Tag Archives: God’s riches at Christ’s expense

Not of Works

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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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The Basics of Grace

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The Greek word χάρις charis appears 155 times in the New Testament[1] and most often refers to the undeserved favor or kindness that one person shows to another. The favor or kindness can be from God to undeserving persons, or it can be from one person to another. Grace derives from the bounty and open-handedness of the giver, can be very costly to the donor, but is always free to the beneficiary. Here are four uses of Grace in the New Testament:

  1. Grace (χάρις charis) can refer to “a winning quality or attractiveness that invites a favorable reaction, graciousness, attractiveness, charm.”[2] Grace is here presented as that quality about a thing or person that makes it beautiful or attractive to others (see Luke 4:22; Eph 4:29; Col 4:6).

And all were speaking well of Him [Jesus], and wondering at the gracious [χάρις charis] words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22)

Let your speech always be with grace [χάρις charis], as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Col. 4:6).

  1. Grace (χάρις charis) also refers to “a beneficent disposition toward someone, favor, grace, gracious care/help, goodwill.”[3] Here, a gracious benefactor freely confers a blessing upon another without thought of merit or worthiness (Matt 4:44-45; Rom 11:6; Eph 1:6; 2:1-9; 2 Tim 1:9; Tit 3:5-7; Heb 4:16). The kindness here is by no means obligatory, but rather, finds its source in the goodness, abundance, and free-heartedness of the giver. 

“If you love those who love you, what credit [χάρις charis] is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit [χάρις charis] is that to you? For even sinners do the same. “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit [χάρις charis] is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36)

  1. Grace (χάρις charis) also refers to the “exceptional effect produced by generosity.”[4] Grace here is the divine enablement God gives to people that they might do His will.  (Rom 15:5; 15:15; 1 Cor 3:10; 2 Cor 12:9).

And He has said to me, “My grace [χάρις charis] is sufficient for you [to bear this difficulty], for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Cor 12:9)

  1. Grace (χάρις charis) was also used as a “response to generosity or beneficence, thanks, gratitude.”[5] Grace means giving thanks (1 Cor 15:57; 2 Tim 1:3; Heb 12:28).

But thanks [χάρις charis] be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:57)

Facts about grace:

  1. Because Christ voluntarily went to the cross and paid the penalty for our sin (1 Cor 15:3-4), God saves us by grace (Eph 2:8-9), and freely bestows on us wonderful blessings associated with salvation (Eph 1:3). Grace is sometimes referred to as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.[6]
  2. Grace must be learned. The Christian does not automatically think in terms of grace and must learn it through the regular study of God’s word. The ignorant believer—being devoid of God’s word—gravitates either toward legalism or lawlessness. Either activity stems from pride. God is “opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet 5:5). 
  3. Grace eliminates pride (Rom 3:27). Some people have great difficulty accepting God’s kindness toward them, or even the kindness shown by others. Pride dissipates when one learns to accept the gracious acts of others.
  4. Grace is given to the undeserving (e.g. Barabbas; Matt 27:15-26; cf. Rom 5:6-8). We bring to God our helplessness (Rom 5:6), sin (Rom 5:8), and death (Eph 2:5), and in return He gives us forgiveness (Col 1:13-14), righteousness (2 Cor 5:21; Phil. 3:9), and eternal life (John 10:28). Faith is non-meritorious and the only way to receive God’s grace (Rom 3:28; Eph 2:8-9).
  5. It is by grace that we are able to draw near to the throne of God (Heb. 4:16) and never by works (Dan. 9:18-19). The person who rejects the gospel rejects the “Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29).
  6. Grace is not a license to sin (Rom 6:1-2); rather, the grace of God instructs us “to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Tit 2:11-14; cf. Jude 1:4).

Steven R. Cook, D.Min.

Related Articles:

  1. Spiritual Blessings in Christ
  2. God’s Great Grace   
  3. God’s Grace to Save  
  4. Believe in Jesus for Salvation  

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[1] The apostle Paul is the foremost proponent of grace and uses the word 130 times in his writings. 

[2] William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1079.

[3] Ibid., 1079.

[4] Ibid., 1080.

[5] Ibid., 1080.

[6] I heard this phrase originated with John Stott.