I'm Saved By Grace Through Faith Alone!

by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ Red Star

http://www.ph16.com

We are either saved by grace through faith alone, or we are saved by works. There is no "in-between" combination like "grace, with a little works on the side." There is no such thing as a 2nd class Christian. All fall short of the glory of God. All who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior are saved by God's grace and mercy alone. What is saving faith, or what does saving faith look like? You'll see what true faith looks like when you see all the works of the Spirit that God has done in and through a person in their life and over their lifetime. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Let's be careful not to judge a book by its cover. We answer to God, and God is able to make those who trust in Him to stand. We all have a sinful nature, even the apostle Paul struggled with his (Rom. 6-8), so we cannot always conclude whether a person is a Christian or not just by the works that we see or do not see in other people's lives. We are called to minister His love and truth and let God's Spirit do the work in our hearts. He is our God and He will complete the work He has begun in each of us until the day of Jesus Christ!

Article submitted Wednesday, October 14, 2009 & read 1329 times.

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» left by Teresa^(1,655) (2 years 116 days ago.)

Brian, I appreciate this impassioned word of admonishment. Sounds like it is motivated by a specific situation. Excellent reminder. It is always good to have you here. Your love for the Lord and His people always come shining through.

Thank God it is by grace that I am saved and sustained! Your sister in Christ and friend, Teresa
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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 115 days ago.)

I really appreciate your comments. Thanks Teresa.

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» left by Terry Scerine⁽¹¹⁾ (2 years 116 days ago.)

Very good Brian. I couldn't agree with you more.

Terry
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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 115 days ago.)

Thanks, Terry. Lord bless!

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» left by Anita Fox⁽³⁾ (2 years 116 days ago.)

I agree totally with you Brian, thanks for the words of truth.

Anita
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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 115 days ago.)

I appreciate your encouragement and support, Anita. The foundational truth of salvation by grace through faith is being overlooked by so many, but God is the rock of our salvation! Grace and peace to you in Jesus name.

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» left by Anonymous (2 years 108 days ago.)

Brian what do you mean by ,"all who haved recieved"? this referrs to works by accepting him, to my understanding Jn 3:16 proclaims by believing we have eternal life. Are you referring to a prayer? May the holy spirit guide you brother
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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 105 days ago.)

Thank you for your question and comment. I meant receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the moment of faith in Him. Most pastors, teachers and preachers use the word receiving as synonomous with believing in this type of context. The entire post is about the fact that we are saved by grace, through faith, and not by works. Receiving a gift isn't a work. In believing and having faith in Christ for eternal life, we receive the free gift of eternal life and we receive the guarantee of eternal life in the indwelling of God's Spirit in our hearts. Receiving that gift would presuppose belief in it. Hope this helps.

May God richly bless you with His grace, mercy and peace.

In Jesus name, Brian.

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» left by Anonymous (2 years 104 days ago.)

Good expanation. I was thinking that this person might have been thinking of when Jesus said the work of God is to believe. But the belief is not what saves us, it is the grace and to receive something we need only open our hands and hearts.

I think there is a lot of confusion in what people mean by "work". True saving faith is evident by our obedient works and commandments of God, but we can earn salvation by the things we do. On the other hand, we cannot have a false sense of security in thinking that just because we said a prayer of faith that we are saved. As you stated in your article, genuine salvation is evident by a changed life.

Thank you. Ann

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» left by Anonymous (2 years 104 days ago.)

I mean we Cannot earn our salvation by the things we do. Sorry about that.

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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 103 days ago.)

Hi, Ann. Thanks. I knew what you meant! I like this, " But the belief is not what saves us, it is the grace and to receive something we need only open our hands and hearts."

To clarify, we cannot be saved by anything we do, our works. We are saved by believing in Jesus. But what you said is even more specific. It is God who reconciled us to Him through the cross. It is His grace that has saved us and nothing we have done. In that sense belief and receiving His forgiveness and promise of glory are the same thing. Ephesians 2:8 seems to say that even the faith to receive Christ is the gift of God.

Love it! God's immeasurable and unending, undeserved kindness poured out on us! What a glorious God we have!

