To address the above question, while several relevant scriptures will be used to give more clarity to the subject, I would like to infer two scriptures as our main texts and guide; Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10;9-10
First of all, I’d want to believe that the salvation in this subject matter is not that which is from any man-made ideology or institution, not politically oriented, not about joining a church denomination or a Christian community or even being born into a Christian family or the observance of certain Church rules/customs, sacraments such as water baptism, feet washing, holy communion, church attendance, and the likes. I would like to believe the salvation of our focus on the subject matter points to the LIFE offered to every creature through the death, burial, and resurrection of the only begotten Son of God; Jesus Christ which is known as the Gospel.
The Apostle Paul defined the gospel of *Christ as “… the power of God unto salvation,…” Romans 1:16, the Apostle Peter once declared: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved…” Acts 4:12, referring to Christ Jesus.
Two components make the power of the Gospel possible for salvation: grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- Grace: This speaks of God’s love (1 John 4:9-10) His unmerited favor or kindness to the entire human race (John 1:17, Titus 2:11), and was demonstrated in sending Jesus to be the substitute in our place as an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:1, 2 Cor. 5:21, 8:9). Jesus was declared to be the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. He came to do for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves to fit the judicial or legal standards of God’s acceptance (Romans 8:3-4, 2 Cor. 5:21).
However, not everyone on planet Earth is saved simply because the grace of God has appeared to all men, or simply because Christ has been made the propitiation for our sin. 1 John 2:2. Ephesians 2:8 makes it clear that we are NOT saved by grace alone; rather we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH. Romans 5:2, “…we have this access BY FAITH into this GRACE…”.
This leads us to examine the next important word in Eph. 2:8, Faith!
- Faith: Romans 10:9-10, gives sort of, a graphic description of the proceedings of this virtue called faith at the rebirth (salvation). First, we understand its meaning from Hebrews 11:1 as the evidence of things not seen and the substance of things hoped for, in other texts, faith is defined as the absence of doubt in the heart (Mark 11:23), not having a double stand on a matter, to have complete trust, being ascertain about a thing in the heart (James 1:6). That said, faith in this context, isn’t in just having a mental ascent of a God who is all powerful and magnanimous or omnipotent, faith in this context is believing in His grace; that is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our sin against us. That He, Christ Jesus, His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection brought about our freedom from the power of sin (sanctification), the guilt of sin (justification), and the consequence of sin (glorification).
Therefore, throughout the New Testament, it is God’s will and demand that full trust or faith in the finished works of Jesus Christ in his substitutionary works (death, burial, and resurrection) for salvation; the way of access to the LIFE of God, which is Eternal Life (1 John 5:1, 12-13, John 3:16-17).
Hence, if you have placed your complete trust in Christ’s finished works, for your sanctification, your justification, and glorification, you have been saved: you’re new, born new or a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) “…for without faith, it is impossible to please God…” Heb 11:6, Eph 2:8-9. It is not dependent on anything we can achieve on our own, this salvation is a gift! The obvious operation of God in Christ from start to finish for us.
Two Keynotes to take home:
- Believing in the Lord Jesus for salvation is not validated as a matter of fact may never be validated by how you feel, but by the word of God preached as the word of faith Romans 10:6-7, 1 Peter 2:23.
- The Spirit of truth you have received in salvation witnesses with your own spirit or heart, that you are a Child of God (Romans 8:16).
In summary, when grace and faith are in place, all that is left for you is to hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering(Hebrews 10:23) and stand fast in the liberty where Christ has made you free (Galatians 5:1).
Most times, when we fall into sin, we may have doubts but we must stay assured those doubts are never from the Spirit of Truth for they seek to lead us astray into condemnation. Rather in such cases, confession (admittance of our shortcomings/wrongs) and repentance is the solution (Luke 11:4, 1 John 1:9) and continue the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1).
Blessings!
