Faith, Works, and Salvation

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Here Paul was responding to false teachers among the Jews who taught that Christians had to keep the Old Testament Law to be saved (Gal 4:10, 21; 5:2-6). Paul declared that no one is saved by the works of law, but through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 2:16). Paul argued that point many times in the books of Ephesians, Galatians and Romans.

No one can earn salvation by working for it. However, certain works (actions) are necessary to receive God’s gracious gift (Rom 6:23): 1) believing Jesus is the Christ (Jn 8:24); 2) repenting of sin (Acts 17:30); 3) confessing faith in Jesus (Rom 10:10); and continuing in His word (Jn 8:31-32). Salvation is, therefore, a conditional gift, but meeting the conditions does not put God in our debt.

Some say, “Baptism is a work, and works play no role in salvation.” But baptism is something one does not even do himself--penitent believers are "baptized" by another. Certainly baptism is not a work of the type Paul referred to in Ephesians 2:9. If it were, then faith would play no role in salvation, because Jesus called faith a “work” (Jn 6:28-29). Baptism is an act of faith that God sees as obedience ( Rom. 6:3-4; 17-18), and Jesus offers salvation to "all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9b). Paul said baptism is one’s submission to the “working of God” resulting in the forgiveness of sins ( Col 2:12).

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