When Grace Meets Faith
With rare exceptions the Pharisees trusted in the accumulated good works of their lives to get them into the Kingdom of God. Things haven't changed much in 2000 years, because many still follow the same path believing that their good works can earn favor with God. Jesus points out the futility of this approach to salvation in Luke 7:41-42. Just as in the parable contained in those verses, we will never be able to repay our debt. Salvation is not a trade with God; it is His gift to us. This pardon is graciously bestowed and received only through faith. In regard to eternal salvation, faith is confidence in a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. This believing is the only and sufficient requirement, as the words of our Lord indicate: "Your faith has saved you" (v 50).
These life-giving words of our Lord are echoed all through the letters of the apostle Paul. One such passage that perhaps serves as the benchmark of Paul's teaching is 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."
Sola gratia - sola fide!
