We are Saved by Grace Through Faith - Eternally

This page has been designed to explain the Christian understanding of the Gospel, how one attains salvation. A very good summary on this subject is in the Scofield Study Bible as a footnote to the first chapter of the book of Galatians:

"The test of the Gospel is grace. If the message excludes grace, or mingles law with grace as the means either of justification or sanctification (Gal 2:21; 3:1-3), or denies the fact or guilt of sin, which alone gives grace its occasion and opportunity, it is 'a different' gospel, and the preacher of it is under the anathema of God" (vv. 8-9).

Scriptures on the true Gospel of Jesus Christ:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3: 16-18)

Please notice that believers are NOT condemned and have eternal life. This will be very important to remember as you read the claims of most of the false prophets and false teachers critiqued on this web site who claim you can loose your salvation.

The True Gospel Says We are saved by faith, not works:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from youselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 2:8,9)

The "good works" referenced above applies to what you do after you become a Christian, i.e., ministry, exercising the spiritual gifts of teacher, mercy, service, etc. It is not referring to what you must do to be saved, which would impose a works salvation.

God does not Purify us Through Works

"he [God] purified their hearts by faith. . . .We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved . . . ." (Acts 15:9, 11)

In other words, being a good person, helping others and trying to live a moral life won't get you a ticket to Heaven's door. However, believing who Christ was and that he died for your sins, i.e., faith, will get you the ticket and you won't even have to pay for it.

The Steps to Confession

"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved ." (Romans 10:9, 10)

Contrary to what a lot of preachers profess you don't need to go up in front of the congregation to prove to everyone else that you are saved. God knows your heart, however, he does expect you to tell others about your salvation experience at some point and when you're ready to witness to others about God's mercy. A large parade to the front of the sanctuary mainly glorifies the pastors so they can proclaim that their message won mega converts, when it was actually the Holy Spirit that worked in you. "

Paul instructed us on the true Gospel in (1 Cor. 15:2-6):

"By this gospel you are saved, IF you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. OTHERWISE you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance,

• (1) that Christ died for our SINS according to the Scriptures
• (2) that he was buried
• (3) that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and
• (4) that he appeard to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more . . . . "

Notice that Paul said that these 3 things are very important, otherwise you may have believed in vain, i.e., you can't just acknowledge that Christ was the Messiah (the requirement for Jews before the Cross), or leave out the resurrection (which a lot of cults don't believe in), or disagree that Christ died and was buried for 3 days. All three are very important for a believer to fully understand in order to be saved.

False salvation messages not found in the Bible

• Just invite Jesus into your heart
• Live a good life and do good to your fellow man
• Keep the 10 commandments
• You can work your way into heaven
• There is more than one way to God

So, read you bible carefully and pray to the Holy Spirit to show you what you need to know to be saved.

We were Dead in our Sins as Unbelievers

"As for you [believers], you were DEAD in your transgressions and sins [before you became believers], in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air [Satan], the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." (Ephesians 2:1-5)

We are saved by faith, not works (emotional experiences, mystical events, saying a prayer, signing a covenant, getting baptized, etc.):

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

A Christ led life will produce righteousness,

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, . . ." (Titus 2:11-15)

There is only one way to God,

"God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who had the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."(1 John 5:10-13)

So those who don't believe that Christ was the Son of God (a lot of cults) may not be saved.

We are warned about those who will lead us astray from the true Gospel:

"For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." (Jude 1-4)

A poem I wrote while researching the errors of Lordship Salvation:

Can Christians Lose their Salvation?

As we have seen from the scriptures above True Christians are redeemed, justified, promised eternal life, sealed by the Holy Spirit (which implies owership by God) and guaranteed glorification.

Salvation is a gift (not something you have earned) so you can't lose it. And Jesus said he would not lose any that the Lord had given him. So no, true Christians cannot lose their salvation.

Lori Eldridge
Copyright © 7-18-2000 - Updated 12-04-21
All Rights Reserved

Are you a True Christian?

Here is a video that discusses what is a true Christian:

Other Websites that Defend the true Gospel:

Here is a video explaining why the Parable of the Sower is NOT talking about Salvation:

Does it really matter what your beliefs are? an article on this site explaining the Religion vs Christianity.

If you want to learn more about Lorship Salvation, and why it's wrong, check out Some Thoughts on Lordship Salvation, by: M. James Sawyer

The Word of Truth ministries has numerous tapes by Chet McCalley that clearly outline Saved by Faith through Grace not by Works. They also explain very clearly why Lordship Salvation is not Scriptural ("making" Christ Lord of your life before you become a believer).

The Terms of Salvation by Lewis Sperry Chafer. This document contains some of the best explanations I have seen yet regarding the specific terms of salvation, i.e., what does repentance really mean? Do we need to believe and get baptised to be saved? Do we need to confess our belief before men? etc.

The Meaning of Salvation by Brian Sherring, published by the Berean Publishing Trust in England.

The following article by Alan Yusko takes a Scriptural look at Eternal Security vs Conditional Salvation

A large collection of links to articles on Eternal Security.

Chad Rudolph's website called BibleLight provides resources for contextual Bible study and Christian Growth.

Upon this Rock has numerous Christian links, graphics and banners.

RECOMMENDED STUDIES ON GRACE

Word of Truth featuring the works Chet McCalley that clearly teach salvation by Grace. This site also produces tapes speaking out against Lordship Salvation and other false teachings leading people away from the truth of the Gospel.

Gospel Outreach Ministries Online A Christian apologetics ministry dedicated to the proclamation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ containg numerous apologetic, evangelistic, and devotional articles also information on some of the major cults of today and research on special theological topics.