Salvation is by grace
through faith,
not by works.
This is one of the clearest
and most foundational truths
of the gospel.
Eternal life is a free gift from God,
received through trust in Jesus Christ,
and is not earned by human effort or good deeds.
The key passage is Ephesians 2:8-9:
“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.”
Other important texts include:
This truth protects the glory of God and removes all grounds for human boasting.
While salvation is not by works, genuine faith always produces works. James 2:14-26 teaches that faith without works is dead. The order is essential:
Good works do not save, but a faith that saves will inevitably produce a changed life.
Salvation by grace through faith is the heart of the gospel and the dividing line between true Christianity and every system of human merit. It humbles the sinner, exalts Christ, and gives full assurance to those who trust in Him. Any message that adds works as a requirement for receiving salvation undermines the freeness of God’s grace and the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.