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.