Chapter 8 | Salvation is By Grace Through Faith




Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

2 Timothy 1:9, “who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”


Salvation if a Gift from God
       
Jesus always taught that a person was saved by faith (John 3:16) and thus his disciples taught this same principle.  The Jewish people of Jesus’ day were more concerned with their religious works than true faith in God.  Such books as Romans written by Paul teach the clear understanding that everyone is born a sinner and nothing they do can make them righteous in the eyes of God.  Therefore, the only way a person is justified in the eyes of God is by faith in Jesus alone, Romans 5. 
The early church fathers reiterated the same truths of grace and faith in their writings to keep the true path of salvation open for all to come and be saved.  During their ministry some groups tried to keep the Jewish laws and also believe in Jesus, but as was true with James in Acts 15 the fathers strongly refuted these teachings and reinforced the Gospel of grace to the people of their day.  Their words stand as a reminder to us today that salvation is by grace alone and as a rebuke to the present day Roman Catholic Church that twisted their words to teach faith plus works equals salvation.


Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 32 | 96AD

Clement shows by this passage that he was a great student of his teacher Paul.  For it was Paul who spent much of his writings in Galatians, Ephesians, and Romans teaching that a man is not justified by works but rather through faith in Jesus Christ.  Here in this chapter Clement reminds the saints in Corinth of the same truths that they had learned earlier from Paul.

“And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”


Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians, Chapter 1 | 135AD

This letter from Polycarp serves as a great testimony of the early church in many ways.  First, it shows that there was a clear line of teaching being passed down from disciple to disciple.  This is because Polycarp was a disciple of John writing to a church that Paul once pastored and he is teaching the same things both men believed, salvation by grace through faith.  Second, Polycarp shows his great respect for Paul by quoting him and in the latter verses of this letter his praises God for Paul’s great wisdom.  This shows there was no schism between Paul and the other disciples, but rather the first disciples, for example Paul and John, worked together as one body.
Thirdly, in this specific passage Polycarp quotes Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, thus proving that Paul’s letters were well intact even fifty years after his death and a disciple like Polycarp had access to them.  Therefore, today’s reader can know for certain what Paul and the first disciples believed.  And lastly, this letter and direct quote is important because it verifies the very simple and important truth that we are saved by grace and not by works!

“In whom, though now ye see Him not, ye believe, and believing, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory;” into which joy many desire to enter, knowing that “by grace ye are saved, not of works,” but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.”


Tertullian, Anti-Marcion, Chapter 13 | 207AD

Tertullian had to deal with the heresies of the Marcionites that believed in more of a salvation by works than by faith.  Here in this passage he clearly teaches that the only way God’s “enemies” can have peace with God is through faith in Jesus Christ.

“He enjoins those who are justified by faith in Christ and not by the law to have peace with God. With what God? Him whose enemies we have never, in any dispensation been? Or Him against whom we have rebelled, both in relation to His written law and His law of nature? Now, as peace is only possible towards Him with whom there once was war, we shall be both justified by Him, and to Him also will belong the Christ, in whom we are justified by faith, and through whom alone God’s enemies can ever be reduced to peace.”


Reflection

1. Describe a person is saved from the Bible.

2. What is the difference between faith and works?

3. Use the church father’s quotes from Scripture to prove that salvation is by grace through faith alone.

4. Pray that God will use you to preach the message of grace to the world.


Resources

1. "Tyndale’s Commentary on Romans," by F.F. Bruce.