Salvation

Grace or Works?

As a new believer, I've struggled to fully understand salvation because there seems to be a division on this topic within the Christian community. On one side, some Christians say we are saved by grace and that there’s nothing we can do to lose our salvation. On the other side, some imply that our works determine our entry into heaven. For months, I wondered which perspective was correct. I’ll be honest: I don’t have complete certainty about the answer, but after diving deeper into research, I feel more at peace.

As a babe in Christ, I was fearful that I might not truly be saved due to this confusion. I believe that a fearful mindset can foster a religious spirit. I found myself striving for perfection and becoming very judgmental of others who claimed to be Christian but lived a lifestyle contrary to scripture. I want to be clear, the bible does encourage believers to judge rightly. We shouldn’t condemn others, but we should be discerning and have a desire to help those turn from their sin. John 7:24 tells us “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” 1 John 2:4-5 says “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that are in him.” (KJV) 

Although I may not have been entirely wrong in my assessment of others, the Lord lovingly reminded me of all the times I’d fallen short of His glory. Condemning others only aids in separating people from His love, while speaking the truth with love draws them closer. He also showed me that speaking the truth with love may not always be well received because the gospel is offensive to the prideful. I believe it is only when a person truly sees their nakedness (sin) that they will understand they need a savior.

I prayed about my concerns around salvation and believe that the Holy Spirit has provided me with clarity in various ways, including through scripture, the insights of other believers, and my own experiences. The Holy Spirit always nudges me to seek His word first. The bible has all the answers. However, I’ve noticed that if I need a deeper understanding, He’ll use others to clarify or teach me through a personal experience. 

The Lord led me to the following verse Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is a gift from God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (KJV)

Key words and definitions in this context

• Grace- undeserved favor or mercy from God that cannot be earned.

• Faith- complete trust or confidence in God. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

  • Faith is belief coupled with action. 

    • 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

• Workmanship- we are something crafted, with skill and a purpose, by God, for His purposes.

My Understanding of Salvation

We are saved by grace alone. There is nothing we can do to earn it. It is a gift. We accept God’s gift of salvation through faith. Faith is acting on your belief, while belief is just a mental acceptance of something as true. True faith leads us into obedient action. So, we are saved by grace through faith, AND as a result of our salvation, we go on to do good works. Our good works are evidence or proof that we are saved, not how we receive salvation, and we do good works by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13 says, “In whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise. (KJV)

The Holy Spirit transforms us. God is powerful, and so when He is truly living within us, there WILL be radical change. There WILL be evidence. Galatians 5:16 advises us as believers to “Walk in the Spirit,” and by doing so, we prevent fulfilling the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:22-23 highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, which will produce the fruits of the Spirit. These qualities, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, are the manifestation of God’s presence within true believers.

Will our walk be perfect? No, we will fall. Proverbs 24:16 states, “for a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.” We just have to stay the course. I believe that the more we spend time in God’s presence, the more we’ll begin to resemble Him. 

Can we lose our salvation?

I don't believe salvation can be lost, but I do believe it can be abandoned. We can choose to walk away. Let's be honest, this walk isn't an easy one. It's only been a little over a year since I rededicated my life to the Lord, and I've struggled with picking up my cross daily. I’ve had people I love walk away because of my newfound faith, I’ve experienced spiritual warfare, and fighting the temptation of this world hasn’t been a walk in the park. Lukewarm Christians made it look so easy because they live a life pleasing to the flesh, not pleasing to the Lord. However, when you are truly walking with the Lord, you live a lifestyle of obedience, sacrifice, and discipline. 

May I Pray For You?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the person reading this. I ask that you increase their desire to develop their own personal relationship with you. Please reveal the truth to them. May they desire to seek your forgiveness, guidance, love, and peace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not a theologian. There may be errors in my message. If you have any questions, I advise you to seek the Lord for yourself as well as wise counsel from the leaders in your church. I'm only sharing my personal experience as a new believer in hopes to inspire others to have a hunger and a thirst for truth.