Man Is Saved by Nothing “Alone”

Posted: August 7th, 2005 | Author: stauffer | Filed under: Articles

Just a cursory reading of the Bible reveals that men are saved by many things. Yet we so often read from supposed Bible-scholars that men are saved by “grace alone” or by “faith alone.” They no sooner say this than they contradict themselves. Some say man is saved by “grace alone” but that he must believe. Others say he is saved by “faith alone” but he must “repent” of his sins and say the “sinner’s prayer.” If they would just stick with what the scriptures say, they could eliminate all this confusion.

Note what the Bible says about being saved:

  1. We are saved by grace (Eph 2:5).
  2. We are saved by faith (Eph 2:8).
  3. We are saved by baptism (1 Pet 3:21).
  4. We are saved by obedience (Heb 5:9).
  5. We are saved by confession (Rom 10:9-10).
  6. We are saved by repentance (Luke 24:47).
  7. We are saved by belief and baptism (Mark 16:16).
  8. We are saved by repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38).
  9. We are saved by hope (Rom 8:24).
  10. We are saved by works (James 2:24).
  11. We are saved by mercy (Titus 3:5).
  12. We are saved by the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5).
  13. We are saved by the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

Reformation theologians and their modern Protestant heirs are so fearful of the medieval Catholic doctrine of salvation by works that they distort beyond recognition the Bible doctrine of the “obedience of faith” (see Rom 1:5; 16:26). To do this they subtly add the word “alone” or “only” to the teaching of salvation by grace and salvation by faith.

Yes, the scripture do condemn the Judaistic doctrine of “salvation by works”- by works of law or works of the law (see Gal 2:16). Every discussion of this topic in the New Testament refers to salvation by perfect obedience in the absence of grace (see Gal 3:10-11). It has no reference to works of obedience in acceptance of God’s gracious blessings in Christ.

Paul, for example, says we are all sons of God by faith because we have been baptized into Christ and have put on Christ (Gal 3:26-27). Men are not saved by merely being baptized, but because in the obedience of faith they have come into Christ and unto God’s grace. Paul also says of Christ that men are baptized “into his death,” where his blood was shed, and are, thus, saved by grace. Out of baptism they arise to walk as new creatures who are free from sin (see Rom 6:3-4; 2 Cor 5:17).

Those who add “only” to grace, faith, baptism, obedience, confession, repentance, hope, works, mercy – or anything else – are perverting the teaching of scripture and rejecting God’s plan of salvation by grace through the obedience faith.