Salvation: Grace, Faith, and Our Response

Have you ever heard someone say, "You can't do anything to earn your salvation. It's all grace, and nothing you do matters."? At first glance, this sounds noble and humble. But is it entirely accurate, or is there more to it?

Think of it this way: Imagine you've fallen into a deep, muddy pit. You can't climb out, no matter how hard you try. Then, someone throws down a rope. Now, this rope is a pure act of grace, you didn't earn it; you didn't even deserve it, but here's the thing: you still have to hold onto the rope! Grace provided the way out, but your action, grabbing and holding tight, is still necessary.

That's what Paul is telling us in 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 of works, lest anyone should boast."

Notice two key points here. First, we're saved by God's grace, His loving kindness toward us, something completely undeserved. But secondly, we're saved "through faith." That's your part! Faith is like reaching out to grab that rope. It's your response to God's offer. It's not earning salvation; it's accepting the gift that's freely given.

Some have argued that adding even the smallest bit of effort, what some have called adding "one whit", to our salvation is wrong. They say that any human action would somehow tarnish God's grace. But the Bible doesn't teach "grace only." In fact, Scripture tells us clearly that our response matters greatly.

For example, consider Hebrews 5:9, which says: "Jesus became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him."

Obedience certainly sounds like something we're supposed to do. If we need another example, let's look at Acts 2:40, where Peter pleads with the people to "save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

If humans had absolutely nothing to do in responding to God's grace, wouldn't it be strange for Peter to say something like "save yourselves"?

Imagine getting a gift for your birthday. Your friend buys it, wraps it, and hands it to you. Now, did you earn it? Of course not, it's a gift! But do you have to accept it, unwrap it, and actually take possession of it? Absolutely. That's exactly what faith, obedience, and repentance are like.

And what about baptism? Paul describes Christians as people who are "in Christ" (Ephesians 2:10). But how do we get "into Christ"? The Bible says clearly that we're baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3). Baptism doesn't earn our salvation; it puts us where salvation is found: in Christ.

Let me put it another way: Salvation is like medicine for a deadly illness. God's grace is the medicine He offers. Faith, obedience, repentance, and baptism are the medicines we take. Imagine someone who refuses to take medicine because they're worried that swallowing a pill would mean they're "earning" their cure. We'd all agree that sounds silly! Accepting treatment isn't earning anything; it's simply responding wisely.

Speaking of obedience, Jesus himself said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

Love, obedience, faith, and repentance aren't ways to earn salvation; they're simply the ways we receive and live in it. Without these "whits," we would never fully experience God's grace.

Think about it: if we say that grace is the only part, we'd be ignoring the very things God commands us to do. Wouldn't that be disrespecting God's grace itself, since it was His grace that taught us to live in obedience (Titus 2:11-14)?

Let's explore this even deeper. Consider what James wrote about faith and works. In James 2:18-19, he says: "But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!"

This clearly teaches us that genuine faith naturally expresses itself through our actions. It's not merely an intellectual agreement; it involves active trust and obedience. This faith doesn't diminish grace; it honors it, showing our gratitude and appreciation.

Think of Noah. He didn't save himself from the flood by building the ark, God provided the plan, the instructions, and even the strength Noah needed. But Noah still had to pick up the tools and build! Was Noah boasting afterward? No, he was simply thankful that God had shown him the way to safety.

Similarly, the Apostle Paul teaches us in Philippians 2:12 to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Does this mean Paul thought we earn our salvation? Not at all. He's telling us to engage actively and sincerely with what God has freely provided.

And here's another example: Consider the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. He asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Did Jesus say, "Nothing at all"? No, He told him to obey God's commandments and even challenged him to give up his possessions to follow Him. The young ruler had a choice, didn't he? He needed to respond actively, but he chose not to.

The truth is that salvation is wonderfully rich and deep. God's powerful love is reaching down to us, offering a way out of our brokenness. Our faith, obedience, baptism, and repentance are simply our hands reaching back. They are our response, our participation in the incredible gift God offers.

So, is salvation by grace alone? Clearly not. It's by grace through faith. God has thrown you the rope. The only question left is this: Will you grab hold and trust Him enough to respond with your heart and life?