Saved By Grace, and Under the Law of Christ
Bible study on salvation and commitment.

A prominent religious doctrine is that we're under grace, but not under law. Some people call this doctrine grace only.

Most often, people use this doctrine to defend their belief that baptism isn't essential for salvation. And sometimes, they use it as a reason to do whatever they want, apart from anything God says in His word.

Extreme Limits of Grace Only
When pushed to its outer limits, the false doctrine of grace only asserts that people have to do nothing to be saved, not even believe. God will either save them by grace, or not at all.

And when we add some Calvinism into the mix, people come up with a series of doctrines like this:

• There is nothing you can do to be saved or lost. God predestined your eternal destiny before you were born.
• If God predestined you to be saved, He will send the Holy Spirit upon you to make you believe and be saved. You have no choice.
• Once you are saved, there is nothing you can do to be lost. Even if you sin and die before repenting, you will still be saved.

Of course, the above doctrines contradict many Scriptures. Unfortunately, though, they are widely held by churches.

Grace, Faith, and Obedience
Even with a superficial study of the New Testament, we immediately understand we're saved by grace through faith, in obedience to Christ. We are not saved by grace only or faith only.

• "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8).
• "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation" (Heb. 5:8-9).

The faith by which we are saved, works the works of God. This is not like the demons, who have a disobedient faith that does not work.

• "Therefore they said to Him, 'What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent'" (Jn. 6:28-29).
• "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless" (Jas. 2:19-20)?

Likewise, James (in his epistle) asks a rhetorical question, communicating that faith without works can't save us.

• "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that" (Jas. 2:14-16)?

In the next verse, James says that faith without works is dead. It's the same faith of demons, and does not result in salvation (Jas. 2:14, 19-20).

• "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (Jas. 2:17).

Then, he states that we're justified by works (i.e., a working faith), not by faith alone.

• "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone" (Jas. 2:24).

So then, James concludes, faith without works is dead.

• "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead" (Jas. 2:26).

Now, James cites the examples of Abraham and Rahab, whereby we understand the teaching he's delivered.

• "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone" (Jas. 2:21-24).
• "In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead" (Jas. 2:25-26).

Proponents of Grace Only and Faith Only
The Bible teaching of grace, faith, and obedience are so plain, proponents of grace only and faith only have moved to eliminate books from the Bible that contradict their doctrine.

For example, Martin Luther didn't believe the epistle of James was written by an apostle, and he believed it was an epistle of straw.

He based his conclusions on perceived contradictions between James and Paul, especially in Paul's epistle to the Romans.

Since Luther's doctrine matched his interpretation of Romans, and not the epistle of James, he decided to exclude James from the main body of Scripture, along with Hebrews, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and Revelation.

We Are Personally Responsible For Our Salvation
The doctrines of faith only and grace only are often thought to be comforting, because a person has nothing to do with his own salvation -- God does everything!

But the truth is that each person has work to do relating to his own salvation. Though we are saved by grace, we are personally responsible for our own salvation.

These principles are evident in a number of ways which we'll discuss below. But it's clear that they are true, based on the fact that we are bound to fulfill the law of Christ, by which we'll be judged (Gal. 6:2; Jas. 2:12).

We Must Save Ourselves
Ask a person who believes in faith only or grace only, "Do we have to save ourselves?"

You'll probably get an answer like, "Of course not, we're saved by grace, all you have to do is believe! If we had to do something, it wouldn't be grace!"

Answers like these show the conflict between the false doctrines of faith only and grace only, and the Scriptures.

During Peter's sermon on Pentecost, the day the church began, he commanded the people to be saved. This shows that the people had to do something to be saved, and thus had personal responsibility regarding their salvation.

• "And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation!' So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:40-41).

The American Standard Version and King James Version bring out this point more clearly.

• "And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added [unto them] in that day about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:40-41, ASV).
• "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:40-41, KJV).

In order to be saved, the people had to do something, or else they would be lost. They had to be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38).

Likewise, when Jesus sent Ananias to Saul, telling him what he must do to be saved, he commanded him to do something to be saved.

• "'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name'" (Acts 22:16).

Saul, who became the apostle Paul, had to do something to be saved. He had to wash away his sins by being baptized, and thereby calling on the name of the Lord to be saved.

Yes, the Lord saved Paul. But Paul also had a part in his salvation, because he had to obey the Lord's command.

