One of the things I emphasize when presenting the gospel is that salvation is completely the work of God and not the work of people. We are saved by what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross and not by any good works we produce. Good works should follow salvation, but they are never the condition of it. Salvation is entirely the work of God, accomplished through the person and work of Jesus Christ, and is received by faith alone apart from any human effort. Scripture repeatedly affirms that justification is by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one may boast (Eph 2:8-9). Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross fully satisfied the demands of God’s justice, providing redemption through His blood (Rom 3:24-25; Col 1:14). While good works are the expected result of salvation, as believers are created in Christ for good works (Eph 2:10; Tit 2:14), they are never the basis or condition for receiving eternal life. Salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned (Rom 6:23), and any attempt to mix grace with works nullifies grace altogether (Rom 11:6; Gal 2:16). Faith in Christ alone secures eternal life (John 3:16; 5:24), and those who trust in Him are declared righteous solely on the basis of His finished work (2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). The following Scriptures reveal that good works have no saving merit before God.

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. (Rom. 3:28)

But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Rom 4:5)

Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. (Gal 2:16)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:8-9)

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity (2 Tim 1:9)

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Tit 3:5)

     The Bible reveals that we are helpless to save ourselves (Rom 5:6-10; Eph 2:1-3), and human works, however noble or great, have no saving merit in God’s sight. How then are we saved? We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward us. Grace is sometimes used as an acronym for God’s riches at Christ’s expense. This is correct. God richly provides our salvation through the death of Christ (1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Pet 3:18). There is nothing we bring to God to be saved. He is completely satisfied with what Jesus did for us at the cross. By faith we trust in Christ alone to save us from our sins and eternal separation from God (John 3:16-18). The challenge for us is to stop trusting in human works to save us and to cast ourselves completely on Christ as our Savior.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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