Salvation by Grace through Faith Alone

By Arthur J Licursi

 

Most people would love to know they have a sure and secure relationship with God; that they are saved for eternity, to abide in His unconditional love and grace. Sadly, many of the church organizations at large do not offer this assurance to their adherents.

The Apostle Paul wrote the following, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to the believing members of “the body of Christ.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Yet, erroneously, most denominations require either “works for salvation” or “works to keep one saved” after being saved by grace. Many so-called fundamentalist and evangelical churches practice a sort of “bait and switch.” They say “You are saved by grace,” but then they imply and some even say “if you “don’t do this” which  you should do, and “you do the wrong thing – then your obviously not saved.” Just as the Pharisees did of Jesus’ day, they burden men with things to do in order to be right with God.

This of course is not according to the truth of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2), under which we live today, as taught by Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.

At one time, under “The Law” dispensation that was given to Israel , the “works of the law” were required as a demonstration of faith. Thus, James writes “to the twelve tribes (of Israel ) which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1) “… faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Contrasts this works requirement with Paul’s words to the Gentile “body of Christ”; “ye are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).

The largest segment of the organized Christian Church, The Roman Catholic Church, has long opposed the teaching that salvation is by grace, through faith alone. She teaches that salvation is by grace, through faith, PLUS good works. They consider that others do not place the proper stress upon good works, and that she places as much emphasis upon grace and faith as we should.

Yet, Paul makes clear that, as a basis for salvation, grace and works are diametric opposites.

“And if by grace, then is it NO MORE OF WORKS: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6)

Catholicism agrees that men cannot be saved without Christ or faith or grace… but they object, saying the grace of God accepted by faith in Christ alone, is not enough to save. Their doctrine says: “All men are born in original sin, and all must be cleansed by Baptism. They teach that one is saved in Water Baptism; grace is implanted in the soul by God and confers the right to heaven.”

Water Baptism is not required for salvation. Consider that the thief on the cross who looked to Jesus in his dying moments, he never had an opportunity to be baptized? Was he not saved? (See Luke 23:42, 43). Jesus had said to the man, “This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.”

Paul writes; “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4)  If it is not possible for the blood of sacrificed bulls and of goats to take away sins, even though it prescribed and required by God for the children of Israel under The Law, how can any amount of water possibly wash away one sin or right even one moral wrong? The blood of those God-prescribed animal sacrifices merely covered the adherents sins, awaiting the day when “the Lamb of God,” Jesus Christ, would come to “take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He came 2,000 years ago, and He took away the sin of the world.

One might gather from the above statement concerning the water baptized soul that they are at least safe and secure, since the grace implanted by God “confers the right to heaven.” But this is not so. Works based churches never give their devotees the peace and assurance of salvation; never setting there adherents free from fear and condemnation. Apparently, this “right to heaven,” I quoted above, which conferred upon the Catholic Church’s baptized adherents, is merely the right to strive for it! This church says we worship God by the practice of our religious duties in order to obtain our salvation.

I’ve often considered a question for those who subscribe to “works for salvation,” a question exposes its folly and reveals the reason there then can be no assurance of salvation under that paradigm. The question is this;

“How much works is enough, how do you know when you have arrived at an adequate level of works in order to know you are saved?

Obviously first, no amount of works is sufficient for salvation. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16) Therefore, you cannot ever come to know that you’ve done enough to secure your salvation.

By contrast, Paul writes these satisfying and reassuring words to the believers, such as us today, who live under “the dispensation of the grace of God.”

And if by grace, then is it NO MORE OF WORKS: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Romans 11:6)

“Now to him that worketh [i.e., for salvation] is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
“BUT TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT, BUT BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Rom. 4:4, 5).

For BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8-9)