WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IF WE OBEY

 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, but it is on condition!

When it comes to salvation, the Bible made it clear that it is a gift (Eph 2:8). The Bible also made a distinction between grace and work. When you work, you receive wages; the person you worked for has become your debtor. Money paid to workers is not a gift; they earn it by working and moreover the debtor is under obligation to make payment (Rom. 4:4). On the other hand, grace is a gift and therefore no one needs to work for it. We are not accepted by God through our works, if so grace is no more grace, God accepts sinners who have faith and obey Him.

I met several people during house to house evangelism who said that baptism is not a requirement for salvation because the Bible says that is it a gift. Several denominational churches have substituted baptism with “sinners’ prayer” that baptism is an option by the one who accepted Christ. They use scriptures such as Ephesians 2:8 and Romans 10: 9- 11 as their foundation.

What people say and do is not relevant if it not according to what is written in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible is the final authority and so what it says is what matters. So with these said what does the Bible say about this?

The grace of God even though free is on condition. It involves testing of faith, that is to say, obedience; we are only saved by grace through faith if we obey. We shall look at several practical examples in the Bible which demonstrate this!

Noah and the flood

In the book of Genesis, the Bible says that when men began to multiply on the surface of the earth their thought and imagination were only evil continually, it grieved God in His heart that He has made men on the earth. Because of this, God thought it wise to destroy the then world and it was so, but one man and his family were saved because he found grace in the eyes of God. (Gen. 6:8)

But before the grace was given, God tested the faith of Noah, he was asked to do something. What was that?

(Gen 6:14-16) Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.(KJV)

Here, God gave Noah some specific instructions to follow in order to build the Ark. Let’s see whether he did according to the word of God.

(Gen 6:22) Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

(Gen 7:5) And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him.



Yes, he did, note here that the Bible says “all” not “some”, as at the time God asked Noah to build the Ark, Noah believed God if not so he would not have proceeded to build the Ark. Therefore believing the word of God alone is not enough for salvation, action (obedience) must follow.

The Bible confirmed that Noah was saved through faith when he obeyed.

(Heb 11:7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became the heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

The call of Abraham

The call of Abraham is another great example to learn from. God commanded Abraham to get out of his country, from his kindred and from his father’s house.

(Gen 12:1) Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.

Abraham did not continue to stay in his father’s house and country after believing God but obeyed the command of God not even knowing where he was going. Because of his obedience, it was counted for him as righteousness.

(Heb 11:8-10) By faith,  Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith, he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.


Obedience to the word of God is very important, remember, to obey is better than sacrifice and to hear is better than the fat of the ram.

The pre- exodus Passover feast

The Egyptian King, Pharaoh Rameses would not let the Israelites go upon the numerous miraculous works by God’s servants Moses and Aaron. God visited the Egyptians with ten plagues, the tenth one being the most severe one. Before the death of the firstborns of the Egyptians and their animals (the tenth plague), the Israelites were given specific instructions as to how to escape this devastating plague.



These were the instructions given to the Israelites by God through Moses (Exo. 12:1-28)

They were to select a lamb on the tenth day of the month, a lamb for a house according to their number.

• The lamb was to be without blemish.
• A male of the first year.
• It could be taken out of the sheep or from the goats.
• The lamb should be slaughtered in the evening after keeping it until the fourteenth day of the same month.
• They should take the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
• The lamb should be roasted with fire with its entrails.
• They were to eat it in the night with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
• The roasted lamb should be consumed all, but the rest which remained should be burnt the next morning with fire.
• They should be prepared while eating the Passover lamb: with lions girded shoes on and staff in their hands.

These and many other instructions God has given the Israelites, the most important of them is this;

(Exo. 12:22) And ye shall take a bunch of hyssops, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin, and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

Because:

(Exo. 12:23) For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.



The Israelites heard all these instructions, believed and obeyed God’s words.

