Faith and Grace

Question 1: What is faith?

ANSWER: Faith in Christ is not simply belief or mental assent that He exists and is the Son of God! Saving faith is belief in Christ, conjoined with obedience to Him! This obedient faith is described, by example, throughout Hebrews, Chapter eleven, which we encourage you to study. Without this kind of faith, "it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6). James tells us that without obedient works, faith is dead, a faith that cannot save (James 2:14-26).

Question 2: How do we get faith?

ANSWER: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Since faith comes from hearing the word of God, we need to study always (II Timothy 2:15) and we need to be obedient (righteously active) to that which we learn. We need to be constant in prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17) and we need to diligently add to our faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. If we do these things we will make our calling and election sure, and we will never fall (II Peter 1:5-11).

Question 3: What is meant by, "We are saved by faith, but not faith alone?"

ANSWER: Some falsely teach that a person is saved by "faith only" when they first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that there are no acts or works of obedience required in order to become a New Testament Christian. This false doctrine is clearly refuted in James 2:14-26! Note especially Verse twenty-four, "Ye see then how that by works (of obedience) a man is justified, and not by faith only."

The doctrine of "Faith Only" is of man, and not of God!

Question 4: Would you please explain John 3:16 as relates to our salvation? Does it not teach that we are saved at the point of belief?

ANSWER: No! It does not! Saving faith in Christ is not simply belief or mental assent that He exists and is the Son of God! Saving faith is belief in Christ, conjoined with obedience to Him! This obedient faith is described, by example, throughout Hebrews, Chapter eleven, which we encourage you to study. Without this kind of faith, "it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

There are those who falsely teach that a person is saved by "faith only" when they first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that there are no acts or works of obedience required in order to become a New Testament Christian. This false doctrine is clearly refuted in James 2:14-26! Note especially Verse twenty-four, "Ye see then how that by works (of obedience) a man is justified, and not by faith only." It needs also to be stated that a man is "not" saved by works of merit or righteousness. Note Titus 3:5; "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by (through) the 'washing of regeneration' (baptism), and renewing of the Holy Spirit." This coincides with what Peter told believing people to do on the Day of Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized . . . (not by works of righteousness, but by works of obedience) for the remission of sins."

To become a New Testament Christian, certain actions are commanded to which one must be obedient in order to be saved! One must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24): repent (turn away from) of sins (Luke 3:3); confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9-10): and be immersed (baptized) in water (Acts 8:35-39) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) into the one body (I Corinthians 12:13) of Christ, which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). It is at the point of baptism that the blood of Christ is applied and from which we rise to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-6), having been born again of water and of (at the direction of) the Spirit.

The doctrine of "Faith Only" is of man, and not of God!

Question 5: Does not John 10:27-29 tell us that one cannot fall from grace?

ANSWER: It does not! The doctrine of "once saved, always saved" is as foreign to the Bible as salvation by "faith alone." One is truly grasping at straws to support this false teaching by using this passage! Note that in order for the sheep (Christians) to receive "eternal life" and to "never perish" Christ requires two things that His sheep must "actively do." Not simply two things they must believe, but, rather, two things they must "do!" First, the sheep must "hear" (which involves obedience). Secondly, the sheep must "follow" (which involves continuing obedience). Question No.1 for you to consider: Is the granting of eternal life by Christ to His sheep dependent upon their "hearing and following?" Question No.2 for you to consider: If "hearing and following" are prerequisites to gaining eternal life (and clearly they are), what happens to those who don't "hear?" Question No.3 for you to consider: What happens to those who hear, but don't "follow?" The answers are obvious!

It is true that "no man" can pluck the sheep who hears and follows Christ out of His Father's hand, but this passage does not even hint that a man cannot himself quit hearing and following Christ. This same disciple said in the fifteenth Chapter of this Gospel account that a man must abide (keep His commandments / remain faithful) in Him (Vs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 10). He also said that if one does "not" abide in Him (keep His commandments / remain faithful) he is "taken away" (Vs.2); he is "cast forth" (Vs.6); he is gathered with others who do not "abide" (Vs.6); he is cast into the fire (Vs.6); and he is burned (Vs. 6). Certainly, it is not indicated that these were "plucked" out of the Father's hand by some man or power (they weren't), but it is clearly and irrefutably indicated that they "chose" not to "abide" (remain faithful) and, therefore, have been "taken away" and "cast forth" (fallen from grace); to one day "be cast into the fire and burned."

Neither this passage, nor any other teaches that one cannot fall from grace!

Question 6: Does a Christian fall from grace each time they sin? Such as when they take something home from work that doesn’t belong to them?

ANSWER: No! A Christian does not fall in and out of grace “every time” he or she sins. Nonetheless, should one reject (turn away from) Jesus by sinning willfully, thus walking in darkness (I John 1:6), then that person will be separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), i.e., they will have fallen from grace (Hebrews 6:4-6). However, a Christian may also sin unwillingly and unintentionally while walking in the light (I John 1:7), as you suggest, perhaps by taking something that doesn’t belong to them home from work. Such a person is not perfect, but neither is he being unfaithful to God! While walking in the light, such a person, as a Christian, confesses to the truth that he or she has done wrong and, in repentance (returning the item taken) asks forgiveness, which God graciously, without fail, performs (I John 1:9). As we walk in the light, being faithful, His blood continues to cleanse us (I John 1:7). When we quit walking in the light, His cleansing blood is no longer applied and we, thus, are separated from Him!

In order to be walking in the light it is not required that a person be perfect, i.e., that he or she be sinless. The passage demands faithfulness (walking in the light); not sinless perfection! For example, if you were to ask my wife if I were perfect, she would tell you “no!” If you were to ask her if I am faithful, she would tell you “yes!” There is a significant difference between the two. I do not have to be perfect to be in her good graces, but to be in her good graces, I must be faithful! So it is with God!

