Views: 2<\/p>
[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts<\/strong> page.]<\/span><\/p>\n While Jerry and Patricia Norton were viewing the latest recorded episode of \u201c24,\u201d they were interrupted by a phone call. Caller ID indicated it was their neighbor, Bobby Crandall, two doors down and across the street. Jerry switched the phone to speaker mode so he and Pat could both visit with him.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHi, Bob. How was your day?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo-so. About like yesterday and the day before. Not much variety around here till I can get around on my own. How was yours?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Pat chimed in: \u201cWe had to make a run to Kroger for some specials before they expired, and we stopped by Walgreen\u2019s for a couple of prescriptions while we were out. What can we do for you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThanks for asking; you have been very good neighbors, and I hope I never take your kindnesses for granted. I have an appointment with my orthopedist in Dallas Friday; he wants to check on the progress of my therapy. I need a ride and wondered if you will be available, Jerry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Bobby and Sarah were relative newcomers to the neighborhood of long-time residents. Both in their early sixties, they chose for their place of retirement the mid-size city of Denton, Texas, not far from Dallas, where the Nortons had lived for twenty years. The Crandalls bought their retirement home in the Nortons\u2019 neighborhood. Both couples were busy with their own lives, so they had developed little more than a \u201cwave-at\u201d acquaintance\u2014until about seven months earlier. Bob and Sarah were returning from dinner at the local Olive Garden and a movie when a drunk driver ran a stop sign. His Ford pickup hit Sarah\u2019s side of their Toyota Camry with deadly force. She survived only a few hours in the emergency room. Besides his great loss of her, Bob suffered severe leg injuries. Following three major surgeries and several weeks in the hospital, he was dismissed, facing numerous sessions of physical therapy. Their two daughters and their families lived several hours away, and Bob was unable to drive.<\/span><\/p>\n Jerry and Pat learned of Bob\u2019s plight as they took dinner to him soon after he came home. While he had mastered his crutches rather well and had a wheelchair, he still had to depend upon others for shopping and for everything else that required driving. Jerry volunteered to be his \u201ctaxi service\u201d for follow-up doctor appointments and weekly visits to his therapist.<\/span><\/p>\n Pat already had plans on Friday, so Jerry helped Bobby to and in the car that morning as they began their 30-mile drive to his doctor\u2019s office. On their way out of town, they passed a<\/span><\/p>\n denominational building with a very large and attractive marquee sign that was difficult to ignore. It stated a simple message in bold letters:<\/span><\/p>\n SALVATION IS BY… <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n GRACE ALONE!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n FAITH ALONE!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n SCRIPTURE ALONE!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Bobby remarked, \u201cThat\u2019s not my church, but I agree with their sign. We are all sinners undeserving of salvation, so we are saved by grace alone. We can\u2019t be saved by our own works or goodness, but by faith alone in Jesus as God\u2019s Son. We should certainly depend only on the Bible for what we believe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Nortons had not discussed religion with Bob to this point, waiting for what they deemed the right opportunity. His comments gave Jerry that opportunity as they merged into I- 35. Jerry began, \u201cYou have obviously given some thought to religion. I fully agree with you and the sign on the SCRIPTURE ALONE <\/em>statement. In fact, it is the most important statement on that sign. It should be at the top.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAre you implying that grace and faith are not important?\u201d Bobby inquired.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNot at all, but my point is that, were it not for Scripture, we would have no knowledge of even the existence of grace and faith, much less our need for them. We must go to the Bible to learn what God\u2019s inspired men wrote on these and all other subjects relating to our souls. We dare not base our concepts of salvation, grace, and faith upon the traditions, doctrines, opinions, and precepts of men. When men do so, Jesus said in Matthew 15:6 and 9 they \u2018make void the word of God\u2019 and worship Him \u2018in vain.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI somehow get the impression that you don\u2019t agree with the GRACE ALONE <\/em>and FAITH ALONE <\/em>statements.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes and no,\u201d Jerry responded. \u201cApart from God\u2019s wonderful grace, no one could be saved. You likely know the statement by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:8 and 9: \u2018For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory.\u2019 Many other passages emphasize the saving grace of God. Note, however, that while Paul said we are saved by grace, he did not <\/strong>say or imply that we are saved by grace alone<\/strong>\u2014nor does any other statement of Scripture. So although the Bible teaches that only by God\u2019s grace we can be saved, that is not the same as saying we are saved by grace only.