The Bible teaches that salvation comes through God’s grace and is received by faith in Jesus Christ. This essential Christian doctrine is summarized in Ephesians 2:8-9: “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.” Understanding the meaning of this profound truth is crucial for every believer.
Salvation is by Grace
Grace refers to God’s unmerited favor and kindness towards us. Even though we are sinful and separated from God, He chose to provide salvation for us. As Romans 5:8 declares, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This was not because of any good in us, but simply because of God’s gracious character. His grace is a free gift that we cannot earn through good works or religious rituals. Titus 3:5-7 states, “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, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Salvation originates in the mercy and grace of God.
A key passage on grace is Ephesians 2:1-9. It points out that even though we were “dead in trespasses and sins,” following the world, flesh, and devil, “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.” Our salvation did not come because we were worthy or righteous enough. It came because of the redeeming grace of God which pardons our trespasses, regenerates our hearts, and makes us spiritually alive in Christ.
The grace of God appeared in Jesus Christ, as described in John 1:14-17 and Titus 2:11-14. God’s unmerited favor was demonstrated in sending His Son Jesus into the world. Christ came as an act of divine grace to die on the cross for our sins, granting salvation to all who believe. We contributed nothing to earn this gift; it is purely by God’s amazing grace. His grace is greater than all our sins (Romans 5:20).
Salvation is Received Through Faith
Although God graciously grants salvation in Christ Jesus, we receive this gift by faith. Faith means trusting in Jesus alone to save us, rather than our own good works. Acts 16:31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Romans 4:16 further states, “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace.” Salvation is by grace alone, but through faith alone. The two must come together.
Saving faith involves understanding the gospel message, assenting to its truth, and entrusting ourselves completely to Christ (Romans 10:9-10, 13). True faith relies on Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. As Romans 3:22-24 declares, “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” The instant we repent and put our faith in Christ, we are forgiven, saved, and granted eternal life by His marvelous grace.
Faith is not a meritorious work or human effort that earns salvation. It is simply the means God has chosen for us to receive His free gift. Romans 4:16 says it is “to the end that the promise may rest on grace.” Salvation is a work of God’s grace from beginning to end. As Jonah 2:9 states, “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” Faith is merely our positive response to what God has already provided in Jesus Christ.
We Are Saved By Grace The Moment We Believe
The instant someone places their faith in Christ, they pass from death to life and are saved by God’s grace. As Ephesians 2:5 says, “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.” At the moment of faith, we are forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, adopted, sanctified positionally, and granted every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3-14). Our salvation is immediate and secure.
This does not mean we were already regenerated and converted to Christ before faith. Scripture paints conversion as contingent on faith, not preceding it. Acts 16:31 commands, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Whoever believes will be saved; hence why evangelism and missions share the gospel – so more can believe and be saved. Saving grace is only activated at faith.
While positional sanctification occurs instantly at conversion, practical sanctification unfolds gradually as we cooperate with God’s transforming grace. Justificationhappens immediately, but sanctification is a process. By His grace, God continues to forgive, cleanse, and change us as we walk with Christ (1 John 1:9). But our positional standing before God is eternally settled at the moment of saving faith.
Salvation is Totally Due to God’s Grace
In summary, salvation originates in God’s gracious character and finds its provision through Christ. No amount of human effort or personal righteousness can earn, deserve, or merit such an incredible gift. We simply place our faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and receive salvation instantly as God’s act of undeserved favor. All praise and glory belong to the Lord!
This understanding guards against two errors. It avoids legalism by refusing to mix faith and works. It also avoids antinomianism by ensuring faith inevitably yields the fruit of changed lives. As believers, we live in response to the amazing grace of God which has freely saved us.
By emphasizing salvation as completely “by grace through faith,” the Bible secures all glory for God. Romans 11:6 declares, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” As Ephesians 2:9 states, salvation leaves no room for human boasting. Grace eliminates any prideful notions that we contributed to gaining God’s favor. Salvation rests on His grace alone!