Scripture Focus: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:6, Titus 3:5
There’s a battle raging in the heart of every person who has ever heard the gospel. It’s not a battle between good and evil, or even between faith and doubt. It’s a battle between two fundamentally different ways of understanding how a person gets right with God. On one side stands grace—God’s unmerited favor freely given to undeserving sinners. On the other side stands works—the human attempt to earn salvation through good deeds, religious rituals, and moral performance.
This isn’t just a theological debate for seminary classrooms. This is the most practical, life-changing truth you’ll ever encounter. How you answer this question will determine whether you live in freedom or bondage, whether you experience peace or anxiety, whether you rest in God’s finished work or exhaust yourself trying to earn His approval.
The tragedy is that most people, even many who call themselves Christians, are confused about this fundamental truth. They’ve mixed grace and works together, creating a gospel that sounds Christian but actually robs them of the very peace and assurance that salvation is meant to bring.
The Human Heart’s Natural Religion
Before we dive into what Scripture teaches, let’s be honest about what feels natural to us. Every human heart has the same instinctive response to the idea of salvation: “What must I do to be saved?” It’s the question the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas in Acts 16:30, and it’s the question that echoes in every human heart.
We naturally think in terms of earning, deserving, and paying our way. When someone does something kind for us, we feel obligated to return the favor. When we make a mistake, we instinctively try to make up for it. This isn’t wrong in human relationships—it’s how society functions. But when we bring this same mindset to our relationship with God, we create a religion of works that is completely opposite to the gospel.
The apostle Paul understood this human tendency better than anyone. Before his conversion, he was the epitome of a works-based religionist. In Philippians 3:4-6, he describes his impressive religious résumé: “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”
If anyone could have earned salvation through works, it would have been Paul. But what did he conclude about all his religious achievements? “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Philippians 3:7).
The Crystal Clear Teaching of Scripture
Let’s settle this question once and for all by looking at what God’s Word actually teaches about salvation. The Bible is remarkably clear on this issue so clear that it’s impossible to misunderstand unless we’re actively trying to avoid the truth.
Ephesians 2:8-9 gives us the most straightforward explanation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Let’s break this down:
- “By grace” – The Greek word “charis” [χάρις] means unmerited favor, kindness shown to someone who doesn’t deserve it.
- “You have been saved” – The verb tense here is perfect passive, meaning it’s a completed action done to you by someone else.
- “Through faith” – Faith is simply the means by which we receive God’s grace. It’s not a work we do; it’s trust in what God has done.
- “Not your own doing” – Paul could hardly be clearer. Salvation is not something you accomplish or contribute to.
- “Gift of God” – The Greek word “doron” [δῶρον] means a present given freely, with no expectation of payment.
- “Not a result of works” – The Greek word “ergon” [ἔργον] refers to any human effort, deed, or accomplishment.
Romans 11:6 drives the point home even more forcefully: “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” Paul is saying that grace and works are mutually exclusive. If salvation depends on works, then it’s not grace. If it’s by grace, then works have no part in it.
Titus 3:5 removes any remaining doubt: “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
The Impossibility of Works-Based Salvation
Why is God so adamant that salvation cannot be by works? Because works-based salvation is not just difficult—it’s impossible. Here’s why:
God’s Standard is Perfection
James 2:10 explains: “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” God’s standard isn’t “pretty good” or “better than average.” It’s absolute perfection. One sin—just one—makes you guilty of breaking God’s entire law.
Our Righteousness is Filthy Rags
Isaiah 64:6 gives us God’s evaluation of our best efforts: “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” Even our very best works are utterly defiled in God’s sight.
We Are Dead in Our Sins
Ephesians 2:1 describes our spiritual condition before salvation: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.” Dead people can’t contribute to their own resurrection. A spiritually dead person cannot perform spiritually acceptable works.
The Beautiful Truth About Grace
Grace is not just God’s backup plan when our works fail. Grace is God’s primary plan, designed before the foundation of the world to demonstrate His love and bring Him maximum glory.
Grace is Unmerited Favor
The most basic definition of grace is “unmerited favor”—receiving something good that you don’t deserve. But biblical grace goes even deeper. It’s receiving the ultimate good (salvation and eternal life) while you deserved the ultimate bad (judgment and eternal death).
