Are We Saved by Grace and Grace Alone?
It is an undeniable truth the God’s grace evident in Jesus Christ was necessary for our atonement from sin and no amount of works alone can save us. The phrase “saved by grace and grace alone” has been so popular among Christians and in any attempt on evangelizing. But is it really by God’s grace alone, and nothing that is required on our part?
When Jesus Christ began His works on earth, He taught the people about God’s future Kingdom and what is necessary to be saved and to enter it.
- Believe in Jesus
In John 8:24, Jesus says, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”
Our sins changed us from being perfect beings that God has created with a perfect relationship with Him into spiritually dead, carnal, and physically corruptible humans that are alienated from God. Our sins caused our unrighteousness which is unacceptable to a thrice holy God.
There is no other way that we can be saved from the punishment of sin in the future judgment except if we believe that Jesus is Christ. Christ is chrīstós in Greek which means “anointed one”, while in Hebrew Mašíaḥ or messiah meaning “one who is anointed”. So, unless we believe that Jesus is the anointed Savior, then we will certainly die from our sins. God’s gift of salvation is not claimed apart from faith. It requires our faith in Jesus Christ, who is God’s Son, sent into the world to seal the new covenant with His own blood.
The confession of one’s faith in Christ is publicly declared through water baptism. Jesus himself was baptized by John the Baptist, which during his baptism, God identified Him as His Son (Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21, John 1:31-34).
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)
“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”…Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”(John 3:3, 5)
Much is to be studied about baptism which will not be discussed in this article. But as a Christian professing our faith in Christ, we undergo water baptism which can be performed to us by any believer (Matthew 28:18-20) in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and then Jesus himself baptizes us in the Holy Spirit.
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Repentance and turning away from sins.
Jesus declared that repentance is necessary to escape death from sin. Jesus says, “No, I tell you. But unless you are sorry for your sins and turn from them, you too will all die.” (Luke 13:3, 5)
Repentance is to turn 180 degrees from sins and to follow God’s commands. Through repentance we receive forgiveness of our sins (Acts 3:19-21) and by following Jesus, His blood purifies us from all our sins (1 John 1:7).
To repent of your sins means to humble before God. Jesus told a parable about the Pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18:9-14 to emphasize humility, and that God favors to justify those who humble themselves before Him, acknowledging their sinfulness and need of His mercy, over someone who pridefully considers himself already righteous because of his good deeds and good character.
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Lose your life for the sake of following Christ.
Jesus taught that if a man wants to keep his life safe, he must lose it for the sake of Christ (Luke 9:23-25). It means he must give up himself and his own desires to follow Christ. It does not mean to kill yourself physically for no reason, but it means choosing rather to die to one’s fleshly longings than to betray Christ through sinning.
Luke 9:23-25, “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