Brian

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» left by Anonymous (2 years 99 days ago.)

Brian -

I appreciate your passion and obvious love the Lord. I am a little confused by some of your statements however. Personally, it seems clear that scripture teaches a person is saved by grace through faith. Scripture also teaches that a faith without works is dead. The first century christians taught this....Clement of Rome (a companion of Paul) wrote - "Behold, the Lord comes and His reward is before His face, to render to every man according to his work. ...Let us therefore earnestly strive to be found in the number of thsoe who wait for Him, in order that we may share in His promised reward. But how, beloved ones, shall we do this? By fixing our thoughts on God by faith. By earnestly seeking the things that are pleasing and acceptable to Him. By doing the things that are in harmony with His blameless will. And by following the way of truth, casting away from us all unrighteousness and sin."

Polycarp, a companing of John wrote - "He who raised Him up from the dead will also raise us up - if we do His will and walk in His commandments and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness."

I thought maybe these men believed that we earn our salvation by their writings until I found these:

Clement - "[We] are not justified by ourselves. Nor by our own wisdom, understanding, godliness, or works done in holiness of heart. But by that faith through wich Almighty God has justified all men since the beginning."

Polycarp - "Many desire to enter into this joy, knowing that 'by grace you are saved, not of works,' by by the will of God through Jesus Christ."

I am lead to beleive then that grace and faith are both required for my salvation...God' grace and my faith. But James clearly says that faith without works is dead. So perhaps it is an 'in-between' if you will that leads to salvation. I am saved by grace through faith...amen!

Have a wonderful day my friend and may God be gloried.

Michael
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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 97 days ago.)

Hi, Michael. Thank you so much for your feedback and the quotes that you shared. I agree 100% with each of them. I think the issue comes down to justification, which Paul uses in Romans differently than James uses in the book of James. There is the act of being made right by God (justified) and there is the process of sanctification (the Holy Spirit working in our lives after salvation, changing us more and more into His image). We are saved by grace through faith, but faith is not a work. All we have to do is believe in Jesus Christ and receive, by faith, the forgiveness of sin that we have been given by God through faith in His atoning work on the cross. Receiving the gift is not a work. Now, a true faith is going to bare fruit. There will be works of God being done by those that have truly been born again by the Spirit of God. So, according to the whole of the New Testament, faith itself is not a work. But faith in Christ will bare good works in abundance. What is the fruit of the Spirit? Love. And love is characterized by joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23).

We are declared righteous by faith. God takes away our sin and lays it on Jesus on the cross. He also accounts us right. This is His gracious act of love, and we are saved because of His work for us. But, at that moment of salvation, do we then all act perfectly righteous. Are Christians perfect? Of course not. We are still stuck in this sinful old human nature. We receive the Holy Spirit as a foretaste and guarantee of our glorious future in Christ, when we have new bodies with no sin, pain or death. Is there any way to become more righteous as we walk with Jesus. Absolutely not! I am no more righteous today than the day I received Christ. Why. Because no one is right with God, not one. Only God is good. I am a wretch, saved by Christ's obedience, His blood. But is the Holy Spirit wanting to do a work in me, to make me more loving and patient and wise? Absolutely! But it has no baring on my relationship with God or my standing with Him. I am no more or less right when God works through me! It is Him working through me. May God receive the glory always.

There are rewards. There is responsibilty given to those that walk with the Lord and do His will. But don't confuse justification with sanctification. We are not sufficient in and of ourselves, but through Christ we can do all things!

Lord bless,

Brian

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» left by Anonymous (2 years 93 days ago.)

Good Evening Brian...Thanks for the response. Sorry I have delayed...much to do.

Clearly we are saved by grace through faith as you mention....amen my friend. But if Paul and James are to agree and not contradict each other then what is the 'faith'? You have said it is not a work. Work is doing something....not doing something would be not working. You have offered that all i need to do is believe. Yet if work is doing and I am not saved by working (doing) anything then the act of believing is a work and therefore cannot save me. If I follow this logic then God saves either everyone or only those He wants to.....clearly nearly are taught in scripture.