Romans 5:8 captures this beautifully: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Not after we cleaned up our act. Not after we proved we were worthy. While we were still sinners—actively rebelling against God—Christ died for us.
Grace is Completely Free
Romans 3:24 says we are “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” A gift that you have to pay for or work for isn’t really a gift—it’s a purchase or a wage. But salvation is a true gift, requiring no payment or work from the recipient.
Grace Produces Works
Here’s where many people get confused. They think that if salvation is by grace apart from works, then works don’t matter at all. But that’s not what Scripture teaches. Ephesians 2:10, the very next verse after our key passage, says: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Notice the order: We are saved by grace (verses 8-9), and then we do good works (verse 10). Works are not the cause of our salvation; they are the result of our salvation. We don’t work to be saved; we work because we are saved.
The Danger of Mixing Grace and Works
Throughout church history, there have been attempts to create a middle ground between grace and works. But Scripture is clear that any mixture of grace and works actually destroys grace.
The churches in Galatia had fallen into this trap. They had started with the pure gospel of grace, but then false teachers told them they needed to add circumcision and law-keeping to their faith. Paul’s response was fierce: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6).
Paul called this mixture of grace and works “a different gospel.” He didn’t say it was incomplete or less effective. He said it was a different gospel altogether—which means it’s not the gospel at all.
The Fruit of Understanding Grace
When you truly understand that salvation is by grace through faith apart from works, it transforms every aspect of your Christian life:
- Assurance – If your salvation depends on your works, you can never be sure you’re saved. But if salvation is by grace, you can have complete assurance because it depends on Christ’s finished work.
- Peace – Works-based salvation creates anxiety. But grace-based salvation brings peace because your standing with God is secure in Christ.
- Motivation – Understanding grace actually motivates us to do more good works, not fewer. When you know you’re loved and accepted by God apart from your performance, you’re free to serve Him out of love and gratitude.
- Humility – Grace destroys pride and creates humility. Since salvation is by grace, no one can boast. We’re all equally dependent on God’s mercy.
A Personal Word
Brothers and sisters, if you’ve been trying to earn your salvation through good works, religious rituals, or moral performance, I want you to know that you can stop striving right now. Christ has already done everything necessary for your salvation. Your works could never be good enough, but His work is perfect.
The thief on the cross didn’t have time to do any good works. He couldn’t be baptized, couldn’t give to charity, couldn’t live a moral life. But he placed his faith in Jesus, and Jesus promised him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
If you’ve been burdened by the weight of trying to be good enough for God, let me invite you to rest in His grace. Stop trying to contribute to your salvation and start trusting in Christ’s finished work. He paid it all. There’s nothing left for you to pay.
The Bottom Line
The question of grace versus works is not a minor theological dispute. It’s the difference between true Christianity and false religion. It’s the difference between the gospel and “a different gospel.” It’s the difference between freedom and bondage, between peace and anxiety, between assurance and uncertainty.
Scripture is crystal clear: salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. Any teaching that adds works as a requirement for salvation is a perversion of the gospel. Grace and works are mutually exclusive when it comes to salvation.
But here’s the beautiful paradox: when you truly understand that salvation is by grace alone, you’ll find yourself doing more good works than ever before – not to earn God’s love, but because you already have it.
That’s the power of grace, brothers and sisters. It doesn’t just save us; it transforms us. It doesn’t just justify us; it sanctifies us. It doesn’t just get us to heaven; it brings heaven’s joy and peace into our hearts right now.
So rest in His grace. Trust in His finished work. And let the love of Christ compel you to live for Him—not to earn His favor, but because you already have it.
Grace wins. Grace always wins. And that’s the best news you’ll ever hear.
Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine. Hallelujah!
John Thole is the voice behind Beyond Salvation, a blog that captures the highs and lows of life through faith, laughter, and honest reflection. With a passion for storytelling, technology, and spiritual growth, he creates content that resonates with seekers, believers, and anyone navigating life’s journey. Whether sharing personal insights, devotionals, or thought-provoking discussions, John aims to inspire, uplift, and spark meaningful conversations.
