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Some people say we are saved by grace while others say we are saved by works. For
some we need to first define what this means. First of all lets look at the dictionaries
definition of these words.
GRACE: (1) a: unmerited divine assistance given man for his regeneration or sanctification.
(from Webster's tenth Collegiate Dictionary)
GRACE: Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who
receives it and in spite of what that same person deserves. Grace is one of the key
attributes of God. The Lord God is "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in
goodness and truth" <Ex. 34:6>. Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy,
love, compassion, and patience as the source of help and with deliverance from distress.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
WORK: (8) pl: performance of moral or religious acts (salvation by ~ s)
WORKS: (1) in process of preparation, development, or completion.
(from Webster's tenth Collegiate Dictionary)
WORKS: Acts or deeds. God's works are praised often in the Book of Psalms <Ps. 33:4; 92:
5; 104:24> and Christ's works are thoroughly discussed in the Gospel of John <John 10:25-
38>. Man's works are either good or bad, and these two categories are often mentioned
together <Rom. 13:3,12; Heb. 6:1, 10>. Christians are taught to display good works <Matt. 5:
16; Rev. 3:8>. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
To say a person is saved by grace means this. No one by their own merits or good
deeds will ever earn or gain eternal life. In other words no matter how good of a person you
are you will never make it to heaven on that basis. Rather we are saved only by God’s mercy
and his payment for or sins on the cross. Now to say that a person is saved by works means
this. If you live a good clean moral life you will go to heaven when you die. This is basically
saying that by trying to be obedient to God's laws you have earned the right to be in
heaven. Scripture clearly shows that we are saved by grace alone. There are verses that
some have stumbled over believing they show we are saved by our works or good deeds.
Therefore it is important that we consider these verses as well.
Rom.3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."
John 6:28-29 They said therefore to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of
God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him
whom He has sent."
Eph 2:8-10 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it
is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that
we should walk in them."
