Grace is unmerited (unearned, undeserved) favor. It is when God gives us something, not because we have earned it, but because it pleases God to give it.

There is no doubt that we are saved by God’s grace. The controversy comes from understanding how this salvation is obtained.

“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” (Eph. 2:8-9). Many argue from this passage that God saves us by His grace through faith alone. They insist that we are saved the moment we believe. To suggest that we must do anything else to be saved requires works on our part which negates grace. This is a popular false doctrine, but it is contrary to the Bible’s teaching on God’s grace.

God’s grace is conditional. God has freely given things to underserving men, but these individuals have always had to meet conditions to receive God’s grace.

The city of Jericho. “And the Lord said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor’” (Joshua 6:2). The city was given to Israel. It was a gift. However, the Israelites had to meet specific conditions to receive the city. They had to march around the city for six days, and on the seventh day they had to march around the city seven times, blow the trumpet, and shout (vs. 3-5). The city was given to them, but only after the conditions were met.

Noah delivered from the flood. The entire world was evil, “but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8). He was saved from the destruction of the flood, but he and his household would not have been saved if he hadn’t built an ark (Heb. 11:7).

Naaman’s leprosy. This Syrian commander was healed of his leprosy when he finally met the requirements set forth by the Lord and dipped seven times in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:10-14).

Salvation from our sins is a gift from God. We can never earn it (Titus 3:5). It is ours to take freely, but only if we meet the conditions that have been set forth in the New Testament.

In obediently dying on the cross, Jesus “became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9). Jesus authored our salvation. He wrote the rules. He set forth the conditions that must be met. Salvation is not offered to all who have faith only, but to all who “obey.”

Paul spoke of the Roman’s salvation as a deliverance from the bondage and slavery of sin. “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Rom. 6:17-18).  This freedom came when they obeyed the form of doctrine that had been delivered to them. What was this form of doctrine? Their baptism into Christ’s death (vs. 3-4).

We are saved by God’s grace, but don’t let anyone convince you that salvation by grace does away with any conditions other than believing in Jesus. The gospel says we must also repent of our sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30), confess our faith in Jesus (Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9-10), be baptized for the remission of our sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16), and live faithfully (Rev. 2:10).