What does it mean that salvation is by grace through faith?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Salvation by grace through faith means we cannot earn our way to God. Instead, we receive His gift by trusting in Jesus Christ. Sin entered the world through Adam, bringing death and separation from God (Genesis 3), but Jesus’ death and resurrection conquered sin and opened the way to eternal life (Ephesians 2:4-5). Grace is God’s unmerited favor that covers our sin, and faith is the means by which we receive it. Salvation by grace through faith frees us from judgment and secures our place as God’s children. In the end, salvation rests not on what we do but on what Christ has done for us, and we receive it by grace through faith.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Sin came through Adam and Eve’s disobedience (Genesis 3).
• Sin brought a curse upon the world and its inhabitants (Genesis 3:14–19).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Sin was introduced through one man, Adam, but it was conquered by Jesus (Romans 5:12–21).
• We need salvation, which God has provided for us freely through the sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus Christ. God's salvation comes by grace through faith: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9).
• We are all under the curse of sin when we are born, and we live in a fallen world that is under the curse of sin until Jesus returns. Sin brings the penalty of death and an eternity in hell (Romans 6:23; John 3:18).
• Sin separates us from God and ultimately leads to our death: "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). We need to be saved from the power and influence of sin over our lives.
• Salvation saves us from the penalty of sin and guarantees us eternal life in heaven with God (John 3:16-18).
• Grace is God's unmerited favor which He freely bestows on us (Romans 3:24). He loves us so He provides grace that enables us to receive the gift of salvation through Christ: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5). God’s gift of grace vindicates and frees us from the power of sin. We are no longer separated from God or sentenced to hell, because His grace covers us and makes us sinless in His sight. We accept the gift of His eternal salvation by grace through faith.
• We accept God's grace by putting our faith in His son, Jesus Christ, and in the redemptive work He has done. He is the "founder and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Many religions teach that salvation is achieved by our actions; they imply that we can be good enough to earn it, or that if we are sorry enough for our bad actions everything will be okay. No matter how good our intentions or actions are, they are not enough on their own. While we should do good works and have contrition over our shortcomings, that won’t free us from the curse of sin we inherited from Adam in the Garden of Eden. We must be delivered from the curse of sin, which only God's grace provides.

Jesus was crucified and died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins for all of humanity, and He was resurrected from the dead three days later (Matthew 27:27—28:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8). God's grace is bestowed upon us when we place our faith in Jesus Christ.

The book of Hebrews says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. … And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:1, 6). Sound impossible? That’s because it is.. We cannot generate this level of faith on our own. Both grace and faith are gifts of God (Ephesians 2:8). Do you want to believe in Jesus but do not feel like you have the faith to do so? Ask God to give you the faith you need and look to His Word, the Bible: "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).

God is the author of our redemption story. He created and chose us to be His from before the universe was even formed (Ephesians 1:4-6). He desires for us to put our faith in Jesus, so that we will be saved and adopted as His children (John 1:12). God "… is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). When we put our faith in Jesus as Lord, we receive the free gift of God's grace and this is how we are saved.

UNDERSTAND

• Salvation is God’s free gift—we cannot earn it by works or goodness.
• Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus, trusting His death and resurrection for forgiveness.
• Salvation rests on God’s grace, His unmerited favor that saves, transforms, and secures us as His children.

REFLECT

• How do you rest in God’s grace instead of slipping into trying to earn His approval?
• How does knowing that salvation is God’s free gift through faith in Jesus change the way you see your failures and shortcomings?
• How can you remind yourself to rely on Christ’s finished work rather than your own efforts?

ENGAGE

• Why do people struggle to accept that salvation is by grace through faith rather than by works?
• How does the truth of salvation by grace through faith compare to other belief systems?
• In what practical ways can we encourage others to stand firm in God’s grace when doubts about salvation arise?