Mortals must participate with the Godhead to obtain forgiveness of sins. In the absence of biblically authorized human involvement in one’s salvation, a person remains a spiritual castaway (John 3:18). God’s saving grace is available to all men (Titus 2:11), but it must be properly appropriated to oneself.
Under Christianity, several New Testament passages relate to man’s part to receive human salvation. They are not mutually exclusive. Neither do various verses regarding redemption present multiple-choice options. Instead, Scriptures work together in providing instruction about correctly addressing mankind’s sin problem. They complement each other. Psalm 139:17 illustrates the collective worth of God’s Word on any subject. It reads, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” (NKJV).
Faith saves (John 3:15, 36), but faith alone does not save (James 2:24). Rather, believers have “the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12). Baptism saves, though most of the religious community denies that plain biblical teaching (1 Peter 3:21; Acts 22:16). Yet, merely going through the act of immersion in water for the remission of sins does not save one from sins (Acts 19:1-7; Luke 3:3). Grace saves, but in relationship to one’s faith (Ephesians 2:8). Mercy saves, but in relationship to one’s baptism (Titus 3:5). Confessing Christ saves (Romans 10:9-10), but does it save apart from faith, baptism, grace, mercy or any other contributor to human redemption? No! Repenting of one’s sins pertains to one’s salvation, too (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30). Hope (Romans 8:24), endurance (Matthew 10:22; Revelation 2:10) and being born again (John 3:3-5) are involved in redemption also.
Obedience to the Gospel—that system of faith (2 Corinthians 5:7; Jude 3)—saves as well (Hebrews 5:8-9). That book of faith—Romans—is sandwiched between references to the relationship between obedience and biblical faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26). Faith stands erect between the bookends of obedience. Furthermore, obedience and the grace of God are inseparably linked together (Romans 1:5). “The Grace of God Demands the Obedience of Faith” (Whitten). The grace of God—that unmerited favor—is not unconditional. By the grace of God, He withholds from us what we truly deserve, only when we obey the Gospel and continue to abide therein. Everyone who does not obey the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17) puts himself or herself beyond reach of God’s grace.
Works Cited
Whitten, Eddie. “The Grace of God Demands the Obedience of Faith.” Spiritual Sword. 17.4 July 1986, 16-18.
