God Alone!

September 2014 – Grace & Truth Magazine

God Alone!

Some time ago a man in the community who is active in preaching the Word of God stopped by Grace & Truth. Overhearing a conversation between him and another worker I heard this man say that to simply believe (Acts 16:31) wasn’t all that was necessary for salvation. He felt there were other things one had to do as well. Such ideas are all too common and are often taught in churches. But the thought of needing to do something other than simply believe is not according to Scripture. The Bible is very clear that salvation is solely by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). The writers of the Feature articles in this magazine draw from various verses to illustrate this truth and review what is really meant by some of the passages that seem to suggest otherwise – that we need to work or do something in order to be saved. We trust the articles will be a blessing to you.

Also, God never intended believers to doubt as to whether they are saved. Time and time again He uses terms that speak of permanence: “eternal,” “everlasting,” “sealed,” “will not fade away” and many more. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, those who trust God have been granted many great and precious promises by His abundant grace. We have been blessed with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3 NASB). All true believers have been set “free from the law of sin and of death” (Rom. 8:2). With so great a work done it is hard to imagine why any of us would think that we could add anything of value toward the salvation He offers.

We must add that it is only spoken of God that He is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). As in all of His work, God is to receive all the glory. He says in Isaiah 48:11, “My glory I will not give to another.” To claim that we did something for our salvation is to take glory from Him for ourselves. I hope that no believer would seek to do so.

What God has provided is truly “a gift” – a term the Holy Spirit uses over and over again. May we appreciate what He has given and live accordingly – in obedience, honoring and giving Him all the glory, now and forever.

By Paul Alberts