(Exo 12:28) And the children of Israel went away and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

The Bible confirmed that Moses did this through faith

(Heb 11:28) Through faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

It was not Moses alone that did this but all the Israelites; they were saved by grace through faith when they obeyed.

The Israelites at the Red Sea

This is another great example in the book of Exodus where the Israelites served the Egyptians for 400years. They cried up to God and He delivered them.

The Israelites were led by Moses out of Egypt enroot to the promised land, but oops! There was an obstacle on the way; the red sea. Things became critical when the Egyptians marched after the Israelites, they were very much afraid. They cried out to the LORD.

The instruction of God to the Israelites

(Exo 14:15-16) And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

The Israelites were asked by God to move forward while the Red Sea is right in front of them, Moses was also told to stretch his hand on the red sea with his rod – it was a test of faith by GOD.

Note that at this point the Israelites heard the words of God and believed but that is not the end, they acted on the word of God.

(Exo 14:21-22) And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

The Israelites gained freedom and salvation from the Israelites

(Exo 14:30) Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.

The Bible established that the Israelites were saved through faith when they obeyed.

(Heb 11:29) By faith, they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Naaman and his leprosy

Naaman was the captain of the King of Syria, he was rich, honorable and great but he was a leper. There was a maid in his house who was taken out of the captives of Israel, she served Naaman’s wife. The maid knew that there was a prophet of God from Samaria who could recover Naaman from his leprosy. After discussing it with her Mistress, the information was relayed to Naaman about this prophet.

Naaman gathered resources for his journey and departed for Israel. When he stood in front of Elisha's house, he was given specific instructions in order for him to recover from his leprosy by the messenger of Elisha the prophet.

(2Kigs. 5:10) And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

When Naaman heard the message he did not believe and went his way angered. He thought there were better rivers in Damascus in which he could wash and recover but all was in vain. He was still with leprosy because he did not act on the instruction he was given in order to recover. Now before we proceed we should be aware that not until we obey the specific instructions God has given, we would not be saved.

Naaman, after wandering around a while came back and obeyed the word of the man of God before he was recovered of his leprosy.

(2Kigs. 5:14) Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Remember we are saved by grace through faith when we obey. Naaman believed at long last, obeyed and he was recovered from his leprosy.

God’s grace cleansed Naaman

(Luk 4:27) And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Man and his sins

(Rom. 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

We have personally sinned against God which is the obstacle we need to overcome in order to be saved. Interestingly we cannot do it ourselves and there is absolutely no one, who can save himself and the rest of the world. God loves us so much that he gave His only begotten son who sacrificed Himself for us.

(Rom 3:24-25) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

The grace of God is for everyone and is free but on conditions. It is those who meet these conditions that would be saved. Before our spiritual leprosy (sins) can be cleansed we need to meet these conditions, in other words, we need to obey the specific instructions God has given us.

Man’s instructions for salvation are:

To hear the gospel message (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ)

(Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

(Act 2:36-37) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men, and brethren, what shall we do?



Believe

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.



Repent of our sins

(Act 17:30) And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.



Confess our faith in Jesus Christ that He is the son of the living God

(Rom 10:10) For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.



(Act 8:37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.



Be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit

(Act 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(Act 8:38) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.



Live a faithful life till death for the receipt of the crown of life.

(Rev 2:10) Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

If we meet these conditions does not mean that we work for our own salvation but it makes us be obedient to the word of God through faith. Remember once again, we are saved by grace through faith if we obey.

(Heb. 5:9) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.

Conclusion

Hearing the word of God alone will not save us

Believing in Jesus Christ and for that matter, His word will not save us

Repenting alone will not save us

Confessing our faith alone in Jesus Christ will not save us

But if we hear the gospel message

Believe

Repent

Confess that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God

Baptized for the forgiveness of sins and the receipt of the Holy Spirit

Live a faithful life till death; we would receive the crown of life!

Remember if we do things contrary to the word of God we would not be saved, in other words, we need to obey God not the teachings of men.

If you need any assistance, get in touch with the Church of Christ near you. Or contact me for further studies.
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