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n By this time Bobby was obviously confused. \u201cBut wait a minute. My preacher and my Sunday school book make statements such as, \u2018We are saved by grace plus nothing,\u2019 \u2018Salvation is a free gift of God, apart from any human activity,\u2019 and \u2018salvation is totally by grace.\u2019 Are you suggesting that this very sincere and zealous man I listen to every Sunday, who studies hard and is fine preacher, is wrong?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jerry kindly answered, \u201cBob, please understand that it doesn\u2019t matter what I may think or say about the teaching or preaching anyone does or hears on grace or any other subject. Nor does it matter how sincere or zealous a preacher may be. Remember, we agree with each other on the SCRIPTURE ALONE <\/em>statement on that sign. Thus all that matters is what the Bible says about grace.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat about the FAITH ALONE <\/em>part of the sign?\u201d With a wry grin, Bob added, \u201cI somehow suspect that you may disagree with it, also. \u201cI\u2019ll have to answer \u2018yes\u2019 and \u2018no\u2019 to this question, too, Bob. The Bible teaches that only those who believe in Christ as God\u2019s Son can be saved. Jesus said, \u2018Except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins\u2019 (John 8:24), and of those who die without believing on Him, he stated, \u2018whither I go, ye cannot come\u2019 (v. 21). In John 3:16, a verse familiar to you, I\u2019m sure, the Lord declared that \u2018whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life.\u2019 These and a host of other passages teach that we are saved by faith and that those who die in unbelief will be lost. But never does the New Testament teach that we are saved by faith alone<\/strong>. So, as with grace, yes, Jesus will save only <\/strong>those who believe in Him, but not <\/strong>by faith alone\u2014if we take the Bible alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n By this time, they were parking at Bob\u2019s orthopedist\u2019s. Jerry and Bob read the usual waiting room magazines until Bob was called for his appointment. When Bob came out 45 minutes later, he sported a big grin.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGood news, Bob? Jerry inquired.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYep. Everything is healing well and my doc is pleased with my rehab progress. I don\u2019t have to come back for another month\u2014unless some unexpected problem arises.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jerry joined Bob in his elation, \u201cGlad to hear it! Before you know it, you\u2019ll be able to enter a marathon. This calls for a celebration. Let\u2019s stop by that Uncle Julio\u2019s Tex-Mex restaurant we passed on the way in. I could stand a big platter of enchiladas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n An hour had passed by the time they consumed their orders in the colorfully decorated cafe\u0301 and headed back home. As they got back on the Interstate, Bob said, \u201cJerry, could we discuss that church sign some more on the way home? I\u2019ve been thinking about some of your comments. You said some things I had never thought or heard before, and frankly, you have aroused my curiosity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be glad to continue our discussion. Is there some question or subject relating to our conversations that are of special interest to you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs a matter of fact, there is,\u201d Bob remarked. \u201cI\u2019m especially interested in the relationship between grace and salvation. I understand that God\u2019s grace refers to His favor that no human being can ever merit. As I told you this morning, my preacher says that salvation is by grace alone, just like that sign reads, but you say the Bible teaches we are not <\/strong>saved by grace alone. That seems to imply that men must do something in order to receive God\u2019s grace. But if men must do <\/strong>something to be saved\u2014that is, to receive God\u2019s grace\u2014would they not thereby be earning salvation instead of being saved by grace? I\u2019m confused, and maybe you can help me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be glad to try, Bob. Let\u2019s start by noting that the sign contradicts itself in claiming that salvation is both by \u2018grace alone\u2019 and by \u2018faith alone.\u2019 Alone <\/em>excludes any and all other elements related to salvation. So grace alone <\/em>leaves no need or place for another element, including faith. Likewise, faith alone <\/em>leaves no room for grace. It would be like saying, \u2018Bob alone is in the car\u2019 and \u2018Jerry alone is in the car,\u2019 when referring to the same car. The statement suggests a logical impossibility.\u201d Jerry continued, \u201cAbout like the sign, I once heard a preacher say, \u2018We are saved by grace, plus nothing. We are saved by faith, period.\u2019 Each of his statements directly contradicted the other, just as the sign we saw does. If one could be saved by grace \u2018plus nothing,\u2019 faith would thereby be eliminated. If one is saved by \u2018faith period,\u2019 where does grace fit in?