It's like a man who is drowning in the ocean. A ship comes by and a crew member throws him a lifeline. The drowning man reaches out and grabs the lifeline, and he's pulled to the safety. The drowning man had to do something to be saved, and in one sense saved himself, because he had to grab the lifeline and hold it securely. Yet, he was saved by the grace and mercy of the crew member.

We too must do something to be saved, and grab the lifeline God has thrown us. If we do, we have saved ourselves in a manner of speaking, because we'd be lost without grabbing the lifeline and holding it securely. Yet, we are saved by grace, which God extended to us by throwing out the lifeline of salvation.

We Must Work Out Our Own Salvation
So then, Paul commands us to work out our own salvation, by doing whatever is necessary to obey the Lord.

• "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12).

It's not that we're to develop a plan by which we can be saved, but that we must work out whatever is necessary to obey God, and thus receive the grace He's extended to us in Christ.

• "Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).
• "I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus" (1 Cor. 1:4).
• "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:1).

How do we receive God's grace that is "in" Christ? We are baptized "into" Christ.

• Salvation by grace is being made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:5).
• We are made alive together with Christ when we are baptized (Col. 2:12-13).

When we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into His death, buried with Him, and raised up to newness of life. Thus, we are made alive together with Christ and saved by grace (Eph. 2:5; Col. 2:12-13).

• "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3-4).

Thus, having been united with Christ when we are baptized, we have the gift of salvation by God's grace, through the redemption that is in Christ.

• " For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death . . ." (Rom. 6:5).
• "Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

So, when people asked Peter what to do to be saved, he said, "Repent, and each of you be baptized" (Acts 2:38).

And when Peter wrote brethren in his first epistle, he said, "Baptism now saves you" (1 Pet. 3:21).

And when addressing Jesus and salvation in the Hebrew epistle, he said, "He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation" (Heb. 5:9).

We Must Obey the Law of Christ
God gave Jesus all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). Of necessity, then, Jesus must have a law whereby He exercises the authority given Him by the Father.

Accordingly, then, the Scriptures say that we must obey Jesus and His law.

• "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2).
• "And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation" (Heb. 5:9).

So Paul, writing to the Corinthians, indicates that the law of Christ is synonymous with the law of God, when he says, "though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ" (1 Cor. 9:21).

Now, let's answer the question, "Are we under law?"

"Yes!" We are under the law of Christ, and must fulfill it in our lives. We must obey Christ to be saved.

Therefore, the doctrine that we're under grace and not under law, is a false doctrine.

Judged by the Law of Liberty
Corresponding to the fact that we're under the law of Christ, and must fulfill it in our lives, we will also be judged by the same law.

• "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty" (Jas. 2:12).

The law of Christ is the law of liberty (Jas. 1:25; 2:12).

• Liberty and perfection are in Christ (Gal. 2:4; Col. 1:28). Therefore, Christ's law is the perfect law of liberty (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2; Jas. 1:25).
• Jesus said we'll be judged by His words (Jn. 12:48). And, James said we'll be judged by the law of liberty (Jas. 1:25; 2:12). The law of Christ and the law of liberty are the same.

So, Paul simply states that we must fulfill the law of Christ, and obey Jesus to be saved (Gal. 6:2; Heb. 5:9).

Yes, we are under law. We are under the law of Christ, and must fulfill His law in our lives. We must obey Jesus to be saved.

We are saved by grace, under the law of Christ.

Answering Objections
Now, we want to begin answering objections people offer to the teaching that we are saved by grace, and under the law of Christ.

Before we get into answering the objections, we need to review some principles that we must keep in mind.

First, remember that some things are hard to understand in God's word. Therefore, we must be careful to accurately handle the word of truth, and not twist it to our own destruction (2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:16).

To accurately handle the word of truth, we must diligently search the Scriptures, taking into account the whole message contained in God's word (Acts 5:20; 17:11; 20:27).

Thus, interpretation of a Scripture must be in harmony with all of God's word.

• All Scripture is inspired by God, and equips us for everything God would have us believe and do (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The men who wrote the Bible were moved by the Holy Spirit, and did not add their personal interpretations (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
• We cannot think beyond what is written in God's word (1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 1:9). Therefore, all teaching and conclusions must be based solely on God's word (Col 3:17; Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18-19).
• God does not lie and His word is absolutely precise, so God's word does not contradict itself (Heb. 4:12; 6:18-19). If we can't reconcile two passages, the problem is with our understanding, not with God's word.
• If our interpretation of a Scripture conflicts with another Scripture, our interpretation must be wrong.

