Saved By Grace Through Faith

Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Throughout the Past Century, Apostolic Soteriology has been challenged and come against. Many have challenged the Acts 2:38 model of salvation as not really being the biblical plan of salvation (of course this is a summary of what they do by challenging baptismal regeneration and non-acceptance of the baptism of the holy spirit as a definite experience which tongues is the official evidence of) and claim that the Apostolic model of salvation cannot be biblical because it downplays the doctrine of justification by faith which many throughout Church history have died defending.


I was recently listening to a debate Dr. David K. Bernard participated in. He is president of Urshan Graduate School of Theology and one of the primer Apostolic Theologians alive today. In this debate Dr. Bernard was strong in his stance that we are saved by grace through faith which is demonstrated by Repentance,Water baptism in Jesus Name and the Infilling of the Holy Spirit (evidenced by speaking with tongues). What I was impressed with was Dr. Bernard's emphasis on our salvation by grace through faith. I have in recent times adopted this approach and strongly argue the first part as necessary for the latter. While many believe you must have either or I would argue that both come together to give the true apostolic definition of salvation.

The Example of Noah

Many people are of the belief that Noah was saved because he was somehow morally better than other people of his day. Many bible story books set up the story this way. A Mark Driscoll clip on youtube caused me to abandon this false perspective of the story. He said that he was reading his children this story and one pointed out that the story neglected to mention the real reason for Noah's salvation:

Gen 6:5-8 NKJV
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

This is the real reason why Noah was spared from the flood. Although I am focusing on Noah I must take time to note that everyone one in the Old Testament who is noted as Hero of Faith or saw salvation of some time always experience it by grace through faith:

• Abraham was an Idol worshiper - His dad made them
• Moses was a murderer
• David seemed to enjoy chasing skirts and killing people who got in his way

When I look at this trend I have no difficulty saying that Noah was saved by grace through faith.

What Is The Grace of God?

A common definition for grace is "The unmerited favor of God". The Nelson's Bible Dictionary says the following: The grace of God was supremely revealed and given in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus was not only the beneficiary of God's grace (Luke 2:40), but He was also its very embodiment (John 1:14), bringing it to mankind for salvation (Titus 2:11). By His death and resurrection, Jesus restored the broken fellowship between God and His people, both Jew and Gentile. The only way of salvation for any person is "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 15:11).

A true definition of grace is an understanding that man is a sinner and unable to save himself. It is only this thing called the grace of God which is able to save us. God looks at helpless man and provides him with a way of salvation.

• For Noah the grace of God was seen when God told him that a flood would come and gave him the plans for the ark so he could be saved.
• For Abraham it was God speaking to this idolater and telling him to leave his country and father's household and go to a place God would show him.
  
• For us it is the Gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, he was buried and he rose the third day according to the scriptures.

The Human Element of Faith

Man people seem to teach that man is saved by the grace of God only. They seem to neglect that Paul says we are saved by grace through faith. This faith is man's part in the salvation process (Calvinists will argue that salvation is the work of God alone but the scripture speaks differently).

Paul does say that salvation is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. How can man not boast if he plays a part in his salvation? Simple. Because he knows that salvation is a gift from God which he only receives by this thing called faith. While he plays a part he understands that without God his act of faith is useless and he does not even have anything to have faith in.

Faith Without Works is Dead

James 2:14-23
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

This scripture is very difficult to come to grips with especially in light of Eph 2:8-9. It seems almost contradictory. James 2:23 has inspired the now popular Israel Houghton song "Friend of God" but also parallels Romans 4 where Paul argues Justification by Faith alone. James does not contradict any of this: He clarifies it all by making everyone aware of the fact that faith is more than mental action.

It would be ridiculous for us to believe that men thought the bible pleased God simply by saying "I believe you God" their belief had to have action to back it up. Many use the chair example for this - If you believe the chair will hold you up you don't have faith until you sit in it. Of course James uses the example of speaking comforting words without actually giving a helping hand as a lack of faith and Abraham's proof of faith by choosing to sacrifice Issac

Peter's Argument for Water Baptism

In Peter's first letter he does an excellent Job of defending the necessity of water baptism which he presented in Acts 2:38. He does this by using the Noah argument which I have been using. I have already said that is was firstly the grace of God that saved Noah and that this was through Noah's faith which was demonstrated by him obeying the command of God.

1 Peter 3:18-22 ESV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

I can think of no better way of presenting the truth of the Gospel than Peter did. He speaks of the Gospel (Christ dying for our sins) And uses the story of Noah showing that the grace of God was extend to all (some may argue this point but I stand ready to be corrected) by his patience waiting for them but only eight were saved because they had the faith in God's grace that provided an ark. Baptism which corresponds to all of this by being a means by which we show our faith in the grace of God being extended to all now saves us, not by removing dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience.

Final Thoughts

Apostolic Christians should not be afraid to boldly hammer the truth that reformers died for: Salvation is by grace through faith alone. We understand that our faith is demonstrated by our obedience to the word of God. Baptism in Jesus name is just as much a work as confessing Jesus with the mouth.

In order to have salvation by grace through faith alone we must first work hard to present first the Grace of God which has been extended through man by the Gospel of the Death of Jesus for our sins, his burial and his resurrection on the third day.and then present the message of faith by obedience to the plan of salvation in Acts 2:38. This folks is exactly what Peter did on the day of Pentecost and it repeats itself throughout the book of Acts.

D.C. Lake