◄ Salvation By Grace Through Faith ►

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life – through His name.
John 20:31

Salvation in John

The gospel of John tells us how to be saved - what we must do to be redeemed. John even wrote his gospel to show that Jesus, the Word made flesh and Son of God, is the Messiah, Who died for our sins so that we might live, by simply believing on Him. Believe in Christ… believe on Jesus.. believe: Believe: BELIEVE -just BELIEVE. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Believe on the only begotten Son of God and you will not be condemned.

Salvation in Romans

The epistle to the Romans tells how to be redeemed – what we must do to be saved. He takes us step by step, to show us that salvation is not of the law or of works. He shows us that salvation is all by God’s grace, which came through Jesus. When anything is added to, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” it is not of grace.

Adding to Grace

When man is required to add something to the cross of Christ, it nullifies His work, but many, many ministries today are adding to the simple gospel message of GRACE. If we are told we are to believe AND do something – it is adding to Christ’s cross. John tells us that as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God – even to them that believe on His name… believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith of Abraham

But what does it actually mean to ‘believe’ – to ‘believe on the name of Jesus’?  Well, Paul cites Abraham as a man of faith – an example of one who believed God. Abraham did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform. Romans 4:20-21

Trusting God’s Word

Abraham believed God when he was called to leave Ur – to travel to a distant land. Abraham trusted God when he was told that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham had faith in the truth of God’s word and trusted Him to fulfil His promises. Oh, Abraham did some stupid things like trying to help God – but the bottom line is.. God knew his heart and KNEW Abraham depended on God to keep His promises. And the trust that Abraham had in God was credited to him as righteousness. Abrahams’s dependence upon God was counted to Abraham as righteous.

By Grace – Thru Faith

To have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is to believe what God has said about Him. To trust in Jesus Christ is to depend on what God says about His Son in His Word. ‘Believing’ is all one has to do to be saved, and credited with Christ’s righteousness, but many, many ministries today are adding to the simple gospel message of GRACE.

Faith Choice

Believing is man’s one and only response to the grace that is a free gift of God - for by grace and grace alone are you saved. Salvation is by grace. Salvation is the free gift of grace that is given to all who believe on Christ. Paul tells us that believing is a faith choice – that is might be of grace. It means we choose to believe that God’s gift of grace is by believing on Christ. Righteousness is our portion because we trusted what God has said in His word. It isn’t believing on Christ for salvation PLUS doing something else. It is believing on Christ for salvation knowing that we CAN’T do anything ourself.

Baptism

One school of thought says that in order to be saved you must be baptised in water, Baptism is good! But baptism is not required for salvation which is by grace alone. Water baptism may be a result of being saved – but not a condition of salvation. Being born again is not believe and be baptised – but believe on the Lord Jesus. Paul tells us that if it is not by faith – then it is not of grace.

Lordship Salvation

Some ministries say that in order to be saved you must make Jesus Lord of your life. They say that if you do not make Jesus Lord of your life, you are not properly saved – Or that if you stray from this path into carnality you have lost your eternal salvation. This complicates the simple message of salvation by grace alone – through faith in Christ. Making Jesus Lord of your life is good..  but not a requirement of scriptural salvation. To make Jesus your Lord is part of spiritual growth but must never be added to the simple gospel of salvation, which is a free gift of God – to all who believe on Jesus.

Act of Consecration

This beautiful act of consecration may be a result – but is not a condition of salvation Paul tells us that if it is not by faith – then it is not of grace. A carnal believer will certainly suffer loss of rewards – but never his eternal salvation, which is always and only by grace – through faith – in Christ. Some people add works of the flesh, works of the Law – self-imposed rules or Church regulations and a variety of ‘add-ons’ to the basic gospel of salvation by grace – through faith in Christ Jesus, while others insist on actions relating to eating or drinking – places of worship or times and seasons – spiritual fruit or gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Free Gift of Grace

It’s sad when believers are put under bondage, simply because the truth of the free gift of salvation – given to us by God’s grace, through believing on Christ has been misapplied. But the gospel of John was specifically written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life – through His name.