The question of whether salvation is by grace alone or by grace plus works has been debated throughout church history. At the heart of this debate is how we are justified before God and receive eternal life. Those who believe in salvation by grace alone (sola gratia) argue that we are saved solely by God’s grace through faith in Christ, apart from any human effort or good works. Those who argue for salvation by grace plus works believe that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation, but that our good works also play a role in justifying us before God.
The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “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.” Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot earn salvation by our good works.
However, the Bible also teaches that good works have an important role in the life of a believer. Good works are the evidence of genuine faith and the natural result of salvation (James 2:14-26). Believers are saved to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Although good works do not contribute to our salvation, they are an essential part of the Christian life.
Bible Verses on Salvation by Grace Alone
Here are some key Bible verses that teach salvation is by grace alone, not by works:
- Romans 3:28 – “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
- Romans 4:4-5 – “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”
- Romans 11:6 – “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”
- Galatians 2:16 – “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
- Galatians 2:21 – “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”
- Galatians 3:11 – “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.'”
- Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
These verses clearly teach that we are saved by God’s grace through faith alone, not by our works. Good works play no role in our justification or salvation. Rather, salvation is a free gift received by faith.
Salvation is Not Earned by Good Works
The Bible rejects the idea that we can earn salvation by our good works. Our good works can never merit or earn salvation for these reasons:
- Our good works are like filthy rags before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6). Even our best works are tainted by sin and imperfection.
- We can never keep the law perfectly or do enough good works to earn eternal life. We always fall short of God’s perfect standard (Romans 3:23).
- Eternal life is a free gift that cannot be earned or God would be indebted to us (Romans 4:4-5).
- If we could earn salvation, it would make void the necessity of Christ’s death on the cross (Galatians 2:21).
Salvation must be by grace alone because we can never be good enough to merit salvation by our works. We need God’s grace and the perfect righteousness of Christ credited to us.
Good Works Are the Evidence of Genuine Faith
While good works do not contribute to our salvation, the Bible teaches that good works are an essential part of genuine faith. James 2:14-26 warns against a dead, useless faith that produces no fruit. Faith without works is dead. True, saving faith will always be accompanied by good works. Good works are the evidence and result of salvation, not the means of salvation. Here are some verses showing the importance of good works:
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Our bodies are temples so we glorify God in our body.
- Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
- Titus 2:14 – Christ died “to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
- Titus 3:8 – Believers should “be careful to devote themselves to good works.”
- Matthew 5:16 – Believers are to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
- Galatians 5:22-24 – The fruits of the Spirit lead believers to do good works.
While these good works do not save us, they are an essential result of genuine faith and the process of sanctification in a believer’s life. Justification leads to sanctification. Salvation by grace must produce good works.
The Error of the “Grace Plus Works” Gospel
The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is by God’s grace alone received through faith alone in Christ alone. Any gospel that teaches salvation is by grace plus our own good works is a false gospel. The “grace plus works” gospel has historically taken different forms, such as:
- Works Righteousness – The view that we earn merit before God by doing good works and living a morally upright life.
- Indulgences – The medieval Catholic practice of reducing punishment for sin by good works and payment to the church.
- Penance – Acts of repentance, charity, or self-denial done to make satisfaction for sins committed after baptism.
- Sacramental Grace – Grace imparted by the sacraments of the church rather than by faith alone.
These notions all undermine the free gift of salvation by God’s grace. The Bible consistently teaches we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, not by our works added to God’s grace. Our works play no role in justification or securing salvation for us.
The “grace plus works” gospel has the following dangerous implications:
- It distorts true biblical grace and makes our works a basis for justification.
- It denies the complete sufficiency of Christ’s finished work on the cross to save us.
- It gives us grounds for boasting in ourselves rather than boasting in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:9).
- It leads to an unhealthy focus on human effort rather than God’s grace.
- It leads to pride, self-righteousness, and a lack of assurance of salvation.
For these reasons, the Bible condemns the “grace plus works” gospel as “a different gospel” we must avoid (Galatians 1:6-9). Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone.
Objections to Salvation by Grace Alone Answered
Those who argue for a “grace plus works” gospel raise several objections to salvation by grace alone that need to be answered biblically:
Objection 1 – James 2 Teaches We are Justified by Works
James 2:24 says, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” Doesn’t this teach salvation by works?
Answer: In context, James is dealing with professing believers who claim to have faith but have no good works as evidence (James 2:14). He is teaching that genuine saving faith always results in good works. He is not teaching works justify us before God or contribute to our salvation. James and Paul are in full agreement that we are justified before God by faith alone in Christ alone.
Objection 2 – Doesn’t a “Faith Alone” Gospel Lead to Lawlessness?
If we teach salvation is by “faith alone,” won’t that lead believers to live lawless, sinful lives?
Answer: No, because true saving faith always leads to obedience and good works, even though they do not earn salvation. Faith alone does not mean “faith that is alone” but true faith that will produce fruit. Those with true faith will be regenerate, empowered by the Spirit, and eager to do good works out of love for God.
Objection 3 – Don’t We Need To Cooperate With God’s Grace?
Don’t synergistic views (that we cooperate with God’s grace) have merit? After all, God’s sovereignty and human responsibility are both taught in Scripture.
Answer: We do not cooperate with God’s grace to earn or maintain our salvation. Salvation is solely by God’s grace. However, in the application of our salvation, we are responsible to freely repent, believe, obey God, and persevere by His grace and power alone working in us.
Objection 4 – But Doesn’t Baptism Save Us?
What about verses like 1 Peter 3:21 that call baptism “an appeal to God for a good conscience” and say it “now saves you”?
Answer: Baptism does not save us or earn salvation for us. The verse says baptism is an “appeal,” not what earns an appeal being granted. Baptism is faith publicly declared and illustrated, representing inward repentance and cleansing, but it does not earn salvation for us.
Objection 5 – Don’t We Have To Endure to the End to Be Saved?
Don’t verses that speak of future salvation for those who persevere show that works do contribute to salvation? For example, Matthew 10:22.
Answer: Perseverance in holiness, obedience, and suffering as believers is the evidence and result of true salvation, not the means of earning it. Salvation is fully accomplished in Christ for us, but its realization continues as we grow in grace. Our perseverance is guaranteed by God’s preservation, not our perfect works (John 6:37-40).
So in summary, common objections to salvation by grace alone can be answered from Scripture. The Bible consistently teaches salvation is not by works but a free gift of God’s grace we receive by faith in Christ.
Practical Implications of Salvation by Grace
The truth that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone should transform how we live as Christians in the following ways:
- It gives us assurance – Our salvation rests on Christ’s work, not ours, so we can have confidence in our eternal security.
- It produces humility – Since we contributed nothing to our salvation, we have no grounds for boasting in ourselves.
- It motivates worship – We are compelled to praise God for His glorious, undeserved grace toward us.
- It encourages evangelism – We spread this good news of free grace far and wide out of love for lost souls.
- It energizes obedience – We are motivated to obey Christ out of love and gratitude, not an attempt to earn salvation.
- It inspires perseverance – Christ will complete the work He began in us by grace as we continue in faith.
Understanding salvation by grace shapes how we view ourselves, God, and every aspect of the Christian life. We rest in Christ’s finished work and strive to live by grace for His glory.
Conclusion
Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone is clearly taught in Scripture. We are justified and receive eternal life solely by God’s grace, not by our merits or works. While good works have an important role in the Christian life, they contribute nothing to our salvation. Any gospel that adds human works to God’s grace as the basis for salvation is a false gospel. Clarity on this essential truth is vital for properly understanding the Christian gospel and assurance of salvation.