So back to Romans and James...Paul and James. James states that faith without works is dead...a dead faith is an unobediant faith. Jesus said "If you love me then you will do my commandments." There is that "do" again.... (Please understand, I am not advocating that we are saved by works....scripture clearly teaches that I cannot do anything to earn salvation. Salvation is the gift of God....but I must accept the gift if I am to be saved. God gives the gift to all men but not all men accept it. How do I accept it? By doing something....)

Your points on santification aside (not saying they are bad or anything), I am just interested in the discussion for salvation. what must I do to be saved? What must I do to accept God's gift of salvation? Faith....obediant faith according to James...and Peter (Acts 2)...and Paul (Romans 6)....and Jesus (John 3). If you follow the account of the events immediately after the church was established (Acts 2) then it appears that there are several steps to salvation. Certainly I must believe (8:12 &36-37; 10:43; 16:31.....Heb. 11:6 also)....Repentance is vital as well (2:37-38...Luke 13:3 also)....confession is present (8:37....Rom. 10:10)....baptism is found in every account of conversion in Acts (2,8 (twice), 9,10,16 (twice)....Gal 3:27)....

It is interesting that in the conversion of Saul, Ananias tells him in Acts 22:16 to arise and be baptised and wash away your sins. If his sins had been taken away by beleif then why would he say that....interesting I find.

Well, enough preaching....my apologies for appearing to 'beat on the pulpit"....I so appreciate sharing with you and you sharing back. Our love for the Master makes us brothers and disciples and for that I am truly grateful.

Take care my friend and may God be gloried!

Michael

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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 92 days ago.)