We can't be like Martin Luther, who chose to exclude books of the Bible that didn't match his doctrinal beliefs. Rather, in such cases, we must change our beliefs to harmonize with the complete word of God.

Answering Objections: We Are Not Justified By Works of the Law
Many religious teachers claim that we are either under grace or law, not under both.

They cite passages like these, alleging that everyone who is saved is under grace, not under law.

• "Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight . . ." (Rom. 3:19-20).
• "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law" (Rom. 3:28).
• "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Rom. 6:14).
• "'We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified'" (Gal. 2:15-16).
• "'I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly'" (Gal. 2:21).

There are three major mistakes people make who hold the position that we're under grace and not under law.

First, they exclude passages like these, which clearly contradict their doctrine.

• Galatians 6:2 and 1 Corinthians 9:21 clearly state that we are under the law of Christ.
• Hebrews 7:12 tells us the Mosaic Law was changed of necessity, so Christ could be our priest. Since the law was changed, and since Christ is our priest, we must be under that law today, which is the law of Christ.
• Hebrews 5:9 tells us that Jesus is the source of salvation to those who obey Him. Since we must obey Jesus, He must have a law, otherwise there would be nothing to obey.

Second, they fail to consider the whole word of God, and do not recognize that we are both saved by grace and under the law of Christ (Eph. 2:8; Gal. 6:2). In other words, in terms they would use, we are under both grace and law.

Third, they fail to differentiate between the Mosaic Law and the law of Christ. They assume that Scriptures such as Rom. 3:20 ("by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight") reference all law, which is a mistake.

In Romans, Paul is talking about the Mosaic Law, which required physical circumcision (Rom. 2:25-29). He is not referencing the law of Christ. So, when Paul says in Romans 3:20, "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight" he is talking about the Mosaic Law.

In Galatians, though, Paul references both the Mosaic Law and the law of Christ, making it clear that we're not justified by the Mosaic Law, but we're obligated to fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 2:15-16, 21; 6:2).

And James, in his epistle, which is excluded by Luther and others because it thoroughly contradicts their belief, tells us that we're under the law of liberty, which is the law of Christ (see above). We are not saved by faith only, but by an obedient faith. Thus, we are justified by works, and not by faith only (Jas. 1-2).

To sum up, we are not justified by works of the Mosaic Law, but by faith in Christ. Because of our faith in Christ, we obey. Like Abraham, we are justified by works, because our works reflect that our faith is an obedient, living faith, unlike the demons who believe but do not obey.

Yes, we are saved by grace, but we are also under the law of Christ.

Answering Objections: We Are Not Saved by Works
For the same reason many religious people don't accept that we're under law today, they incorrectly view Bible teaching regarding works. As a result, they falsely conclude that baptism isn't necessary for salvation because it's a work.

The main problem is that people don't differentiate between works of the Mosaic Law, meritorious works, and the work of faith.

We must believe to be saved. "Believe" is a verb, an action word; thus, to believe requires work since action requires us to expend energy. So, if we must believe to be saved, we must work, else our faith would be a dead faith that can't save us.

• "'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life'" (Jn. 3:16).
• "Therefore they said to Him, 'What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent'" (Jn. 6:28-39).
• "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him" (Jas. 2:14)?

We are not saved by works of the Mosaic Law. Anyone trying to be saved by works of the Mosaic Law is severed from Christ, and has fallen from grace.

• "Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin" (Gal. 3:20).
• "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4).

We are not saved by meritorious works. There is no possible way to merit God's grace by doing things like helping the poor. The only way to be saved is by obeying Jesus.

• "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).
• "Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity" (2 Tim. 1:9).

We are saved by a law of faith that requires obedience; these works are called the work of faith. In other words, we must have an obedient faith that's based on God's word.

• "Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith" (Rom. 3:27).
• "To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power" (1 Th. 1:11).

Baptism is not a Work of Salvation
To sum up from the last section, we are not saved by works of the Mosaic Law, and we're not saved by meritorious works. But, faith demands obedience, whereby we work the works of God.

Now, notice that people in Christ are saved by grace, not by works.

Paul says of Jesus in 2 Timothy 1:9, "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity."

