We are saved by God's grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone; good works follow as the fruit, not the price.
All churches hold this. "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins" (the Apostles' Creed)
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (1 Peter 2:2)
Lesson 4 showed we cannot save ourselves; Lessons 6 and 7 showed what Christ did. This lesson shows how it becomes ours: as a gift, received by faith, not earned. This is the site's stand, the one Lesson 4 promised.
History, not Scripture in the old creeds, such as the Apostles' Creed (The Gospel Coalition gives its words), "catholic" with a small c means universal, the whole church in every place and time, not the Roman Catholic Church. "The communion of saints" is the fellowship of all who belong to Christ; Protestants read it as every believer, not saints prayed to. The creeds say sins are forgiven; the Reformation, in the 1500s, was about how a person receives that forgiveness: by faith, not by works.
Three verses to start with
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8
Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:9
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Where you see it: the thief on the cross
Two criminals hang beside Jesus. One mocks him. The other says, “And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.” (Luke 23:41) Then he asks, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)
He has no time left to do good works, to be baptized, or to make anything right. He has only his faith in Jesus. And Jesus answers: “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
How to live it
Stop trying to earn what is given. Come as the thief came, and receive it: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” (Acts 16:31) Then live as one who has been given everything:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
2BreadGo deeper: what the whole Bible says.
Why it matters
If it is earned, no one can know they have done enough, and someone gets to boast. If it is a gift, it is sure, and all the glory is God's: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.” (Romans 11:6)
All need it
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
“all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” (Isaiah 64:6)
Grace: given, not earned
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:24)
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” (Romans 4:4)
He “hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,” (2 Timothy 1:9)
Through faith
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28)
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5)
Abraham, long before the law: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3) (Genesis 15:6)
Not by works
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,” (Titus 3:5)
“for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
“for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21)
Repent and believe
Jesus: “repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) Peter: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,” (Acts 3:19) Explanation, not Scripture: repenting is turning from sin to God; it is not a work that pays, it is the other side of believing.
Peace, and knowing it
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5:1)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1)
John wrote “that ye may know that ye have eternal life,” (1 John 5:13)
Works follow
Grace teaches “that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” (Titus 2:12) And “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1) Paul answers, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2)
A second story: two men pray
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.” (Luke 18:10) The Pharisee lists what he does. The publican “would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
Jesus: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other:” (Luke 18:14)
A third story: the jailer at Philippi
An earthquake opens the prison, and the jailer, about to kill himself, falls down before Paul and Silas and asks the question this whole lesson answers: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) The answer turns on one word, believe: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31) That same night he washes their wounds and is baptized (Acts 16:33): the works came after, as fruit.
3MeatDefend it: how it has been denied, and the answers from the word.
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,” (Hebrews 5:14)
How it has been denied, and the answer
"Faith alone does not justify; works must be added."
History The Council of Trent, Session 6 (January 1547), answering the Reformation: "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification ... let him be anathema." (Canon 9, Hanover Historical Texts)
The answer from the word “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28) “Not by works of righteousness which we have done,” (Titus 3:5)
"We can earn, or merit, eternal life."
History The Catholic Catechism today: "Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life" (CCC 2027, vatican.va)
The answer from the word “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” (Romans 4:4) “but the gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23)
"Grace saves, but only after we have done all we can."
History The Latter-day Saints, in the Book of Mormon: "for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23, churchofjesuschrist.org)
The answer from the word “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.” (Romans 11:6) The thief on the cross had no time for works, and was promised paradise (Luke 23:43).
"Good people go to heaven."
History Common today
The answer from the word “There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10) (Lesson 4). “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” (Isaiah 64:6)
Where Christians differ: can a saved person be lost?
All who hold the Bible true agree we are saved by grace through faith, and that real faith goes on. They differ on whether a true believer can fall away for good.
Many read “and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) and “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6) as saying a true believer will be kept to the end.
Others read “ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4) and the warnings of Hebrews 6:4-6 as saying a believer can turn away and be lost.
Each side holds all these verses and reads them together differently; no side is taken in the lesson. This site's own view is under What this site believes: For all, and kept to the end.
Hard questions
"James says not by faith only. Doesn't that contradict Paul?" James: “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:24) He is speaking of a faith that is only words: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17) and “shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:18) Explanation, not Scripture: Paul says how we are made right with God (by faith, not works); James says how true faith is seen (by works). A seeming contradiction to practice on (Lesson 1).
"Work out your own salvation?" The next verse says who is working: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) Explanation, not Scripture: work it out, not work for it.
"If it is free, can I live however I want?" “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2)
"Is faith itself a work?" Paul sets them against each other: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth” (Romans 4:5) And “and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8) Explanation, not Scripture: Christians differ on whether "that" points to the faith or to the whole salvation; all agree no one boasts.
Make it yours
Learn it by heart
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1
To think about
Are you still, somewhere inside, trying to be good enough? What would it look like to come like the thief, with nothing but faith?
If you knew for sure you were saved, how would that change the way you serve God?
Every verse here is the King James text, checked word for word before the site goes up. Notes marked "not Scripture" are explanations, history or observations, labeled so you can tell them apart. Tap a place to read it in the Bible.