Part 3: Christian Basics
Many strongly believe that God, through grace, will not let any soul be lost. As a result, they feel no need to seek salvation. It is true that God has offered salvation to all as a gift. When an offer is made, however, it must be accepted. Those who fail to accept this gift will not receive the saving grace of God.
Salvation is not an automatic result of having been born on earth. Through what process, then, can people take advantage of God's offer? The answer to this question is found only in the Word of God, the Bible. It tells us of His purpose in our lives and His desire about our eternal destiny. It tells us of our need to believe and obey the commands of the Father.
Although sinful man did not deserve it, God extended the gift of grace to all mankind. By definition, grace is unearned favor. The Holy Spirit expressed this in the words of the Book of John, Chapter 3, Verse 16:
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Thus, man has access to the grace of God through our savior, Jesus Christ. In the Book of Romans, Chapter 5, Verses 1 and 2, the writer said:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
To receive the grace of God, we must have faith that Jesus is our Savior. A good reference about faith is found in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews, Verse 1 says:
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
The Apostle Paul says in Romans, Chapter 10, verse 17:
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Some teach that works are unneeded for one to be saved from past sins. The Bible clearly teaches that the works of the Law of Moses do not save. But we are saved through grace and not by our works. Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from your selves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul clarifies the foregoing verse:
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3: 28.
The Apostle Paul has written in many verses the relationship of grace, faith and works. The writer tells us, in Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 7, how Noah, for example, moved through faith to build the ark. We see from Noah's example and the examples of many others that faith is active.
The Bible is consistent. Faith and works go hand-in-hand as one trusts and responds, through faith, to the wishes of God. Thus, we can see that works and obedience are both of faith. In the Book of Mark, Chapter 16, Verse 16, we read:
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
It is obvious that if one does not believe that Jesus is the Christ he will not obey the command to be baptized and will not be saved from his sins. Faith is not passive. Galatians, Chapter 3, Verses 26 and 27 read:
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
Baptism is not a work. It is a necessary act of obedience to God. Faith, working in obedience, is a very needed prerequisite to obtain the Grace of God.
When we accept God's offer of grace we must accept it through obedient faith. Those who fail to be obedient to the will of God, the Bible, will not reap the benefits that God has offered.
Through our obedient faith, we receive God's gift of grace.