Saved by Grace Alone?

“If salvation is by grace alone, why are not all men saved?”

“Grace”

In this post we’ll examine and find out if that really is what the Bible says.

Jeffrey Nesbitt in his article By Grace Alone? asked:

If salvation is by grace alone, Why are not all men saved?

Of course the most likely answer to this is:

Because of unbelief.

That by itself would be an admission that we are not really saved by grace alone, isn’t it?!!

Well, the fact is really there’s so much misunderstanding about the word “grace” as used by the apostle Paul or as used in the entirety of the Bible for that matter.

A good starting point in understanding the word grace is by looking up the lexicon. The word grace comes from basically only 2 original words:  the Hebrew word khane and the Greek word charis. The Strong’s Hebrew and Greek lexicon gives the following definitions:

(Hebrew) che?n khane
From H2603; graciousness, that is, subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty): – favour, grace (-ious), pleasant, precious, [well-] favoured

(Greek) charis From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

There is really nothing mysterious about the word grace. It requires no theological “rocket science”, as some would say. We use it [or its equivalent] in our day to day language. One “fall from grace” if he lost status, respect or prestige – as what happens to some athletes who are caught using dope. Or we are in “good grace” with our boss or employer if we worked diligently. Biblical usage is not much different as we will see.

The first occurrence of the word grace is in Gen.6:8:

While Noah was by no means perfect, he found grace or favor with God. Why? Because he was just and perfect [upright] in the sight of God – Noah “walked with God” [v.9]. So right here we see that grace is a concept not unique to New Testament.

Another example is when Joseph was sold to slavery in Egypt and served his Egyptian master well:

King David was inspired by the Spirit to write:

Now in the New Testament the first occurrence of the word grace is found in Luke:

Notice that the sinless Christ received grace from God. Now, let’s examine now the passage from where “saved by grace alone” theology is taken:

This is quite straightforward. Paul made it clear that we are saved by grace as a gift of God. This saving is not a result of our “works” or effort.

Does this mean we have “nothing to do”?

To better appreciate it we need to understand why we needed grace in the first place. Or another way of putting it: What is it that we are being saved from?

To find out we need to get the context of what Paul was talking about in Ephesians 2. We’ll pick up the thread from verse 1:

Here, Paul was saying that we used to be virtual dead or as good as dead because of our trespasses and sins.  Paul has the following thing to say about the connection between sin and death:

That is very clear.  By our sin we earn, as wage, death sentence. Death is the result of sin. Which means that when our present life ends that will be the end of us. We will be no more. But God is so good and kind He is not willing to let that happen without doing something:

The word “perish” is translated from the Greek word apollumi,which means destroy. Malachi describes how the wicked will be destroyed:

So contrary to popular belief [that sinners will burn in hell forever], the Bible says the wicked will be literally burned [up] to ashes. They would be forgotten — even the righteous probably wouldn’t be aware they’re treading on their ashes. But God doesn’t want that to happen to us as much as possible. He love us so much that despite our faults He extends His favor  or grace to us:

Can you grasp that? God is so kind, He was willing to give His Son for us foul-mouthed, evil-minded, sinning and rotting humans! Christ underwent the most horrible of punishments – undeserved at that – just to save even the vilest and most lustful of humans!

Again the question: Is something expected of us?

We only need to go on to the very next verse of Ephesians 2 to settle that question:

So there. Redeemed Christians are God’s workmanship, created “unto good works”. God intends that we pursue or walk a life of good works.

Here is something that people have taken for granted. Why do you think God sent flood that killed all except for Noah and his family? Why do you think God obliterated Sodom and Gomorrah?
Is it because it was fun to God?

Of course not! It is simply because He does not want sin . Man had become thoroughly wicked and God had to do something. God abhors sin. He hates sin – and He has not changed on this [Mal.3:6].
Now, what is sin anyway?

By breaking God’s law we commit sin.

Why do you think God gave us laws?
To make life hard for us? To give us a burden? To catch us sinning?

God Himself exclaims:

God’s commandments is given to us for our own good! And for the good of our children! Forever! How different that is from what most people hear from the pulpit!

If they were given for our good, then isn’t God’s commandments – His laws – also part of the grace and goodness that He extends to us?

This is a diametric opposite of what we often hear preached today! The common teaching today pits grace against the law!

What misunderstanding!

The reason we need grace is because we failed miserably to measure up to the standard of God. This standard is expressed in the laws of God! And God does not intend to dismantle that standard. In fact, as we can read in Matthew 5, Christ showed that God’s laws demand more than merely fulfilling the letters. It demands right attitude – a right heart!

