Grace sets the Christian faith apart from other religions. We cannot speak of saving faith without speaking of grace. Grace is the core issue of human salvation. The Bible teaches that a person is saved by grace alone, through faith, as a gift from God, completely apart from their own deeds. Paul states in his letter to the Ephesians: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
What Is Grace?
Grace is God’s love for humankind, given to us completely without merit and despite our sinfulness. Because of original sin, all people stand condemned before God and face eternal damnation unless they receive the gift of faith. The effect of original sin is so complete that none of us can do anything for our own salvation. Therefore, a person’s only hope is to receive forgiveness for their sins.
God shows His love by being willing to forgive. Through Christ, He has prepared atonement for all humanity, making it possible for people to receive complete forgiveness and be saved—but only by personally accepting this atonement through faith. Mere knowledge of Jesus’ crucifixion is not enough if faith in the heart is lacking.
The purpose of God’s law is to make people realize their complete sinfulness and their inability to please God. The law also drives them to seek forgiveness to be accepted by God. God can awaken a person’s sense of sin and lead them to find His kingdom. He also gives the power to receive the absolution preached in His name (John 1:12). When this happens, a person receives “the grace of repentance”—for even repentance itself is purely God’s grace, not something a person accomplishes by their own strength.
Some people trust that belonging to a church or a religious community is enough to secure their salvation. However, this is not the case. To be saved, a person needs a personal, living faith through which they receive Christ for themselves. Paul stated: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph. 3:17).
A Person Cannot Contribute to Their Salvation
In addition to the fact that church membership or religious affiliation does not make a person acceptable to God, they also cannot achieve through good deeds or diligent religious practices. The idea that grace must be earned is incorrect. God does not need anything in return from people.
The Bible teaches that becoming righteous is based solely on God’s grace and Christ’s merit, and that humans can do nothing to earn it. To be accepted before God, baptism without faith, prayer, fasting, attending worship services, taking communion, donating money, or any other religious acts—even repentance itself—are of no benefit unless they lead to the forgiveness of sins. Becoming righteous is not a cooperative effort between humans and God; it is God’s work alone.
A person who does not believe cannot, by their own strength, repent or choose grace and faith. However, God can work in them both the will and the action. Of course, in temporal matters, people can make decisions based on their own consideration, but in matters of salvation, their power of decision is bound. Jesus said: “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). Paul also wrote to the Philippians: “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
Children Share in Salvation anyway
Since children are also affected by original sin, their salvation too is based on Christ’s atoning and redeeming work. However, children are not required to repent; they belong to God from the moment of conception. Their acceptance before God is not based on their innocence or on the fact that they do not have any personal sins, but on their connection with Christ. For every child has the gift of faith, through which they receive Christ’s righteousness (Gal. 2:20).
A small child has neither understanding nor deeds; their faith is based solely on grace. This gift of faith should also be present in adults. Jesus Himself emphasized: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3).
The Daily Grace of a Christian
God’s grace is the teacher of the believer. It is a better teacher than the law, which demands but does not give strength to live according to its requirements. A believer who partakes in God’s grace is free from the law’s demands, judgment, and curse. God’s grace teaches believers to live according to His will and gives them the strength to do so (Titus 2:11-12). As a result, the believer’s life is a struggle against sin (Gal. 5:1; Rom. 6:18-23).
There is a difference between deliberately committing sin and falling into sin. Even believers, corrupted by original sin, may at times fall into sin and feel the deep pain of their sinfulness. However, to strengthen their faith, they can ask another believer to reassure them with the gospel of absolution, hearing that all their sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood.
Despite sin, God’s grace and favor are continuously present in a believer’s life. They can all the time live freely in grace, believing that their sins have been forgiven. The law drives the unbeliever to seek forgiveness. After repentance, grace teaches him to continue to ask for forgiveness, but no longer for repentance, but for keeping the faith. In other words, if a believer falls into sin and dies before asking for forgiveness, they are still pure before God because their faith ensures that God sees them as innocent through Christ’s atonement.
Author: Ari Pelkonen
Image: Credits: SRK