Grace, Faith, Obedience, And Salvation by Joe R. Price

There continues to be confusion and error over the relative positions of grace, faith, and obedience in God’s scheme of human redemption.

It is said that salvation is “by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.” Undoubtedly, none would be saved without the grace of God (Rom. 3:23-24; Eph. 2:5). Who denies it?! But, if salvation is by grace “alone,” would not all be saved since God desires the salvation of all (1 Tim. 2:3-4)? Yet, all are not saved (Matt. 25:46). So, while “grace” describes God’s part in our redemption, grace is not “alone.” We humans also have a part in our salvation.

The Bible teaches salvation is “through faith” and not through the works of the law (Rom. 3:20-26). Sinners cannot earn the right to be saved; we have sinned, and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Thus, Paul boldly affirmed, “Where is the boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith” (Rom. 3:27). No one merits or deserves salvation. It is available to all through “the law of faith,” not by the works of the Law of Moses (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 3:10-12). We are “sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,” not “through the (works of the) law” (Gal. 3:26; see 2:16, 21; 3:10, 14).

Faith that saves the soul is active; it does the will of God (Heb. 10:36-39). “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). James notes concerning the nature of faith that faith alone (faith that is “by itself”) does not save (James 2:14-26). “You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). Our obedience (works of faith) expresses our trust in God to save us. Faith that does not obey God does not trust God and will not obtain salvation from God. God blesses obedience that is “by faith” (cf. Abraham, Heb. 11:8). Truly, faith that saves is faith that obeys.

Obeying Jesus is not “works salvation.” Obedient faith is not so-called “Galatianism” (which would require sinlessness, something we forfeited with our first sin, Gal. 3:10-12; Rom. 3:23). Nothing is merited (earned) by doing our duty of obeying our Master; “We are unprofitable servants” (Luke 17:10). Indeed, we love Jesus by obeying Him (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).

Salvation is “in Christ alone” because “in none other is there salvation” (Acts 4:12). But how does the sinner get into Christ to be saved?

The answer is given in Galatians 3:26-27. After summarizing that we are God’s children through faith in Christ and not through the works of the law, the apostle declared, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” One is not saved outside of Christ. Baptism is “into Christ.” Therefore, to be saved in Christ, one must be baptized “into Christ” to “put on Christ” (Rom. 6:3-4). The sinner’s faith works by obeying the Lord’s command to be baptized (Acts 2:37-38; 22:16).

Obedient faith does not earn salvation any more than Noah earned his salvation when he obeyed God by faith by building the ark (Mark 16:16; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Obeying Christ’s command to be baptized is the action of a faith that trusts God will save you from your past sins by His grace. Obeying Christ is not earning salvation; it is how sinners obtain God’s grace. Obedience is included in “through faith” – man’s part of the salvation equation, “. . . by grace have you been saved through faith . . .” (Eph. 2:8-9). God’s gift of salvation is opened (received) by obedient faith.

God’s grace offers salvation to everyone (Titus 2:11-12). But only sinners who believe and confess Jesus is the Son of God, who repent before God, and who are “baptized into Christ” actually “put on Christ” (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38, 41; Rom. 10:9-10; Gal. 3:27). By God’s grace, Christ saves those who trust and obey Him (Heb. 5:9; Acts 10:34-35).

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