Even in the last chapter of the very last book of the Bible, Jesus emphasize the need to keep the commandments!

Did you see that? Entrance to the “city” of God is granted to those who “do His commandments”. Why? Because His “city” is not for those who continue to sin. Those who continue a life of sinning can’t be allowed to enter in. In fact, Mal.3:4 shows, that sinners will be burned to ashes.

Now, let’s look again at what Peter said about the goodness of God:

Here we see that God does not merely want us not to perish, He wants us “to come to repentance”.

What does repentance mean?
Peter himself explains:

To be “converted” means to “turn around”. It takes repentance or a complete turn around or change on our part for our sins to be blotted out! God promises no remission of sin unless we repent! Repentance is not merely feeling sorry. Repentance means you are so sorry, you want – and will do your best – to change!

Change what?

As Paul explained in Eph 2:1-2, we sinned, we walked according to the ways of this world, according to Satan’s way – which is a way of disobedience.

What are we disobeying? Of course, the commandments of God – which sadly, most teachers teach has been abolished. Our relationship with God is not a one-way street. God reaches out to us, but we need to respond to Him. We respond not by mere platitudes. We respond not by talking about how good Christ is. We respond by doing His will, as Christ did the will of God all His life!

It is as simple as that!

But what if we refused to repent or change our ways?
Speaking to His disciples of the Galilaeans who died at the hands of Pilate, Christ said:

So, not repenting is a serious matter.

Without repentance we would perish. Without repentance we won’t receive God’s grace.
Notice:

Clearly we cannot receive grace AND continue sinning! Grace is NOT an end in itself. God gave us grace because He wants us to have a fresh start and to walk in the newness of life. He wants us to put away sin from our lives! And sin, as we have seen is the transgression of the law.

Have you tried overcoming real nasty habits? It is not easy, isn’t it? It takes real effort.
Much more so with sin that lead to death. Christ said that unless we repent of our sins we would perish like the Galileans. We see Paul himself struggling mightily against sin [Rom.7:15f]. That’s why Paul wrote:

So contrary to popular belief, it takes much effort on our part to be saved. In fact it takes “overcoming” [Rom.12:21, Rev.2:7].

Now, coming back full circle, what was Paul saying in effect in Ephesians 2? Paul was saying that it is all moot and academic. We were – and are – all sinners. There is no way we can say and boast that we are saved by our own efforts, we all fell short of the glory of God. We all failed to measure up to the level that God requires of us. As far as God’s standard is concerned we are all deficient – we are as good as rejects. But by God’s goodness and the death of His son we have been restored in good grace or standing before God. This grace of God spared us from sure death.

But that is as far as grace goes. As Paul warned emphatically in Romans 6, we cannot continue sinning [breaking God’s law] and expect to receive God’s grace. Unfortunately, Christians today have been led into the very error Paul was warning about. This is because of  a blatant lie that turned grace into a virtual license to sin. Jude wrote about this heresy :

This heresy, which was foisted on the early Church by some unscrupulous men even while the apostles were still around, effectively got rid of God’s commandments and thus encouraged sinning. The book of Hebrews gives this sobering warning for those who would fall for this teaching and go back to their old ways after receiving grace:

God’s grace is free. It can’t be bought and it can’t be earned. But it is not cheap. It cost the life of Christ to save us from the consequence of our own sin. This is proof that God did not – and will not – compromise His law. God is not going to save us in sin. And He will not save us by dismantling His standard.

After being redeemed by the blood of Christ we are expected to pursue the way of life to which we were “ordained” [Eph.2:10]. Peter said that Christ suffered for us that we should follow His example:

1Pe 2:21 It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps.
1Pe 2:22 He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips.

If we fell away or turned aside — if we went back to our old ways — it may  become impossible to “renew [us] unto repentance”. It would be like crucifying Christ again and exposing Him to public shame. Can you see how serious it is? This of course, does not refer to occasional slips or falls. It refers to a general deviation from the way of God, as shown by His law – and we cannot fool God about that. The sad fact is that a great deception has lulled people into a false sense of security. As Christ Himself prophesied:

Related Posts:

• What is Saving Faith?
• The Law and Grace Confusion
• Does Doctrine Still Matter?
• Is Dispensationalism Biblical?
• Understanding the Law of God: What it can – and cannot – do for us
• Colossians 2:14-16 – What was Nailed to the Cross?
• Salvation is Free, but Keeping it has Cost

Tags: faith, grace, law, salvation, sin