Chapter 5: Salvation by Grace Through Faith

We believe salvation is the free gift of God, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not earned by good works.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). He saves us “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy” (Titus 3:5). “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).

Salvation includes repentance, a turning from sin to God: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). It also includes the new birth: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). The result is a changed life: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Spirit bears witness that we are God’s children (Romans 8:15-16).

Where the traditions stand. This is the heart of the shared faith. The Foursquare Church calls it “Jesus Saves.” The Assemblies of God places the plan of salvation at the centre of its Fundamental Truths. Evangelical Baptists emphasize a personal, conscious conversion and a “regenerate” church membership of born-again believers.

Carry this verse: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).