TOPIC 15 OF 47
Saved By Grace
Salvation rests on God’s undeserved favor from beginning to end.
THE MAIN TRUTH
God saves us by his grace—his undeserved favor and love.
The teaching
From the book · pages 44–46
God saves us by his grace—his undeserved favor and love. God desires to save all humanity, and before the world was created, God the Father chose, in his Son, to save specific people in time through the promise of the Gospel by creating and preserving faith in them for eternal life. God’s choice and predestination of us are not caused by anything he foresaw in us but rest on his grace alone.
By grace, God chose his people Israel to bring the promised Christ, his Son, into the world. God chose, through the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus—the Chosen One—to save all people by his grace. And God chose to work by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel to draw all people to saving faith in Christ.
Those whom God converts to repentant faith, justifies, sanctifies, and finally glorifies are chosen and saved by his grace alone. Those who reject the Spirit’s work are condemned by their own choice. We cannot rationally understand this mystery, but we are reassured in faith by God’s electing grace, given to us through the Good News of Jesus our Savior.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
These passages direct the believer to God’s gracious purpose in Christ. Receive election as a promise of comfort, alongside God’s desire to save and Scripture’s warnings against unbelief.
14 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Ephesians 2:4-5 ↗
“But God . . . made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!”
Book page 45
SCRIPTURE 02
1 Timothy 2:3-6 ↗
“. . . God our Savior . . . wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. . .”
Book page 45
SCRIPTURE 03
Ephesians 1:4-6 ↗
“. . . [God the Father] chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world . . . In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. He did this . . . for the praise of his glorious grace. . .”
Book page 45
SCRIPTURE 04
2 Timothy 1:9-10 ↗
“[God] saved us . . . not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, and it has now been revealed through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Book page 45
SCRIPTURE 05
Deuteronomy 7:6 ↗
“. . . the LORD your God has chosen you [Israel] to belong to him as a people that is his treasured possession. . .”
Book page 45
SCRIPTURE 06
Acts 13:23 ↗
“From [David’s] descendants God brought the Savior Jesus to Israel, in keeping with his promise.”
Book page 45
SCRIPTURE 07
Luke 9:35; Matthew 12:18 ↗
“. . . a voice came out of the cloud . . . ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’” “Here is my servant whom I have chosen. . .”
Book page 46
SCRIPTURE 08
Titus 2:11; John 12:32 ↗
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.” [Jesus:] “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Book page 46
SCRIPTURE 09
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ↗
“. . . God chose you from the beginning for salvation by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth . . . he also called you through our gospel so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Book page 46
SCRIPTURE 10
1 Peter 1:1-2 ↗
“. . . the elect . . . chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit. . .”
Book page 46
SCRIPTURE 11
Romans 8:30 ↗
“And those he predestined, he also called. Those he called, he also justified. And those he justified, he also glorified.”
Book page 46
SCRIPTURE 13
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 ↗
“Dear brothers, loved by God, we know that God has chosen you, because our gospel did not come to you with mere words, but with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction.”
Book page 46
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
What does grace exclude as the cause of our salvation?
How does God’s choosing in Christ comfort a troubled believer?
Why should we look to his revealed promises rather than speculate about his hidden counsel?
A prayer
Father of mercy, keep us in the grace you have given in Christ. Comfort us with your promises and preserve our faith to eternal life. Amen.