In my response, "To an Anonymous Letter (part 2)," I gave a brief response to Eph. 2:8-9. Since then, I have received a request to respond to an article entitled "The One Mediator." In that article reference is made to the same scriptures. This letter also had no signature and the name was cut off of the article. I appreciate all letters but in common courtesy, a name should be given. If you wish no direct correspondence, do not give an address and I will not try to contact you or embarrass you in any way.
In both letters Eph. 2:8-9 are given as a promise of salvation without baptism. But what does this passage teach? "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourself: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." The word grace means "unmerited favor." We cannot be saved without the grace of God (Titus 2:11-12), and that means we neither deserve nor earn our salvation. I have never known a member of the church of Christ that believed or taught otherwise, though many outside of the church make false accusations against us. It is absolutely certain that the scriptures teach us that we cannot be saved without obedience to the gospel of Christ. It is just as certain that the scriptures teach that we are saved by the grace of Christ. "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9; II Thes. 1:7-9; Eph. 2:8-9). Are we at liberty to take one and leave off the other? Paul said in Rom. 1:16, that the "gospel of Christ...is the power of God unto salvation." Does that verse mean that we are not saved by grace? No! Do these verses that state that we are saved by obedience to the gospel of Christ teach that we are not saved by grace only. Yes! The gospel is the power to save.
Christ's coming into the world was by grace (II Cor.8:9). His death was an act of grace, "...that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. 2:9). Does that mean that every man will be saved? No! Only those that "doeth the will" of the Father shall be saved (Matt.7:21)! It is just as reasonable to say, Christ died for "every man," therefore, all men will be saved as it is to say, we are saved by "grace only" or by "faith only" simply because Paul stated; "For by grace are ye saved through faith..." God's plan of salvation is not found in any one verse of Scripture.
The gospel of Christ is also a matter of grace. "...the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God...And now, brethren I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:24,32). By the grace of God we have the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation. Note what Paul said in Titus 2:11-12: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, [what is that grace doing Paul?] Teaching us...". The word "of" as used in the gospel "of" the grace of God, means that the grace of God is the source of that gospel. That gospel is said to be able to "build you up, and to give you an inheritance." Where is the inheritance? Peter says that inheritance is reserved in heaven (I Pet.1:3-4). How does one come into that inheritance? Paul says it is by the gospel. How did we get the gospel? By the grace of God! One cannot earn salvation. "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which is our duty to do" (Luke 17:10).
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Per. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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