A salvation that is received by grace is quite simply the opposite of a salvation that is earned by working or by obeying the law of God. A person who is saved by grace has no basis for boasting in his salvation for he has done nothing to earn or merit it. Those who teach a salvation that is earned or merited through obedience of any sort, have to some degree, fallen from the teachings of grace and have moved into legalism.
This is an ongoing dispute among Christian believers. There are three basic opinions. A small number argue that there is no grace in salvation. Others maintain that salvation is mostly of grace. And still others such as I maintain that salvation is of grace alone, unsullied by works.
That first minority position argues that salvation is nothing but a human achievement. It is based on personal goodness and moral self-effort. This is really characteristic of pagan religions and philosophy. An early British monk named Pelagius tried to teach pagan moralism as Christian doctrine. He was condemned as a heretic, and his heresy was labeled Pelagianism. In this heresy the saving work of Christ is not necessary. Pelagius taught that person can save him/herself by leading a good and moral life.
The second position is that salvation is mostly – but NOT all --of grace. The most common of these schools is Arminianism. This is probably the most popular position held in Christianity at this time in our history. It is a core doctrine in Methodism, Catholicism and The Anglican Communion. Arminianism holds that the work of Christ has made salvation a possibility for all but not a finished reality for any. In Other Words, God has done His part, and now those who are willing to do their part will be saved.
In the Arminian view, while God has the “major” role in salvation, it is the human contribution to salvation that is the final necessity and makes the difference between heaven and hell. Under this view, the saving work of Christ is necessary for salvation but NOT sufficient.
Finally, we come to the Reformed (also called Augustinian or Calvinist) view. We hold, on the basis of Scripture Alone, that salvation is ALL and ONLY of grace. The saving work of Christ is both necessary and sufficient to save sinners. Our view is that the cross of Christ that makes the difference between heaven and hell. Therefore we have no basis for any boasting.
Even our ability to come to Christ in saving faith is a gift based upon the cross of Calvary. On the cross, Christ purchased -- for His elect, complete salvation. When a sinner is converted in response to the preaching of the gospel, it is only because Christ has poured out His Holy Spirit upon that sinner to apply to his or her heart the saving power of Christ's death and resurrection.
This view of grace is very humbling, and perhaps that is why not all Christians accept Grace Alone in spite of its strong and clear Biblical basis. William Temple (Archbishop of Canterbury during WWII) put it best when he said, “The only thing of my very own which I contribute to redemption is the sin from which I need to be redeemed.”
Pastor Jim
