Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
When it comes to the topic of grace, many people do not understand what it means in the Bible. When the word and its meaning are understood, it will be seen that there cannot be a mix of grace and works in salvation.
Salvation must be by one or the other. They are mutually exclusive. Paul declares that if salvation were the result of works, then it would be because God owed you salvation. Because of sin (willful disobedience), however, God does not owe us anything. This principle can be seen in Romans 4:4: “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”
The word “grace” means “gift.” The word “gift” means it is free to the recipient. Either something is free or it is not. If you have to do anything to earn it – it is not a gift.
The Apostle Paul repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is by grace alone – no works involved. Here it is clearly stated in Ephesians 2:8,9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” In these two verses, he not only says that salvation is by grace, but that it is also given as a gift. He then goes on to deny that any works are involved in it.
The phrase “not of yourselves” reveals that salvation is not by anything that you can do to earn it. You cannot join a church for salvation, be baptized for it, reform yourself, start (or continue) doing good works, etc. to be saved.
Instead, all you need to do is to ask for it by talking directly to God. He wants you to turn from sin in your heart and believe that Jesus Christ died on a Cross to pay all your sin debt (payment for your sin that you owe), ask His forgiveness and for Him to become your personal Savior. He has promised: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
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(Part II on “Grace” will come tomorrow.)