The Gospel - Faith Alone In Christ Alone
(Luke 23:32-43; Matthew 27:41-44; Ephesians 2:8-9)
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Jesus Himself tells us in John 8:31-32:
31 "... If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " NAS
In John 15:7, He also tells us:
7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. NAS
Let’s take a moment to quietly confess our sins to God, so that we are in fellowship with Him and led by the Holy Spirit when we study God’s word. 1 John 1:9 promises us, that if we name our known sins to God, He always forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness, even from the unknown sins we forgot or didn’t even realize we committed. Let’s pray.
Thank you, Father, for always restoring your children when we admit our sins to you. May your Holy Spirit teach us your word as we study it now. We ask these things in Jesus Name. Amen
FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Today I’m going to discuss what the Bible teaches about the true gospel, what God’s Word tells us concerning how to be saved. Despite what the world and even many churches say, salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.
We see the Bible teaching faith alone in such verses as Acts 16:30-31. The Philippian jailer asks Paul and Silas, "What must I do to be saved?", and they respond simply, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved...." (NAS). These verses are just one place where the Bible teaches faith alone for salvation.
The Bible also teaches that such faith must be in Christ alone. For instance, Jesus Himself says in John 14:6, "I am the [only] way, and the [only] truth, and the [only] life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (NAS) While the specific word "only" doesn’t appear in the original New Testament manuscript, the meaning is there in the grammar of the Koine Greek for the word "the", meaning "the one and only". Jesus tells us that He is the "one and only" way, truth, and life. In addition, Jesus then makes His meaning even clearer when he says, "no one comes to the Father but through Me". There is no other way to get to heaven except through Christ alone.
Faith alone in Christ alone? There are many people who consider themselves to be Christians, yet they often call this easy believism. I recently read a publication on the Internet that used those very words, easy believism, to describe faith alone in Christ alone. My response to that is...you bet it is!!!
Salvation is easy for us, because God did all of the work. Salvation wasn’t easy for Jesus Christ, because God put the sins of the world on Jesus and judged Him in our place. Since Jesus did all of the work and paid the price of our sins in full, all we have to do is believe. There is nothing we can add to salvation to pay even a tiny part of it.
Faith alone in Christ alone is the true Biblical gospel. It’s what separates real Christianity from being just another religion. All religions believe that you can earn salvation yourselves by following certain rules, by performing good works and avoiding certain sins.
That’s not what the Bible teaches. God’s word throughout the Old and New Testament shows that God deals with His people by grace. Grace is blessing from God that we don’t earn or deserve, but that we receive through believing what the Lord tells us, by exercising faith.
As human beings, we have a really hard time understanding and believing the idea of grace. We receive a wage for the work we perform at our jobs. We get a prize if we compete with others and we excel over them. We get an award in recognition of our long years of service. However, with grace, we receive a valuable gift for doing absolutely nothing.
I’d first like to give you six principles from the Bible that teach faith alone in Christ alone for salvation. These can be found on the first page of the outline that I handed out:
1. Salvation is by grace. This means that it results from unmerited favor, that it is not earned or deserved in any way.
2. Salvation is accessed by faith, by believing in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for our sins. God the Father poured the sins of the whole world on to His Son, Jesus Christ, and punished Jesus for what we have done.
3. Salvation through faith is not of yourselves. There is nothing that you or I can do to work for it, or to add to it.
4. Salvation is a gift from God. A gift is simply received, and by making it a gift, God shows us His fairness. He makes it available to everyone, regardless of their abilities, because anyone can accept a gift. A gift depends on the work, merits, love, and generosity of the giver. All you or I can do when offered such a gift is to refuse it or take it. The receiver of a gift gets no credit or glory for simply taking it!
5. Salvation is not as result of works. It costs us nothing to be saved. If we had to earn it or add to it, Jesus Christ’s work on the cross would not be complete and sufficient.
6. Salvation by faith alone means that no one should boast. God gets all of the glory because God does all of the work. Whether or not some believers will admit it, the primary reason for adding any kind of works to the gospel is pride, and that can be mental or actual verbal "boasting". They may not actually say it, but it gives them credit for a part of their salvation. They did something that an unsaved person has not done.
