on the fact that God is love. And who can blame them? We read clearly in 1John 4:7-8 that God is Love. The Greek word for love is, in this context, agapē. Agape love is heavenly love. It’s used of God’s love, whereby he loves us despite our sins and failures. It’s easy to love someone that’s loving. However, God loves all people whether loving or unloving.
Gospel Message
We should not think for a moment that because God is love, He, therefore, is tolerant of our sins and dismisses them based on His love. Unfortunately, this seems to be the interpretation of so many. We read this well-known verse in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” This is integral in knowing if a person is saved by grace or works.
The term “so loved” is not a quantitative statement. It is a qualifying statement. It’s not speaking about the measurement of His love, but the manner of His love. I covered this more thoroughly in a previous blog post, So Loved. The manner of God’s love is revealed in this same verse, “He gave His only begotten Son.”
Choosing Heaven
God never allows sin to go unpunished. If He did, he would not be a just God. Here’s how God has dealt with sin: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The whole human race is born into the domain of darkness. The domain of darkness is ruled by Satan.
God does not “love” us out of the domain of darkness, He redeems us out of the domain of darkness; “For you have been bought with a price.” (1Corinthians 6:20) God paid a price to redeem us; the price was the death of His beloved Son.
We can’t win God’s favor based on having more good deeds than bad deeds, which are written down in some heavenly account ledger. Even one sin, no matter how small by our judgment, disqualifies us from the presence of God for all eternity.
Salvation in the Bible
Still not convinced about your good works. Consider Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Does it need to be any clearer than this? In the domain of darkness, our sins don’t appear to be that bad. They’re not seen for what they really are. However, when the brilliant light of God shines upon them, they are repulsive.
Satan considers our sins to be of no consequence and he is overjoyed to convey this thought pattern to us. He helps us to justify the most revile sins, even to the satisfaction of our conscience. He is tireless in his efforts to blur the lines between someone being saved by grace or works. He wants us to trust in self-effort so that we will ignore God’s gracious plan of salvation by grace.
Saved by Grace or Works
Ask yourself this rational question. If you believe in Jesus and that He died for sins, why would there be a need for you to do “good works” to pay for them? Of course, good works have a role in the saved person’s life, but NOT for salvation. After the person becomes redeemed (bought) by God, he or she will have works to do that are ordained by God: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
First, God must save us through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. Then comes the “good works,” according to His will. These works are not done to win God’s favor; they’re done to serve Him. When we put our trust in the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our salvation, we not only receive God’s favor, but we receive the righteousness of the Lord Jesus and life eternal in heaven.
If you enjoyed this blog, you might like this article.
Be sure to forward this blog to someone that needs to know God’s revelation of Himself!
Well said! May God receive all the glory, honor and praise He deserves. We are quick to compare ourselves with others. But we “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!” It is a slap in the face to think there is anything we could add to the death of His precious Son.
Thank you brother for your thoughtful words and encouragement. Jesus paid it all in full. To God be the Glory” Ephesians 11:36. God alone. Under Grace, we are led by His Holy Spirit and made more like Christ through sanctification. However, the moment we repent and place our faith in the finished work on the cross by our Lord Jesus we are eternally saved. As Paul says, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14. Turning oneself over completely to Christ is the single most liberating and righteous act we can do this side of heaven. For that God’s Grace makes in us a new creature adopted into His heavenly family.
Yes, God Alone, Under Grace! “It is finished” (John 19:30)
Very nicely put, brother. Not so much info as to overwhelm anyone, but the simple and logical progression is so important to an unsaved searcher. I especially liked that God did not love us out of the darkness but REDEEMED us. Big difference, in an area which has sown mass confusion over the ages, to those who emphasize that God is love. Rom 5:8 says that better than we could explain it. I look forward to hearing more from this site. A great opportunity for encouragement among “works in progress”
Thank you Richard. God’s plan of salvation is profound in all its design, yet the message is clear and simple to everyone that humbles themselves to its truths.
Well said, Timothy. The only thing I could add is that Paul says we are new “creations” which, according to some, is better than just “creatures”. Gives us something more to think about, And Paul’s the only one who mentions adoption, which is a wonderful truth, but I still like the idea of new birth being the process by which we join the family of God. I was saved in the 6th chapter of John, so I always look to him as my go-to -guy, and he certainly has a lot to say about new birth. Anyway, I appreciated your thoughts.