Grace, and salvation

Deliverance through Jesus Christ is the result of accepting God's undeserved favour.

Salvation is all God's doing

Romans 5:6–8, Romans 9:14–16; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:15–16 See also Exodus 33:19; Acts 4:12, Acts 20:24; Romans 5:15–17; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Colossians 1:13–14; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; Titus 2:11; Hebrews 7:23–25; Revelation 7:10

For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not! For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

There is nothing human beings can do to save themselves

Titus 3:4–7 See also Luke 18:9–14; Romans 11:5–6

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Salvation is not by keeping God's law

Galatians 5:4 See also Romans 5:20–21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1–4; Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:17–18; 1 Timothy 1:9

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Salvation must be accepted as a free gift by faith

Ephesians 2:4–9 See also Acts 15:7–11, Acts 16:30–31; Romans 3:21–24, Romans 4:14–16, Romans 5:1–2; Hebrews 4:16

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 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.