As believers we are to know what we believe, we are not to believe in vain. It’s not about rituals, traditions, or even our own works—it’s about believing, faith, and trust. Believing the gospel message is what brings us into a right relationship with God. The Apostle Paul, through his letters, consistently emphasizes this central truth: salvation is appropriated by believing the gospel alone, by faith alone.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”
Here, Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. This is the foundation of our faith and the means by which we are saved.
Romans 3:21-26
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 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, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Paul underscores that righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. It’s not about our deeds or the law but about faith in finished work of the cross.
Romans 4:5
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,”
Paul emphasizes that righteousness is not earned through works but is credited to us when we believe in Him who justifies the ungodly.
Galatians 2:16
“knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Paul makes it clear that justification comes through faith in Christ, when we believe the gospel (the death, burial and resurrection) not by adhering to the law or our works.
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, lest anyone should boast.”
Our salvation is a gift from God, received through faith alone in the finished work of the cross not by our own efforts or merits.
Beware of false teachers who pervert the simplicity of the gospel by adding conditions. Whether they say you must repent and be baptized to be saved, or they emphasize faith in the gospel but add steps like baptism or other works, they are misleading. This is akin to the Judaizers of Paul’s congregation in Galatia, who were add circumcision and law-keeping to Paul’s message salvation by faith alone in the finished work of the cross. Such teachings corrupt (ever so subtly) the gospel’s core message. Salvation is a free gift from God, received solely through believing by faith alone in the gospel alone. Let’s remain steadfast in this truth and rest in the simple and yet powerful gospel that saves souls.
100% Unashamed of the gospel of grace.
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