Books

Focus On The Fundamentals Of The Faith

By W. Douglass Harris

Salvation and Grace

Introduction

Grace is one of the most profound subjects that can engage our minds. I have always felt inadequate in discussing it, because of man's inability to comprehend it fully. When discussing the subject, it makes one feel like he has come to an ocean from which to drink with only a teaspoon to use in drinking.

Not only are we saved by the grace of God, but all blessings that we receive are by the grace of God, both temporal and spiritual. All the water we drink and use for other purposes; all the air we breathe; the food we eat -- everything that sustains us in our physical lives is by the grace of God. Even those who deny God's existence are sustained in their physical lives by His grace.

Meaning of Grace

Grace simply means the unmerited favor of God given to man. There are two erroneous conclusions that many have reached regarding grace. First, some have concluded that if salvation is by grace, it is unconditional. Second, those who reach the first conclusion have also concluded that salvation by grace excludes all works of obedience. But we kindly submit that these are false conclusions.

How is one saved by grace? Conditionally or unconditionally? If one is saved unconditionally, then all will be saved, because the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11). God is not a respecter of persons, and if He saves unconditionally, He would be obligated to save all unconditionally. Nothing short of universal salvation would be consistent with the character of God, if salvation by grace is unconditional. But if salvation by grace is conditional, then only those who obey the terms of salvation will be saved (Hebrews 5:8,9).

What Grace Does

First, God's grace provided the plan of salvation. When man was lost in sin, and without strength to provide a plan by which he could be saved, God made the necessary provision for the salvation of the world (John 3:17). An acceptable atonement was needed, because animal blood could not take away sins (Hebrews 10:1). And sin could not be eternally forgiven without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). By God's grace Jesus came and shed His blood for our sins (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Revelation 1:5b). This sacrifice was for all who would accept its benefits (Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 4:14,15; 1 John 2:1,2). Man had been separated from God by his sin (Isaiah 59:1,2; Romans 3:23). Therefore, a mediator was needed who would approach God in man's behalf, and then stipulate the conditions upon which God would accept man back into His favor (1 Timothy 2:4,5; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). He "became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him" (Hebrews 5:8,9). He announced in the "Great Commission" the terms upon which we are now saved (Hebrews 2:3,4; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16). Having done all this to save man, the Lord ascended to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth, so that all men might know God's provisions for their salvation (John 14:26; 16:13). On the divine side of the plan of salvation, grace.

Man's Part in His Salvation

"For by grace have you been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9). The two sides in salvation are represented in the words "grace" and "faith". All that God does in our salvation is by grace, while all that man does to be saved by grace must be done by faith. But what kind of faith saves? James affirms repeatedly that faith without works (obedience) is dead----does not avail, or will not save (James 2:14,24,26). To be saved by faith does not exclude grace, but it is the embracing of the grace that God has bestowed. But some object by saying that, "It is no more by grace but is merited if we submit ourselves to the conditions of salvation." Complying with the conditions stipulated are appropriative acts rather than meritorious acts. Suppose a man is in a well and you let a rope down to him, he takes hold of the rope and you pull him out. Did you save the man? Yes. Did he save himself? Yes, he did! How? By taking hold of the rope that was extended to him. It was simply an appropriative act. In the same way, we by an obedient faith lay hold of the grace of God and He saves us.

Conditions of Salvation by Grace

It needs to be remembered that the conditions with which man must comply are appropriative, not meritorious in nature.

Faith is a condition, but we believe through grace (Acts 17:28; Romans 4:16). If all conditions are eliminated, that would therefore exclude faith.

Repentance is also a condition (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 17:30,31), but we repent through grace also.

Confession of faith in Christ is a condition (Romans 10:10; Acts 8:37); this is also done through grace.

Baptism in water is a condition (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21), and it also is by grace. Baptism is no more meritorious than faith, repentance, and confession. They are all appropriative acts!

Baptism is the real test of one's faith, because human reason cannot see any connection between being baptized and the remission of sins. In all the cases of conversion in the book of Acts, no one was ever described as rejoicing in his salvation until he was baptized. In obeying all these conditions, the sinner is doing nothing more than reaching up to take hold, or to appropriate to his soul, the grace of God. He is not trying to merit his salvation, but as a lost soul sinking into ruin, he is simply reaching up to grasp the rope of salvation that God's grace has offered him.

Harmony of Paul and James

When one understands that Paul and James are referring to different kinds of works, there is no contradiction. It is perversion and exegesis of the worst sort to lump all words together and claim that we are not saved by any kind of works. In Romans 4:4,5; 3:19; and Galatians 3:24, Paul was speaking of the works of the law of Moses, meritorious works. These do not save. But the works spoken of by James 2:14-26 are the works of obedience. Let no one say James was referring to the obedience of a child of God, because one of the examples he cites is that of Rahab, who was not a child of God, but a pagan, and she was saved by an obedient faith!

If faith produce no works, I see
That faith is not a living tree.
Thus faith and works together grow;
No separate life they e'er can know:
They're soul and body, hand and heart:
What God hath joined, let no man part.

-- Hannah Moore