Note these facts:

• God grants us grace in Christ (2 Tim. 1:9).
• We are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27).
• People who are in Christ have not been saved by works (2 Tim. 1:9).

Since we are baptized into Christ, and since we're saved by grace in Christ and not by works, baptism is not a work of salvation.

Many in the religious world today reject this clear Bible teaching. But, we must believe the things taught by God in His word, and believe that baptism is not a work of salvation.

As a drowning man is saved by grace when pulled out of the ocean and onto a passing boat, yet he grabbed the lifeline and held on for dear life, we are saved by grace when we obey God to be saved, though we must grab the lifeline by being baptized into Christ.

Reconciling Romans 4 and James 2
Many people misinterpret Romans 4, excluding books like James from the Bible, which they can't reconcile with their interpretation. So, I want to talk about this chapter within the realm of our discussion by reviewing and applying principles already set forth in this article.

The main point made by false teachers from Romans 4 is that we are saved by faith and not works; therefore, we are not under law, and baptism is not essential for salvation because it's a work.

• "What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works" (Rom. 4:1-6).

False teachers, therefore, excluded the book of James from the Bible because it contradicts their interpretation of Romans.

• "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him" (Jas. 2:14)?
• "But someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless" (Jas. 2:18-20)?
• "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected (Jas. 2:21-22).
• "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone" (Jas. 2:24).
• "In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way" (Jas. 2:25)?
• "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead" (Jas. 2:26).

There are two major points we should remember when reconciling Romans 4 with other passages, which we've already established from Scripture in this article.

First, if an interpretation of Romans 4 contradicts another Scripture, the interpretation must be wrong.

Since Scriptures plainly teach that we are under the law of Christ, and teach that we are justified by works and not faith alone, anyone who believes Romans 4 is teaching anything different is in error.

And since Paul clearly teaches that we must be baptized to be saved, and that baptism is not a work of salvation, anyone who believes anything different from Romans 4 is also in error.

Second, we must realize that Paul is discussing works of the Mosaic Law in Romans (Rom. 2:25-29). He is not talking about the law of Christ, which he talks about in other epistles (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2). Paul consistently teaches throughout his epistles that we aren't saved by works of the Mosaic Law, but by grace through faith in obedience to Jesus Christ.

With these things in mind, we must conclude that Romans 4 is in perfect harmony with James and all the Scriptures.

Reconciling Ephesians 2:8-9
Like Romans 4, false teachers use Ephesians 2:8-9 to teach that we are not under law, and baptism is not essential for salvation because it's a work.

As above, the first point we can make is that this interpretation contradicts many Scriptures, so it can't be correct.

Besides the contradictions mentioned in the section above, Jesus says, "'He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned'" (Mk. 16:16). If we believe Jesus, we can't believe false teachers who say baptism in not essential for salvation.

Additionally, every example of conversion to Christ shows that people were baptized. They did not say a prayer of faith, or do anything else that's contrary to the gospel of Christ; they were baptized for the forgiveness of sins and into Christ to be saved (Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3; Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).

Second, the context of Ephesians teaches that baptism into Christ is essential for salvation.

• People in Ephesus who were converted to Christ were baptized in order to be saved. If they had been baptized with any other baptism, they had to be baptized with the Lord's baptism to be saved (Acts 19:1-5).
• At the beginning of Ephesians, Paul tells us that all spiritual blessings are in Christ, including salvation (Eph. 1:3). Since we enter into Christ through baptism, we don't have any spiritual blessings in Christ until we're baptized (Rom. 6:3). Therefore, we are not saved until we're baptized into Christ (1 Pet. 3:21).
• Paul tells us in Ephesians that salvation by grace is God making us alive together with Christ, at which time we are raised up with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:4-6). In Colossians, Paul tells us that this occurs when we are baptized (Col. 2:12-13; 3:1). Therefore, we are saved by grace when we are baptized.
• Since we are saved by grace when we are baptized, baptism into Christ is not salvation by works (Eph. 2:9; cf. 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Pet. 3:21).

Conclusion
When pushed to its outer limits, the false doctrine of grace only asserts that people have to do nothing to be saved, not even believe. But God's word says we must obey Jesus to be saved; we are saved by grace through faith when we are baptized into Christ.

Though men twist the truth to their own destruction, making the straight ways of the Lord crooked, we can place our confidence in God's word and believe the simple truths revealed in it. "'He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned'" (Mk. 16:16).