Hi Michael. The real distinction is between justification and sanctification, salvation and maturity, being made right by God and growing in grace and truth. If you will receive that, you will finally be at peace with God and the concept of salvation as a free gift. You said, “Clearly we are saved by grace through faith as you mention” and “Yet if work is doing and I am not saved by working (doing) anything then the act of believing is a work and therefore cannot save me. If I follow this logic then God saves either everyone or only those He wants to.....clearly nearly are taught in scripture.” Okay, so you have made it clear that you want to believe that no one can be saved by their works, that salvation is by grace, through faith, through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. At the same time you are saying the act of believing is a work, thus negating your first statement! I think that the first error you are making is equating doing with working. All working is doing, but not all doing is working. Doing and working are not the same thing. Michael, you have made it clear that you do not believe in salvation by grace through faith. You cannot believe both things at the same time. When we receive the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus, we are not working for it. I’ll use receiving a gift on our birthday or Christmas as an example. Someone hands you a wrapped box and says, “here’s a gift for you.” “Why, what did I do,” you ask. “Nothing, this isn’t payment for some work that you did for me, this is a free gift for you just because I wanted to bless you,” the giver says. Now, the moment you believe that, did you just do a work for that person that they owe you for? Of course not. That’s what is meant by “not being saved by works.” No one can make God indebted to themselves. When you open the gift and take it home, you worked to open it (in that sense of work), but the work wasn’t done in exchange for the gift, you just opened it. Opening as “work” is not what is meant by “work” by Paul or James or anyone in the Bible. The giver is not indebted to you now just because you received their gift and opened it, that’s the point. That is not the sense of “work” in the NT that Paul and James are talking about. I’m afraid you have misinterpreted the meanings of work and/or doing to any kind of physical or mental activity, and that is not what is meant by work. This ought to be real good news to you, Michael. Your believing is a doing, but not a work the way Paul or James mean it! By work, the NT authors mean doing some work for God, some physical act(s) to gain His approval. And when Paul says we are not saved by works, he means we cannot do works to be considered right, or more right, in God’s sight. The standard for righteousness is perfection, so we all fall way short of that. We can never live up to that, no matter how many good works we do. . So, what does James mean when he says we are justified by our works? At a glance, it seems to contradict Paul. But, a deeper look at the passages reveal something very interesting. When James says justification, he uses the word in a different sense than Paul. He seems to be using it in a final, judicial sense. What many commentators agree upon is that what James is saying is that in the final analysis of ones life, at the judgement (so to speak), a true faith will have shown many good works by God over it’s lifetime. And a faith with no fruit is not a real faith. Some people were perverting Paul’s teaching on grace, saying that Paul taught that the more people sin, the more grace they receive and that we should sin so that God’s goodness is more apparent. But Paul fiercely opposes this in many of his writings, like Romans 3 and Romans 6. Also, Paul said in Galatians, 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:19-21). So, many Bible scholars believe that James is actually defending Paul’s teaching, not contradicting it, by clarifying that faith without fruit is dead, or is not real faith. Now, do Christians sometimes commit sexual immorality? Yes. Do we sometimes have selfish ambitions? Every day, my friend. Do I need to be re-saved every day? Of course not, I’m saved by grace and not by works. I repent, I ask God to help me and change me by His Spirit. By God’s grace and sufficiency, and not my own, He is changing me daily, so my good deeds or bad deeds do not effect my position of righteousness in Christ one bit. It is His righteousness given to me and not my own. If it were otherwise, Michael, no one would be saved. No one- ever! It must be by grace through faith! Obedience is a fruit of faith. Works are a fruit of faith. As a popular bumper sticker reads, “Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.” Michael, you said, “James states that faith without works is dead...a dead faith is an unobediant faith.” The first part James said, but not the second. He said dead. Faith without works is dead, it is not faith at all is what is meant. And that is very much true. Works, or the fruit of God working in you, will begin to happen in every believer’s life. A true faith will produce fruit, good works. The fruit is a product of the salvation, not a means to it. That is a very important distinction and makes the difference between what I believe and what you believe. It is the difference between being saved and not being saved, counting on self or counting on Christ. So I will say it again, the fruit is a product of the salvation, not a means to it. You say that you believe it is impossible to be saved by works, but then you contradict that by saying your faith is a work, therefore you must be saved by faith and works. This should be a big, red flag to you. Michael, there is no other way to say this to you: what you are saying is a different gospel, not the gospel of the NT. Not the gospel of Jesus, not of Paul or James or Peter or John. Clearly faith is the act of receiving God’s gracious gift of salvation. Faith cannot be a work that now makes God indebted to you, indebted to give you salvation. If faith is “doing”, fine. But if that is a work that just caused God to owe you something, you have misunderstood the Scripture to the point of being outside of it. Finally, you said, “I am just interested in the discussion for salvation. what must I do to be saved? What must I do to accept God's gift of salvation?” As you probably know, Jesus was asked this exact question. John 6:28-29 says, Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” And in Acts the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…” (see Acts 16:30-33). So, Michael, salvation is a separate act from maturing in Christ. We were dead in our sins when Christ saved us. All we could do was to call on His mercy and ask for forgiveness, and He did that for us even though up to that moment we were enemies of God. Once we are born again, God the Father, Jesus, the eternal Son of God and the Holy Spirit take up residence within our spirit, indwelling the believer. Then and only then are we capable of doing any works for or of God. Everything we did before that was outside of Christ and at odds with God. But by faith in God’s gracious gift and Jesus’ atoning work on the cross, we are now “in Christ”, empowered and enabled to do God’s work, not for salvation or to keep salvation, but to please our Father and glorify the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. And as James says, so-called “faith” without the fruit of the Spirit is not a real faith. Real faith can be proved by the works it does! (my own paraphrase) But, if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). Romans 3:21-28 says, 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. 27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

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» left by Anonymous (2 years 90 days ago.)

Good Morning Brian...Peace and Grace to you.

I appreciate your candor and forthcoming in your response. I was taken back a little to be honest but I thought first I should re-read what I wrote because I think either you have misunderstood me or I have not explained myself very well. I believe it to be the later.... As we agree, we are saved by grace through faith. In my effort to understand a living faith, I wrote what appeared to make belief a work. Wrong on my part....Belief is not a work as you say and I did not intend to make it that way. My use of the scientific term of work is not applicable and should not be used....Thanks for correcting.

Romans 3 says all men are sinners and we know that sin separates us from God. So how can the relationship between man and God be restored...how can man be considered righteous to God? I have found five teachings that attempt to answer this question.

1. God saves everyone. God is love, therefore He would condemn no one to Hell.

2. Man saves himself by his deeds. "I am a good person...I give to the poor, I don't lie, etcc..."

3. God gives faith to those he chooses. The "elect" if you will. Some are saved others are lost, you have no control over your own salvation. I have heard this called predistination....

