The Plan of Grace

Having examined the Purpose of grace, we turn to the Plan of grace. In that wondrous statement—For by grace are ye saved through faith (Eph. 2:8)—is found the most important truth about God’s salvation to be found in the Scriptures. Paul presents two thoughts.

First, salvation is BY Grace. These words could not be clearer that the source of salvation is grace alone. Man has absolutely nothing to do with his salvation whatsoever. As preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes, “We are Christians entirely and solely as the result of the grace of God. Let us remind ourselves once more that ‘grace’ means unmerited, undeserved favour. It is an action that arises entirely from the gracious character of God. So the fundamental proposition is that salvation is something that comes to us entirely from God’s side.” Those words “entirely from God’s side” are most significant. As we’ll see, the teaching that says grace is “God’s side” in salvation and faith is “man’s side” is in error. Salvation is entirely of God.

The beloved pastor Harry Ironside captures this Truth as well: “We are not saved because we prayed so earnestly, repented so bitterly, turned over a new leaf, made restitution for past sins, tried to do good, kept the law and obeyed the sermon on the mount, or anything else that we could do, but we were saved by grace, and grace is God’s unmerited favor to those who merited the opposite.” Ironside actually hits on the real issue, namely, grace verses works. We’ll come back to this, but grace and works are diametrically opposed in acquiring salvation.

As Charles Spurgeon declared: “There can be no present salvation unless it be upon this footing—’By grace are ye saved.’ It is a very singular thing that no one has risen up to preach a present salvation by works. I suppose it would be too absurd. The works being unfinished, the salvation would be incomplete; or, the salvation being complete, the main motive of the legalist would be gone.”

Indeed, you will never hear someone who believes in salvation by works say, “Well, I am now sure I possess salvation; I am now sure that I will go to heaven.” Why? Because they do not know; they can never know because they can never be sure that they have done enough works. In contrast, God has done everything that has to do with providing salvation. Paul then presents something else.

Second, salvation comes THROUGH faith. Many Christians are unknowingly guilty of saying, “Salvation is by faith; we are saved by faith.” But this incorrect; we are saved by grace through faith. This is not just “semantics;” it’s doctrinal Truth. Grace is the cause of our salvation; Faith is the channel. Or as Spurgeon put it, “Grace is the fountain and the stream: faith is the aqueduct along which the flood of mercy flows down to refresh the thirsty sons of men.”

As we’ve mentioned before, any definition of faith is incomplete without a consideration of its object. Faith is a verb, so without an object, the entire concept is incomplete. In contrast to today’s meaningless “faith in faith” concept, saving faith has as its object “the Lord Jesus Christ.” As pastor and commentator James Boice details in his exposition of Ephesians, faith is not subjective feelings, wishful thinking, optimism, or self-confidence. Rather faith is a total trusting and committing of oneself to Christ as Savior and Lord.

Contrary to popular opinion, faith does not save us. A person can have faith in anything. For instance, you are probably sitting in a chair as you read these words. In a sense, you are putting faith in that chair; you are putting your weight on it fully believing it will hold you up. But does that faith have anything to do with spiritual salvation? Will sitting in church save you? Will being confirmed save you? Will baptism save you? Will observing some ritual or sacrament save you? NO! It is what we place our faith in that makes the difference. What saves us is God’s grace manifested in the person and work of Christ; we merely put faith in that grace and through that channel salvation is given. People today throw around that word “faith.” They say, “Oh, I have faith in God,” but they turn right around and try to work their way to heaven. That is a blatant contradiction, as we will see in the Proof of grace next time.