How Are We Really Saved?

THIS question is the foundation of all things. How we answer this will govern our entire christian walk. Thus, where we find our answers is literally a matter of heaven and hell.

Depending on the doctrine we grew up with, the subject of salvation can be very controversial. Different christian denominations have been split on this subject - yet the Bible has only ONE thing to say on this.

Very explicitly, The Bible is plain and consistent: The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). In Ephesians 2:8, it tells us "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God".


If that's not enough, The Bible interprets what it means to be saved by grace. In Romans 11:6, it contrasts the two "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."

The ultimate answer is that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. By believing in Him and what He has done at the cross, we are identifying ourselves with His death, His burial, and His resurrection (Acts 13:61, Romans 10:9).

Thus, our good works has nothing to do with attaining salvation in as much as salvation can only be freely given as a gift, and not laboriously attained.

What about good works then? Did not the Bible say in James 2:24 that "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone"? And did it not proceed to say that "Faith without works is dead?"

This is why we must rightly divide the word of truth ( 2 Timothy 2:15). What the book of James is saying in a nutshell is this: now that we have been saved through faith, let's not be unproductive, fruitless, and idle. But rather, let us go out there and be a blessing to others. We are blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2). Thus, good works is the fruit of salvation, and not the root of it.

Ephesians 2:10 will testify to that as it says "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

While this may be an eye-opener to some, this can also be offensive to many who insist on their own tradition and resist what the Bible says. But what matters to us is our salvation and how we need to be anchored in Jesus Christ alone and His finished work. That's what really matters the most. God paid a dear price for this salvation, and He will not allow anyone to corrupt what His Son has died for.