SALVATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH PLUS NOTHING
(on man's part).
This truth highly overlaps with the doctrine of eternal security and with some denial of the truth of justification by faith, seems to be at the heart of rejecting eternal security. But the evidence for faith, as the only successful condition for salvation, is overwhelming.
ROMANS SAYS SALVATION IS BY FAITH PLUS NOTHING:
Rom 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
everyone who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed a
righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.
This righteousness is a gift from God by virtue of a new birth and incorporation into the Lord Jesus (end of Rom 5).
Rom 3:21-30
But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all them who believe; for there is no distinction; 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
to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God; for the showing,
I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and
the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith. We reckon therefore that
a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God
the God of Jews only? is he not
the God of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also: if so be that God is one, and
he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.
Rom 4:1ff
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God. For what says the scripture? And
Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.
5 But
to him who does not work not, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. 6 Even as David also pronounces blessing upon the man, to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works,
saying,
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom
the Lord will not reckon sin.
Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To
Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness. How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision: and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of
all them who believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that
righteousness might be
reckoned to them; and the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that
faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision.
For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through
the righteousness of faith. For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect: for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
For this cause
it is of faith, that
it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom
he believed,
even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be. And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong
through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Wherefore also
it was reckoned to him for righteousness.
Rom 5:1-2
Being therefore
justified by faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom also
we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and let us boast in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 9:30:
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith: but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at
that law. Wherefore?
Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling; even as it is written,
Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence:
And
he who believes on him shall not be put to shame.
Rom 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law to
righteousness to everyone who believes.
For Moses writes that the man that does the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby. But
the righteousness which is of faith says thus, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down
or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.) But what does it say? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.
Legal righteousness by Law is only hypothetical, because no one ever fulfilled or fulfills the Law, except the Lord Jesus. The rest of us must be saved by faith alone.
