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God’s grace is essential to Christian theology and comprehension.
The theological meaning of grace aligns with our modern understanding: undeserved goodness and generosity. For example, as a college professor, you might exercise grace for a student’s late submission of their term paper. Or a business manager might show grace to his employee for clocking in late.
During the Protestant Reformation, several of the Reformers, such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, emphasized God’s grace in salvation. Luther, in particular, was adamant that salvation couldn’t be earned, and he argued that the Bible taught this valuable lesson.
While the Ten Commandments prove morality is needed within mankind, it convicts the soul and leads them to Jesus Christ for salvation. Grace abounds and is the genuine gift of Jesus Christ. J.C. Ryle wrote, “The words ‘It is finished’ are spoken by the Son of God Himself, and He does not lie. If anything else is needed for us to be justified in addition to what Jesus has done on the cross, then His death is pointless.”[1]
Gaining salvation by works would be a never-ending process of failure. All humans know deep in their hearts that they are sinners, living in daily sin. While the concept of grace alone doesn’t excuse sin, it does provide comfort, knowing that one is saved by faith and grace.
Jesus Christ showed His love by dying on the cross for His sheep, ending the discussion on how one would achieve entrance into glory (Heaven).
Martin Luther said, “For if grace depends on our cooperation, then it is no longer grace. Grace, by definition, must be free and entirely unmerited.”[2] The Reformers were careful not to condone sin or ignore God’s teachings on morality. However, they rightfully pointed out that ceremonial and civil laws were abolished with Christ’s death.
Almost all Reformers and current theologians agree that the moral law still exists. Yet, even within this understanding, God’s grace and righteousness are an integral part of daily life.
Humans can’t earn salvation, and when they sin, which they will, they are protected and saved by God’s grace. They need to show sorrow for their sin and repent. And surely Christians will, with the power of Christ and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
However, the most important lesson within grace is that no work, no matter how good humans think it is, will achieve merit from God. Christians can’t earn their salvation. Works are simply proof of Jesus’ finished work on the cross and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
This vital lesson on understanding God’s grace led to the Reformation and continues to plague churches today. Salvation is not earned. It is a free gift received by faith and grace alone.
“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20-21).
[1] J.C. Ryle, Grace: Essentials, Absolutely Basic, The Everlasting Righteousness, and Regenerate (London: Grace Publications Trust, 2019), 25.
[2] Martin Luther, Lectures on Romans, trans. Wilhelm Pauck, in Library of Christian Classics, vol. 15 (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1961), 78.
