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What is Free Grace Theology?

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Free Grace Theology is a theological perspective within Protestant Christianity that emphasizes that salvation is by grace alone (we don’t deserve it), through faith alone (and not by works), in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), totally apart from any human effort or good works (Rom 3:28; 4:4-5; 11:6; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; 2 Tim 1:9; Tit 3:5). This means that eternal life is not something we work for, but a free gift from God, given to all who believe in Jesus as Savior (John 3:16; 20:31; Acts 16:31). Scripture affirms, “by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8), and that we are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24). As Paul also wrote, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). Salvation is a gift, free to all who want it, at no cost whatsoever to the recipient, no strings attached, without charge or obligation to give anything, and freely received by those who trust solely in Jesus as their Savior.

Our salvation was very costly to God and Christ and is the most expensive gift ever offered to anyone, and His precious and gracious gift is offered freely to anyone who accepts it by faith alone in Christ alone. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins (Mark 10:45; Rom 5:8; 1 Pet 3:18), satisfying every righteous demand of the Father (1 John 2:2; 4:10), and forever justifying those who place their faith in Him as Savior (Rom 3:28; 6:23; Gal 2:16). Salvation is not by works, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:28). When a person hears and accepts the gospel message that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4), that person can then “Believe in the Lord Jesus” for salvation (Acts 16:31), for “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Believing in Christ means we trust Him to save us, for only Christ is needed for salvation. No one else. Nothing more.[1]

Our faith needs to be in Jesus alone. This, of course, is the Jesus of the Bible, for no other Jesus will do. A false Messiah, such as the Jesus of Mormonism or Jehovah’s Witness, does not save anyone. The Jesus of Scripture is the second member of the Trinity—God the Son (John 1:1; Heb 1:8)—who added perfect humanity to Himself nearly two thousand years ago (John 1:14; Col 2:9; 1 John 4:2). He was born of a Jewish virgin girl (Isa 7:14; Luke 1:26-35), in the prophesied city of Bethlehem (Mic 5:2; Matt 2:1, 6), as a biological descendant of Abraham and David (Matt 1:1), and came as the promised Jewish Messiah (Matt 1:1, 17). He lived a sinless life (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5) and willingly went to the cross to die for us (John 10:18; Rom 5:8; 1 Pet 3:18), atoning for our sins (Rom 6:10; Heb 7:27; 1 Pet 1:18-19). He was raised again on the third day (Acts 10:40-41; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Th 4:14), never to die again (Rom 6:9). This is the Jesus of Scripture, the One who saves those who trust solely in Him. No one else can save. Scripture declares of Jesus, “whoever believes in Him will have eternal life” (John 3:15), and again, “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). It further states, “He who believes in Him is not judged” (John 3:18), and “He who believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36; cf. John 6:47; 10:9; 11:25; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 5:12). These passages clearly emphasize that eternal life is obtained exclusively through belief in Jesus Christ.

Those who reject Jesus as Savior will spend eternity away from God in the lake of fire, for “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Th 1:9; cf., Rev 20:15). This is avoidable, for God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4), and is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9), and to this end “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (Joh. 3:16). Salvation is available to everyone; therefore, no one goes to hell by accident, but by their own choice (John 3:18; 5:39-40). Salvation is open to all, for God has not elected anyone to damnation.

At the moment we place our faith in Jesus as our Savior, we are “born again to a living hope” (1 Pet 1:3), become “children of God” (Gal 3:26), instantly receive “forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43; cf. Eph 1:7; Col 2:13-14), are given “eternal life” (John 10:28), and receive “the gift of righteousness” (Rom 5:17; cf. Phil 3:9). We become “a new creature” in Christ (2 Cor 5:17), are “rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), are spiritually “baptized into” union with Christ (1 Cor 12:13), become part of “the body of Christ” (1 Cor 12:27), are given a spiritual “gift” (1 Pet 4:10), and are “blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). These are just a few of the amazing blessings we receive from God at the moment of salvation.

Once we are saved, God calls us to grow in our relationship with Him. This is accomplished as we learn and live His Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), submit to Him (Jam 4:7), walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38), advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1), serve Him (Rom 12:1-2), live righteously (Rom 6:11-14; 2 Tim 3:16), love others (Eph 5:1-2; 1 Th 4:9), serve others (Gal 5:13; 1 Pet 4:10), and  do good works (Gal 6:10; Eph 2:10; Tit 2:11-14), for which He promises to reward us eternally if we comply (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 John 1:8). Those who obey God and walk by faith will develop a personal sense of destiny that is tied to the infinite, personal, creator God who has called us into a relationship and walk with Him.

If believers turn to a lifestyle of sin—like the prodigal son—they do not forfeit their salvation, for that is not possible (John 10:28; Rom 8:1). However, they do break fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-7) and place themselves under divine discipline (1 Cor 11:32; Heb 12:6). This discipline is designed to restore them to fellowship, but if they persist in rebellion, it may result in physical death (1 John 5:16) and the loss of eternal rewards (1 Cor 3:12-15; 2 John 1:8).

In conclusion, Free Grace Theology magnifies the grace of God and the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross. It preserves the simplicity of the gospel message—that eternal life is a free gift received through faith alone in Christ alone—and upholds the eternal security of the believer. At the same time, it clearly distinguishes salvation from discipleship, justification from sanctification, and eternal destiny from eternal rewards. This perspective not only honors the integrity of Scripture but also exalts the character of God, who is both infinitely gracious and perfectly just. As recipients of such amazing grace, we are called not to earn or keep what God has freely given, but to respond in love, gratitude, and obedience, walking by faith and living for His glory and the edification of others.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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[1] Repentance is necessary for salvation if it is understood to mean having “a change of mind” about God and trusting in Christ alone as Savior. We teach “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Repentance does not mean turning from sin, as unbelievers cannot stop sinning. Repentance acknowledges that God is holy and completely set apart from sin (Psa 99:9; Hab 1:13), that we are corrupted by sin and cannot save ourselves (Rom 3:10-12; Tit 3:5), and that God freely offers us forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43) and eternal life (John 10:28) if we come to Christ alone and accept His atoning work on the cross as sufficient to save us forever. We understand that salvation is by grace alone (we don’t deserve it), through faith alone (and not by works), in Christ alone. Knowing this, we change our minds about our ability to save ourselves, understanding that He died for our sins, was buried, and raised again on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4), and we trust in Christ alone as our Savior (Acts 16:31).