Saved by Nothing "Alone"

Churches established by men have their creed books, manuals, catechisms, and disciplines in which they set forth their peculiar doctrines. Prominent among the tenets of some of the major denominations is the teaching that salvation from sin is "wholly of grace"; while others assert that salvation is "by faith only" or "alone." The Bible attributes salvation to many things, all of which are inter-related or interdependent. If any two (or many) things are inter-related and interdependent in salvation, then it cannot be "wholly" or "only" by any one of them, nor by one of them "alone". We are saved by grace, and without it we could not be saved; but is it "wholly of grace"? "Wholly" means "entirely; totally; altogether". God's salvation-bringing "grace has appeared to all men" (Tit. 2:11), but not all will be saved (Mat. 7:21-27; 25:31-46). Salvation is by faith, and without faith one cannot be saved, but salvation is not by "faith only" or "faith alone" (Jas. 2:14-26). Faith and grace are inter-related factors in salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith…." (Eph. 2:8).

It is perhaps beneficial to some to ask, "What is it to be saved?" Salvation is reflected in a number of terms such as redeemed, pardoned, cleansed, justified, freed from sin, sins blotted out, remission of sins, or sins washed away. These are different expressions all referring to the same benefit. Consider now some more of the many things by which we are said to be saved.

WE ARE SAVED: By God. "…We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe" (I Tim. 4:10b); "It is God who justifies" (Rom. 8:33b). By Jesus. "…you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Mat. 1:21). "…the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk. 19:10). "…Christ died for us….having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" (Rom. 5:8-9). By the Spirit. "But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (I Cor. 6:11; cf. 2 Thes. 2:13). By Christ's life. "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" (Rom. 5:10). By Christ's death. Note again the statement in the preceding verse and this, "Jesus Christ…gave Himself for out sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age…." (Gal. 1:4). By His blood. "…justified by His blood…." (Rom. 5:9). "whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in His blood…." (Rom. 3:25). "In Him we have redemption through His blood…." (Eph. 1:7; cf. Col. 1:14-20; Heb. 9:12). By the love of God. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…has made us alive together with Christ…." (Eph. 2:4-5; Jn. 3:16; I Jn. 4:9-10).

WE ARE SAVED: By God's mercy. "…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…" (Tit. 3:7; cf. Eph. 2:4). By the gospel. "…I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you have received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved…." (I Cor. 15:1-2; cf. Rom. 1:16; 2 Thes. 2:14). By the word or words. "….receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (Jas. 1:21); "who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved" (Acts 11:14). By the doctrine of Christ. "He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son" (2 Jn. 9; cf. I Tim. 4:16). By self. Continue in the doctrine, "for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (I Tim. 4:16; Phil. 2:12; Acts 2:40). By others. "….save…those who hear you" (I Tim. 4:16; cf. I Cor. 3:5). By repentance. "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…" (Acts 2:38; 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:9). By confession. "…with the mouth confession is made to salvation" (Rom. 10:10). By baptism. "There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism…." (I Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Gal. 3:27).