LESSON THREE OF A THREE LESSON SERIES ON THE GRACE OF GOD

Salvation by Grace

Introduction

1. Some have reached the conclusion that the sinner is saved only by grace.

a. Their reasoning: God’s favor takes care of all man’s need and that there is nothing for the sinner to do to effect his salvation from sin.

b. “We believe the scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace.” (Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, Edward Hiscox, chapter 8, article 4)

2. Actually, one is saved by nothing alone. There are many factors involved in salvation by grace.

I. One Is Not Saved by Grace Alone: The Many Factors of Salvation

A. There are too many passages of Scripture which show that numerous factors are involved in salvation for one to ever be correct in asserting that a person is saved by one thing alone.

B. The many factors involved in salvation include: 1. Faith. (Romans 5:1; Acts 16:31)

2. Repentance. (Acts 11:18) 3. Blood. (Romans 5:9-10) 4. Works. (James 2:24)

5. Baptism. (1 Peter 3:21)

6. The gospel. (Romans 1:16) 7. Confession. (1 John 4:2)

8. Grace. (Ephesians 2:8)

C. Ephesians 2:8-9 shows that salvation is not to be by grace alone but, rather, grace through faith.

1. In providing for man’s salvation, God manifested His grace.

2. In order to obtain that salvation, man must demonstrate his faith.

II. God’s Grace: Through the Gospel and Its Conditions A. Salvation by grace is through the teaching of the gospel.

1. The gospel, God’s “power to salvation” (Romans 1:16), is called: a. “The word of His grace.” (Acts 14:3)

b. “The gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

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2. It is by the gospel that the kindness of God redeems man and provides him all spiritual blessings—the word is the medium of His grace. (Titus 2:11-12)

3. The word of His grace is able to build up and strengthen the Christian so that he might grow in Christ, grow unto salvation. (Acts 20:32; 1 Pet. 2:1-2)

B. God’s grace is conditional.

1. It is conditioned upon faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:1-2)

2. It is conditioned upon an obedient faith—faith made perfect by works. (James 2:17-26; Matthew 7:21)

3. The works of obedience upon which salvation is conditioned do not nullify grace for they do not merit salvation.

a. There are many examples in Scripture which show that gifts were given by grace but conditions had to be met.

b. Examples where grace was received by meeting conditions. 1) The fall of the walls of Jericho. (Joshua 6)

2) The cleansing of Naaman. (2 Kings 5)

3) The healing of the blind man. (John 9:6-7)

III. Salvation by Grace: An Example

A. The Ephesians were saved by grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

1. We can determine from Scripture how they were saved, what was involved in their salvation.

2. By examining them, we can understand how people are saved by grace. B. The saved in Ephesus:

1. Heard the word of truth. (Ephesians 1:13)

a. They heard the power to save. (Romans 1:16)

b. If one is to be saved by grace, he must hear and learn the gospel in order to know God’s will.

2. Believed the truth (Ephesians 1:13)

a. They had to hear in order to believe. (Romans 10:17)

b. Believing the truth is essential to salvation. (John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6; Mark 16:16)

3. Repented. (Acts 19:17-20)

a. Repentance is “to change one’s mind or purpose, always in the NT, involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always, except in Luke 17:3, 4, of repentance from sin.” (W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of NT Words, 962)

b. The gospel changed the lives of many in Ephesus. 1) They turned completely in their way of life.

2) Though they had once practiced magical arts, witchcraft, etc., they show repentance in a bonfire that cost 50,000 pieces of silver.

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4. Were baptized. (Acts 19:5)

a. To be saved by grace, one must be a penitent believer who is then baptized for the remission of sins. (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38)

b. Being saved by grace includes being saved by baptism. (1 Peter 3:21) 5. Had to overcome. (Revelation 2:7)

a. They had to live faithful lives.

b. They had to continue to overcome the world and Satan. (2 Timothy 4:7-8; Revelation 2:10)

Conclusion

1. The Lord must have wanted us to know exactly how the Ephesians were saved by grace because He has given us detailed information about their salvation in Paul’s epistle to them, in Acts 19 and in Revelation 2.

2. People saved by grace are those who: a. Hear the gospel.

b. Believe the facts the gospel presents. c. Repent.

d. Are baptized for the remission of sins.

e. Persevere, overcome and remain faithful to Christ.

3. We can easily see that God’s revelation concerning salvation by grace is a far cry from man’s doctrine of salvation by grace plus nothing minus nothing.

4. Who would you rather trust? Who should you obey?

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