Question 7: Since the Scriptures say that we are saved by grace, not by keeping the Law, does this mean that we should not keep or observe the Laws that are written in the Bible?

ANSWER: No! It does not mean this! When the Bible says that keeping the Law does not save us, it most often refers to the works of the Old Law, the Old Testament. We can not be saved by doing the works of an Old Law that was abolished at the death of Christ (Ephesians 2:13-16)! These are the works that are being discussed in Ephesians 2:8. But see what Paul says in Verse nine, “For we (Christians) are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We are told that we must fulfill the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) and that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15). Those who will enter the kingdom of God are those who “do” the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21). People are not saved by grace alone, but rather by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). The faith that is under discussion in this verse is the same faith talked about in James 2:14-26, a faith that includes works of obedience! To not obey what we are told to do in the Gospel is equal to disobedience. All that disobey the Gospel will be lost eternally on Judgment Day (II Thessalonians 1:7-9)!

Question 8: If it is the case that one can fall from grace, should this be taken to mean that one can become more saved by working? Or more righteous? Can I lose my salvation?

ANSWER: The answer to your question as to whether one can become more saved or more righteous is “no,” not in the sense that you are speaking! However, it is certain that one can mature in Christ and exhibit more godliness or righteousness in that growth (Matthew 25:14-30; Hebrews 5:8-14). As well, we learn from Revelation 2:10 that in order to receive the crown of life, we must be faithful until death! If one is not faithful unto death, but is like the servant of Matthew 25:14-30 who did no “works,” but rather hid his talents, then it would be the case that he would receive the same judgment that fell to that “wicked and slothful servant (Matthew 25:26), i.e., “Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” In Matthew 25, Jesus is giving examples of the conduct He expects of His servants in the kingdom of heaven or His church (Matthew 25:1; Matthew 25:14). It is worthy of note that the one-talent servant in His kingdom was cast into outer darkness, i.e., the one-talent man had been accepted as a servant in His Kingdom, but was subsequently lost in hell which brings us to, and answers, your last question, “Can I lose my salvation?” Obviously, the answer is yes! Not only does Matthew 25:14-30 teach that one saved can subsequently be lost, but clearly the following passages teach the same: Matthew 7:19; Matthew 13:41-42; Luke 8:4-15; John 15:2-6; I Corinthians 8:11; I Corinthians 9:27; I Corinthians 10:12; I Corinthians 15:2; II Corinthians 6:1; Galatians 5:4; Galatians 6:7-9; Colossians 1:23; I Timothy 4:1-3; Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26-29; James 5:19-20; II Peter 1: 1-10; II Peter 2:20-22; Revelation 3:16, to name a few!

Question 9: I agree that man is not saved by “faith only,’ but will you agree that man is saved by “grace only” through God’s personal intervention at which time man is made by Him a poor and contrite spirit who trembles at His Word?

ANSWER: Certainly, man is not saved by “faith only,” but neither is he saved by “grace only,” as you suggest! Without either, man would be lost! There can be no doubt that obedient faith is required and necessary for our justification (Romans 5:1; James 2:24). Just as certainly, we are also saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8). But note here that man is saved by “grace” THROUGH “faith.” Therefore, both are necessary and critical to the redemption of fallen man. “Grace” is what God has done and “faith” is what man must do to access that “grace.” Paul wrote to Titus in 2:11 that “the grace of God hath appeared unto all men.” God graciously made a way for us to be saved in sending His Son as the one and only means by whom, and through whom, man could be saved. All men, therefore, may, through “faith,” access that “grace.” Some will and some won’t (Matthew 7:13-27; Matthew 25:31-46). You suggest that a man is saved when God has supernaturally intervened to make that one a “poor and contrite spirit who trembles at His Word.” You imply that this is God’s “grace.” However, it is very clear that God intervened supernaturally some two-thousand years ago in providing “saving grace” that appeared unto all men (Titus 2:11). This “grace” teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:12-13). That point is that God does not today supernaturally intervene to make man what he “should” be. He intervened supernaturally long, long ago in making provisions for what man “could” be in the giving of His Son through whom man, if obediently faithful, could access His free gift of “grace.” In summary, the gift of grace has been given to all men, and man through his obedient faith may thereby access that gift! In Titus 3:5, Paul states “how” men accesses that grace: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy (the grace He provided) He saved us, by the washing of regeneration (baptism – through obedient faith), and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Having been thus born anew of water and the Spirit, being made a new creature in Him, then and only then can one rightfully claim to have accessed His free gift of “grace.”

Question 10: I believe everyone needs to be baptized by immersion / buried in the water. But there is a verse that puzzles me, maybe you can help, Luke 7:50.

ANSWER: The verse reads, “And He said to the woman, thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

The faith that the woman had was not simply the mental acknowledgement that Christ could heal her. Her “faith” moved her to an “action” that demonstrated her faith. Upon her completion and demonstration of faith (Luke 7:38), Christ said, “thy faith hath saved thee.” This is what James, the Lord’s brother, writes about in James 2:20, “faith without works is dead.” In Verse 24, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only.” And in Verse 26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Additionally, this and similar passages relating events that occurred under the Old Testament Law (such as the thief on the cross) before Christ’s baptism became effective should not be used to approve or disapprove the necessity of baptism. Christ’s baptism under the New Testament did not become effective until after Christ died, resurrected, and ascended back to Heaven; Acts, Chapter two. The woman that Christ healed lived before the command (under the New Testament) to be baptized was issued.

[Return to Index]