You Are Saved by Grace Through Faith

Steven’s Scribbles
“You Are Saved by Grace Through Faith”
Eph. 2:8-9


    You are saved by grace through faith. Often, the Lord’s church is accused of not teaching this core tenet because we also believe that baptism is necessary for salvation. However, these two viewpoints are not in opposition. Obedience is a crucial aspect of considering God’s word. “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:9). If “saved by faith” means doing nothing, how do we reconcile the need for obedience?


    Consider Noah. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8). The definition of grace is unmerited favor. The KJV translates Gen. 6:8 as “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Does this mean Noah was saved simply because he had grace in the eyes of the Lord? No. After this, Noah was commanded to build a boat (Gen. 6:14-16), and “Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.” Noah still had to obey after receiving God’s grace.


    Looking forward, we see that we all have granted grace on some level. While the definition of grace is “unmerited favor,” it doesn’t fully explain God’s grace. Titus 2:11-12 clarifies: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” So, God’s grace is the gift of His Son, but the occurrence of the Gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ) alone doesn’t save us. It is obedience to that Gospel (2 Thess. 1:6-9; Rom. 6:3-6; Heb. 5:9) and thereby accepting God’s grace that saves us.


I love you all!


In His Service,
Steven Hugley