4. Grace is given by God and Man believes in Him. Man has to do nothing other than believe . I have heard this one called 'faith only"...another term is an undemonstrated faith.

5. Grace is give by God and Man has faith in Him. Man's demonstrated faith.....

Of course it should be mentioned that a sixth possibility is preached by some and that is that God saves no one...

I like your analogy of the gift....God's grace is a free gift to all. No man can earn it. However, just as you say, I must accept it by opening the gift. That 'opening the gift ' is demonstration of faith. I am doing something.... If this is not accurate then all men are saved because God has extended His grace to everyone. My action is not earning the gift nor is it making God indebted to me....I am accepting His gift. I am doing something to accept that gift.....

Well, I must run my friend....must get a start on the morning.

Have a wonderful day. Michael

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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 90 days ago.)

You are very gracious., Michael. Thank you for clarifying. To me, I see no difference between what you list as way #4 and way #5. And in your final paragraph you said,

"My action is not earning the gift nor is it making God indebted to me....I am accepting His gift. I am doing something to accept that gift....."

The action is the faith, the belief, the trust, the receiving of Christ in your heart, so to speak. The whole action of repentance, asking Christ into your life for forgiveness and salvation and being born again. That is doing something, but not a work to appease God, as we discussed. It is a demonstrated faith, in that sense. Faith really cannot go undemonstrated, even just the act of, so to speak. What you mean, then, by demonstrated in #5 is some outworking of the faith, which again is a scientific use, as you said, of the word "work", and not a lawful use of it in the sense of keeping God's law to appease Him.

So, Abraham is the perfect example to use here to clarify what we are attempting to get at. Both Paul and James refer to Him as the example, the type of the believer(s) to come, so to speak.

Paul makes a big deal of him and his faith in Romans chapter 4. He says that Abraham was accounted right with God by faith, and this before he had done anything that could be considered obedience or keeping of the law (which was still 430 years away). Then Paul tells us that circumcision was a sign of Abraham's obedience. James comes in and says that in the end, we know Abraham's faith is a justifying faith because we see that he did obey God in his life. So justification is by faith alone, apart from works, because God knows the heart of the truely faithful, even before they can obey or do any other good works. We are saved by that faith, because of course we know and both agree that there is no way to do anything in and of ourselves that makes us right or more right with God than we are now. Only in Christ, which is by faith, are we accounted right in God's eyes, declared righteous, and that is a free gift of God which none of us deserve. All can be made right this way, so salvation is universal in that sense. But not all accept, and so many will live eternity seperated from God, by their own volition.

I think that you are over thinking "do and doing". This is something, but not to justify ourselves.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)

A substance, and I say the defining demonstration in and of itself. Of course fruit/obedience/good works will flow forth from true faith.

I hope this helps in your journey to find peace with God. Justification by grace through faith is the hope that is the anchor for my soul. May the Lord richly bless you.

Heb 6:17-20: Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

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» left by Anonymous (2 years 96 days ago.)

Very good conversations going on here. Thanks everyone. Indeed, iron sharpens iron. I am looking forward to your next "vent" Brian :-) Teresa

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» left by okello robinson ogwal from lira uganda (1 year 301 days ago.)

our work,nomatter what we do can not earn us salvation. John 3:16"... He who believes shall be saved"it is only faith in Jesus alone we can be saved

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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (1 year 301 days ago.)

Thank you for your comment! Yes, our works are like filthy rags to the Lord (Is. 64:6). For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work (Rom. 11:6). Whosoever shall believe shall not perish, but have eternal life. And God knows the true faith of a person's heart. Jesus did the work for us at Calvary!

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound (Rom. 6)? Of course not! So grace is not a license to sin but just the opposite, it is the power of God that has freed us from the power of sin and death in this life, and has given us eternal life as co-heirs of God with Christ.

Amen, okello robinson ogwal from lira uganda- so happy to hear from you! May the Lord bless you richly with His power and His love and His never ending grace!

Brian

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» left by Nathan from Indonesia (322 days 20 hours ago.)

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