All of these six principles I’ve just discussed about salvation are taught clearly in only two simple verses:
Ephesians 2:8-9:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
These are two of the clearest verses in God’s word. You don’t need to be a Bible scholar to understand the apostle Paul’s words in these verses. Nevertheless, many believers deny such teachings. Apparently, they can’t deal with he idea that someone whom they believe has been a "great sinner" or "carnal believer", can still go to heaven through a simple decision to believe in Jesus Christ.
Well I say, that’s their problem, but don’t let such people make it yours. No matter what kind of tricks these legalistic religious types play with other verses in the Bible, don’t fall for it! Don’t let anyone bully you into working for your salvation (of course, what they consider to be working), and don’t even argue with them (did you ever see a Christian change their mind about anything in the Bible because you argued with them about it?).
Stand firm on Ephesians 2:8-9. Quote it over and over again. Believe these verses. Salvation is a free gift from God to all who choose to accept it. It’s totally by grace, and if you add even one work to grace, Romans 11:6 tells us that grace is no longer grace. Grace and works are mutually exclusive. Salvation can’t be based on both.
Romans 11:6:
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. (NAS)
Salvation is easy for us, because Jesus did all of the work. However, just be careful not to confuse salvation with discipleship. People who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, but then never grow in their faith, never abide in God’s word, will still go to heaven. However, the believer who chooses to live in carnality after salvation, will not have a life here that is easy:
- God will discipline His children who disobey Him;
- Carnal believers will not enjoy God’s maximum blessings in their life here on earth;
- They will not earn rewards for eternity.
Salvation is a one-time decision to trust Jesus Christ. Being a disciple (student) of Jesus is a series of day-to-day decisions to learn and obey God’s Word, the Bible, to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Don’t let another person steal away your assurance of salvation by making you "carry the cross", "pay the cost", or "make Jesus Lord" to get it. Just remember this simple formula based on Ephesians 2:8-9:
Salvation = Faith in Jesus Christ + NOTHING!
(Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 16:30-31; John 14:6) (Romans 11:6)
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION
There are many important points to remember about the gospel. These can be found on the first page of the outline that I handed out:
1. All people are sinners and fall short of God’s perfect standards (Rom. 3:23).
2. The penalty of sin is spiritual death (Rom. 6:23).
3. Jesus Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for sin (1 Cor. 15:3).
4. God’s free gift of salvation is available to anyone who trusts in the work of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16,18).
5. It is God’s will that all men be saved (2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim 2:3-4).
6. But no one can come to Christ unless the Father first draws him (John 6:44).
7. Therefore, God in His grace draws all men to Christ (John 12:32). This particular point is missed by those who believe Calvinism. God doesn’t draw only some people to salvation. He draws all people.
8. Christ’s death paid for all the sins ever committed by the entire world. That’s why you can’t lose your salvation. You can’t commit a sin that Jesus Christ hasn’t already paid for (1 John 2:2; 1 Tim 2:5-6).
9. God makes the gospel known to all men (John 1:9; Rom 1:18-20; Titus 2:11).
10. The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Believing in "many ways to God" makes Jesus a liar or crazy, because He claimed to be the "only way."
11. Believing in Christ is based on a faith decision, and God gives the ability to do this to all men (Eph 2:8-9).
12. A person must be born again spiritually to be saved, and this is done by faith in Christ (John 3:3-7).
13. Despite the fact that God desires and has given all people the chance to be saved, most of the human race will not take that road, but rather will choose to love darkness (Matt. 7:13-14; John 3:19-21). This is another point missed by Calvinism. God’s grace is NOT irresistable. If it were, we would all be robots with no free will. Most people will CHOOSE not to believe. They will CHOOSE to place their faith in their own works, or upon the works of someone other than Jesus Christ. Remember that faith is non-meritorious, that faith is believing in the work of someone else. That is, we don’t get the credit for the work, but the object of our faith does - Jesus Christ.
A BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATION OF SALVATION: THE TWO THIEVES(Luke 23:32, 39-43; Matt. 27:41-44)
The greatest Biblical example that proves salvation is simply by faith alone in Christ alone, is the illustration of the criminal crucified next to Jesus, who placed his faith in Christ and was saved. This can be found on the second page of the outline I handed out.
