And quite clearly Grace must be present in the person, to whom have been saved By Grace.
Scripture emphasizes God's grace as unconditional,
not dependent on the presence of "grace" within the individual.
- Grace as God's initiative, not ours: Ephesians 2:8-9 clarifies, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no one should boast." Salvation is a gift received by faith, not earned through any inherent "grace" within ourselves.
- God's love extends to all: John 3:16 proclaims, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This verse emphasizes God's universal love, not a selective one based on individuals possessing "grace."
- Human response is necessary, but not a prerequisite: Romans 10:9-10 explains, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." While faith and confession are essential for salvation, they don't imply the presence of "grace" as a prerequisite in the individual.
While the emphasis in this statement might seem to be on grace, it actually shifts it onto human qualities, suggesting that individuals need some inherent "grace" to be saved. Instead, the biblical message emphasizes God's
unconditional grace offered freely to all through Jesus Christ. Our
response of faith allows us to receive this gift,
not the other way around.
Quite clearly God's grace is given because he's kind, not because he gives his grace as an unmerited favor.
The word "grace" in the Bible often translates from the Greek word "charis," which emphasizes the concept of
unmerited favor. Here are some key biblical passages that highlight this aspect of grace:
- Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no one should boast." This verse clearly states that salvation comes through grace, not by our own efforts, making it a gift, not something earned.
- Romans 3:23-24: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Here, justification (being declared righteous by God) is presented as a free gift through grace, not something we deserve
While
grace is unmerited, it doesn't diminish God's kindness. Imagine a kind king who pardons a prisoner. The pardon isn't because the prisoner deserved it, but because of the king's kindness and desire for mercy. Similarly, God's grace flows from his immense love and desire for our salvation.
And only the remnant will be saved.
Limited Interpretation: This statement often stems from a specific interpretation of certain verses, particularly in the Old Testament, where God speaks of "a remnant" being saved from judgment or exile. However, these verses are primarily addressing specific historical contexts and shouldn't be generalized to apply to the entire concept of salvation in the New Testament.
Universal Love and Sacrifice: The New Testament emphasizes God's love for all people (John 3:16) and Jesus' sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). Passages like Romans 10:9 ("whoever") and 1 Timothy 2:4 ("who desires all people to be saved") highlight the
universality of God's offer of salvation,
not a limitation to a select few.
Free Will and Response: The Bible acknowledges human free will and the importance of responding to God's grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). While God desires everyone to be saved, individuals have the choice to accept or reject his offer.
Focus on Faith: The emphasis in the New Testament is on
faith in Christ as the path to salvation, not on being part of a predetermined group. Passages like Romans 10:9 and John 1:12 emphasize that
whoever believes and confesses their faith in Jesus can be saved.
Therefore, while the Bible occasionally uses the term "remnant" in specific historical contexts, it doesn't support the idea that only a limited number of people will be saved. The message of the New Testament emphasizes God's universal love, Christ's sacrifice for all, and the importance of individual faith and response.