Building a Life That Matters for Good - Buckle Up: Accepting the Free Gift of God’s GraceSample

The Truth About Faith and Works

Sadly, many Christians object to the idea that our Salvation could be as straightforward as trusting Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross. Today, we explore some common misconceptions about this beautiful, simple Gospel.

First, some say we cannot be saved by faith alone. In short, they wrongly claim that Salvation comes by faith plus “works.” These additional “works” can include saying a certain prayer, walking an aisle in a church, completing a church curriculum, or being baptized. While these can be important actions for someone who already believes, they are not required to be forgiven of sin and made a child of God.

Some churches even suggest that we must overcome certain sins to be accepted. This is misleading and alienating. The Gospel is not about conquering our sins so we can be accepted; it’s about coming to Christ to be saved from the penalty and power of our sins. This is the Good News! The Family of God is not an exclusive club for those who have pulled themselves together—it’s a Family of forgiven sinners, saved by Grace.

Another common objection is that works are required to prove your Salvation or to keep it. This error suggests that if you’re really saved, your life will prove it. This is another misunderstanding of Scripture. While it’s true, of course, that the expected, natural outflow of a right relationship with God is a changed life and “good works,” these works are not guaranteed, humanly speaking.

We should not use the existence of works to determine whether we are saved or to judge anyone else. This faulty logic leads to our Salvation depending on our works rather than the Work of Jesus on the Cross. And it undermines our Eternal Security because it raises more questions than it answers—how many works does it take to prove we are saved? What kind of work is required? When do they have to show up? When have I messed up too many times? There’s not much Good News or “Gospel” left if our Salvation rests on our performance.

The truth is that God’s Way of Salvation is simple, and His Promises are steadfast: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Once you are saved, you are Perfectly, Eternally Secure because “His gifts and calling are irrevocable.”

Don’t misunderstand. How you live your life as a believer does matter, just not as a prerequisite to or as proof of your Salvation. The believer’s life goal should be to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Consider your own life. Let’s embrace the Liberating Truth of the Gospel and engage boldly in the adventure God has set before us—not out of fear or obligation but out of our security and love for Christ.