Whenever we picture the crucifixion on the hill at Golgotha, we have that image of three crosses, with Jesus in the center and the two criminals on either side.
Luke 23:32 And two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. (NAS)
Initially, both thieves mocked Jesus along with the chief priest, scribes, and elders. This tells us that both thieves were unbelievers when they were crucified. This is important to remember, because it means that the "good thief" did nothing by which he was saved before his crucifixion. He was crucified an unsaved person. He had not previously repented nor been baptized. His salvation occurred totally on the cross.
Matt 27:41-44
41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking {Him,} and saying,
42 "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we shall believe in Him.
43 "He trusts in God; let Him deliver {Him} now, if He takes pleasure in Him; for He said, ’I am the Son of God.’"
44 And the robbers also who had been crucified with Him were casting the same insult at Him. (NAS)
So initially, both thieves were unsaved, and both insulted Jesus. However, perhaps as he heard Jesus ask the Father to forgive the mockers, the heart of one of the thieves softens. He makes the free will decision to believe in Jesus, to put his faith in him. The other thief could have done the same, but doesn’t.
Luke 23:39-42
39 And one of the criminals who were hanged {there} was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!"
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 "And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" (NAS)
Notice what Jesus does not do. Jesus Christ Himself does not say:
- "Whoa buddy! No way!!! You think you’re going to live your whole life in sin and then get into heaven at the last minute?!?!
- "Sorry, you’ve never been baptized. You can’t be saved."
- "It’s too late now! You still need to make restitution to all the people you robbed!"
- "You don’t look or sound sorry enough for your past sins!"
- "I haven’t seen any fruit in your life. You’re not really saved!"
- "You still need to make me Lord of your life. It’s not enough to simply believe in me!"
- "I’m sorry. You’re not really saved until you speak in tongues!"
Instead, Jesus rewards the man’s simple act of faith with the promise of salvation.
Luke 23:43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (NAS)
The "good thief" lived his life as a criminal, finally being sentenced to death for it. In the end, he made an "easy death-bed" confession of faith, doing nothing more than believing in Jesus:
- He didn’t walk an aisle to "publicly proclaim his decision" or to "seal his commitment";
- He was never baptized, despite the fact that water baptism had already been instituted by John;
- He never made restitution for what he had done;
- He never showed fruit or a changed life, or any other "evidence" of repentance;
- He never spoke in tongues, despite the fact that some emotional believers say this is proof of salvation;
- He didn’t "make Jesus Lord", as a popular preacher has led many people astray into believing;
- He didn’t "invite Jesus into his heart", a popular gospel appeal today with no Biblical foundation;
- He didn’t recite the "sinner’s prayer";
- He never joined or became active in a church;
- He never received "the second blessing" nor was he ever "slain in the spirit", two religious concepts not in the Bible.
- He never "shed tears of repentance". True Biblical repentance is based upon a change of mind, with or without any emotions that may result from such a change.
- He never sang "Do Lord", threw a twig on a fire, or committed his life to full-time service (which, by the way, ALL believers are in as priests);
- God didn’t heal him, rescue him, or bless him with material assets or good health;
- And worse of all, he never tithed, made a pledge, "planted a seed", or gave one penny of his money to a church.
The "good thief" simply placed his faith totally in Jesus Christ. He believed in Christ in a situation where he had "nothing to lose" by doing so, on a "death-bed" when it couldn’t have been more "convenient", where it didn’t cost him a thing. Today’s "fruit inspectors" would have this man burning in hell at this very moment had Jesus not told us different.
In fact, such legalistic people who add works to the gospel are in danger of hell-fire themselves, because they may not have fully trusted in the work of Jesus Christ for their own salvation. If you add your own works to salvation, then you are not putting your faith solely in the work of Jesus Christ. One day, these religious types who work to make Jesus their "Lord" (when, in fact, He already is Lord) may hear those dreaded words, "I never knew you", from Jesus Himself on Judgment Day. Only a person who places his faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ is saved.
