Are We Saved by Grace?
Yes, we are saved by grace. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.” Some accuse the churches of Christ of not believing this. They reason that since we teach that baptism saves, we are not teaching salvation by grace but by works of merit. What Paul wrote, however, does not exclude works of obedience. He also says that we are created for good works. We need to believe everything that Paul wrote here. He never says that we are saved by grace ONLY. He never says that we are saved by faith ONLY. He says that we are not saved by works in which we may glory, works of merit. We agree. These kinds of works cannot save a person.
What were these works? They were the works of the Law of Moses (Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16). James said that we are saved by works of faith (James 2:24). Paul said that we are saved by works of faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11). Jesus said that faith itself is a work. John 6:28-29 records, “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” We are NOT saved by the works of the Law. We are saved by the work of faith. Baptism is a work of faith (Colossians 2:12). Grace, faith, and works of faith is not an either/or thing. It is a both/and thing.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley