Salvation Overview

Sin, transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4), condemns every man and woman to spiritual death (Romans 3:23; 6:23;
Isaiah 59:1-2). The grace of our loving God, however, has provided a remedy whereby we might be spared from
death and be given life. The life of God's Son was offered as a propitiation, or sacrificial substitute, for the sins of the
world (Romans 3:23-25; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2). His blood only benefits those who respond to this grace in faith,
however (Romans 5:1-2, 9). This has been the message revealed from God to man from the beginning: man is
justified (released from the penalty of the guilt of sin) by God's grace through obedient faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9).
God has dealt with man through different laws and in different dispensations, but, while particular requirements of
law might have changed, that principle has not--that man is justified by grace through obedient faith.

Some have concluded that mere belief in God and his word (including that Jesus is the Son of God) is sufficient to
justify a person before God. When the Bible speaks of saving faith, however, it is always a complete belief and trust in
God that results in obedience to his will. There is no such thing as a disobedient, yet saving, faith. "Faith without
works is dead" (James 2:14-26). "Faith which works by love" is the only faith worth anything (Galatians 5:6). It is
possible to have some measure of belief without having true, justifying faith (cf. James 2:19; John 12:42-43). The
faith which justifies man, allowing him to have access to God's saving grace (Romans 5:1-2) is faith which obeys.
Paul's great letter to the Roman church captures the heart of the gospel's saving message--and begins and concludes
with "obedience to the faith" and "obedience of faith" (Romans 1:5; 16:26). The faith which justified those of old was
always characterized by trusting obedience (Hebrews 11:1-40; James 2:21-25).

The Bible equates true faith with obedience. Consider one illustration from the life of Moses. No one doubts that
Moses was a believer in the God of heaven and in his will. When he once disobeyed God, however, the Lord equated
his disobedience with unbelief, or lack of faith. Notice, "ye rebelled against my commandment…" (Numbers 27:14) is
parallel to "ye believed me not…" (Numbers 20:12). Moses did not stop being a 'believer' in the broadest sense, but in
God's eyes his disobedience was unbelief. It is nonsense to suggest that the faith that justifies man is mere assent to
the gospel message without an application of its teaching and demands to life.

Faith required that Moses speak to the rock, as that was the command of God. Faith required that Abraham wander in
Canaan, as that was what God's law required of him. Faith demanded that Joshua and Israel march around Jericho's
walls, as that is what God had commanded. But, what does God command or require of us who live under the law of
Christ, the New Testament?

In order to be justified by God's grace, the following conditions are necessary on our part. First, there must be
knowledge of and belief in the gospel message (Mark 16:15-16; John 8:24). Second, there must a turning from sin to
God--repentance (Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19). This determination takes place in the mind and results in a change in life (2
Corinthians 7:10; Matthew 3:8). Third, the response of faith requires a confession by mouth in the presence of
witnesses (Romans 10:9-10; cf. 1 Timothy 6:12). Finally, the law of God requires immersion in water (baptism) for
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16). The spiritual blessing of justification, which is found in Christ, is
obtained at the point when a sinner is motivated by faith to obey these demands of grace (Ephesians 1:3; Galatians
3:26-27).

Enjoying the benefits of God's grace means continuing to live by obedient faith. According to Titus 2:11-12, God's
saving grace teaches us to continue to deny ungodliness and live righteously in this world. Christ's blood continues to
cleanse us as we walk in the light of God's word (1 John 1:7). Some of God's children in the past have fallen from
faith, so "let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (Hebrews
4:11).