The example of the saved thief on the cross disproves every theological argument that tries to add anything to simple faith in Christ for salvation. The saved thief did nothing but believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. So when people try to add human works to salvation, don’t argue with them. Be nice, but simply say, "The thief on the cross didn’t do that to be saved!" For example:
- You have to be baptized to be saved! "The thief on the cross didn’t do that!"
- You need to speak in tongues as a sign! "The thief on the cross didn’t do that!"
- You need to make Jesus Lord of your life. "The thief on the cross didn’t do that!"
In all likelihood, such people won’t listen to you when shown such clear and simple Biblical proof. Understand that these people are in spiritual reversionism. Their "faith" is based largely upon their own experiences, emotions, and biases, and not primarily upon the Bible. In fact, they are more like the unsaved thief on the cross, who chose not to put his simple faith in Jesus Christ to be saved. They freely choose not to place their faith in the ultimate authority of God’s word, as the unsaved thief freely chose not to place his faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.
The saved thief proves that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, period! Had Jesus not spoken out loud the promise that the thief would be in Paradise that very day, many Christians today would believe and teach that the thief was not saved by his simple act of faith. But Jesus did say it, and God had Luke record it for us in Luke 23:43.
Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.
Salvation = faith + nothing!
Have you personally believed in Jesus Christ? Have you trusted that His suffering and death on the cross paid for your sins and purchased your salvation? Do you understand that there is nothing you can add to Jesus wonderful gift, that you can do nothing to earn or deserve salvation?
IN CONCLUSION
In conclusion, because it is the Holy Spirit who makes the gospel message understandable to those who are spiritually dead, many people get saved regardless of the mistakes that a pastor, evangelist, or other believer makes in presenting the gospel to a lost world. This does not mean that Biblical accuracy in understanding the gospel is unimportant. The Bible commands us to "study to show thyself approved" so that we are always "rightly dividing the word of truth".
But we can also have joy and hope at the realization that no pastor, evangelist, nor you or I, can keep any person out of heaven by the mistakes we might make in sharing the gospel. Any unbeliever who expresses positive choice at the moment of God consciousness, will hear the message of the gospel, and will have it made understandable to them by the Holy Spirit.
Part of the essence of God is that He is perfect justice. Consistent with God’s essence is the fact that God will not allow any person to go to hell who God knows in His perfect omniscience would believe had they heard. In other words, God would not be fair if He allowed anyone to go to hell just because some believers are negative toward the correct study and teaching of the Bible.
The two thieves crucified with Jesus illustrate the issue for the entire human race. On one side are the people who will continue to mock Jesus despite the wonderful sacrifice He made for them. They will keep seeing themselves as good enough to somehow make it to heaven on their own. On the other side are people who choose to put their faith in the work that Jesus Christ has done for us, who realize that He undeservedly took the punishment for the sins we’ve committed. It’s only a matter of each person’s free will that determines which side of the cross they are on, and where they will spend eternity.
This man who Christians often call the "good thief" simply believed in Christ as Savior, and asked Jesus to "remember me when you enter your kingdom". Jesus responded by promising him that he would be in Paradise that very day (Luke 23:32-33, 39-43). Had Jesus not responded verbally to the thief’s request, many Christians today would tell you that there is "no way" that man was saved.
The Bible shows us that no person ever did less to be saved than the "good thief" on the cross. But in fact, the Bible also tells us that no person ever did more to be saved either.
Let’s pray.
Father, we pray that you can help us understand the gospel correctly, and never add our own works to it. We ask for opportunities to share Jesus Christ with others, and that your Holy Spirit will help us to tell others about Christ boldly but correctly. We ask these things in your Son’s name, amen.
Copyright (c) 2000, Frank J. Gallagher
Abiding In The Word
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All materials are written by me and are copyrighted. These materials may be freely copied and distributed for the purpose of study and teaching, so long as they are made available to others free of charge, and my copyright is included. These materials may not, in any manner, be sold nor used to solicit "donations" from others, nor may they be included in anything you intend to copyright, sell, or offer for a fee. God the Holy Spirit freely provides this knowledge in grace, and so do I. My copyright is exercised to keep these materials freely available to all.