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI see your point about the contradiction on the sign; it doesn\u2019t make much sense when you think about it, does it? I understand that men must believe in Jesus Christ to be saved and that without God\u2019s bestowing undeserved grace upon us in forgiving us of our sins, we are lost. But I still don\u2019t see how grace, faith, sin, and salvation fit together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOkay, let\u2019s start with sin. Bob, how would you define sin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI believe that sin is doing things that God and Jesus don\u2019t approve of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good way to put it in light of what the Bible teaches. In 1 John 3:4, the apostle wrote that \u2018sin is the transgression of the law,\u2019 referring particularly to God\u2019s law, and Paul stated….\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Bob interrupted: \u201cBut wait a minute. We don\u2019t live under a law from God in the Christian age, do we? One time my preacher said in his sermon that because salvation through Christ is by grace alone, we are not under any spiritual law since He died on the cross. He further emphasized that if Jesus came to save us by grace, we can\u2019t earn our salvation by a legalistic system of law keeping. No one could perfectly keep the law God gave to Moses, and that\u2019s why we are in need of God\u2019s grace.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Bible indeed teaches what you said in your last statement, Bob, but let\u2019s explore the first part of it for a moment. If Jesus doesn\u2019t have any sort of spiritual law for those who have lived since He died, how does one become a sinner? Just as John defined sin as transgression of the law, as I started to say earlier, Paul stated the logical implication of that truth in Romans 4:15: \u2018For where there is no law, neither is there transgression.\u2019 This principle is indisputable regarding both human and Divine governments: It is impossible to violate law that does not exist.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWow! I see your point, and I had never made that connection between sin and law,\u201d Bob admitted. \u201cIn fact, not only had the logic of the sin-law connection never occurred to me, I obviously was not aware that the Bible plainly states this connection.\u201d \u201cNow let\u2019s take it a step further,\u201d Jerry continued. \u201cWhy do we need God\u2019s grace?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBecause we are sinners.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBingo, Bob. Can you now see that to suggest that God\u2019s grace excludes law actually precludes the need for grace? We need grace because we are sinners, just as you said, but sin does not exist apart from law. Thus no law\u2014no sin, no sin\u2014no guilt, no guilt\u2014no need for God\u2019s grace <\/em>is both logically and theologically true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, I see that, and it all makes sense. But if we must do <\/strong>something in response to Jesus\u2019 law, how does that agree with the idea that salvation is a gift of God and that it\u2019s not because of our works about which we could boast, as we discussed earlier?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good and perceptive question, Bob. In the passage you just referred to, we need to remember that Paul not only said we could not be saved by \u2018works,\u2019 but he specified the kind <\/strong>of works that will not save, namely works to which one could point and say to the Lord, \u2018See here, I\u2019ve done so many and such good works that I earned salvation\u2014You owe it to me.\u2019 None will ever be able to say that, for \u2018all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,\u2019 as Paul wrote in Romans 3:23. Although we cannot earn God\u2019s saving grace by our own good works, this fact is in no way at odds with the Lord\u2019s constant demand that men obey His will. He once asked his listeners, \u2018Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?\u2019 as we read in Luke 6:46.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re saying that we must engage in works of obedience in response to what Jesus teaches, but that we cannot do enough good works to save ourselves.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, that\u2019s what the Bible teaches, and this is why we are in need of God\u2019s grace, which is available only through Jesus. If we dare trust in our own faulty attempts at absolute goodness, we will be lost. But by believing in Jesus, and particularly in the power of His blood to cleanse us of the guilt of our sins, and obeying him, there is salvation. As I\u2019m sure you know, the Bible teaches that Jesus shed His blood to make salvation possible for all mankind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDoes this then mean that all men will be saved?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf salvation is by grace alone, as the church sign states, then the answer to your question would be \u2018Yes.\u2019 But even those who promote the idea of salvation by \u2018grace alone\u2019 indicate\u2014though they are self-contradictory in doing so, as we have seen\u2014that faith is required on our part\u2014again, just as the church sign indicates. As we discussed this morning, the sign is right in stating that faith is required on our part as a condition of salvation or of receiving God\u2019s grace. However, it is wrong in stating men are saved by faith alone. Faith on our part is a condition of our receiving God\u2019s grace.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think I see what you mean by \u2018conditions,\u2019 but I thought God\u2019s grace was free, which means He gives it \u2018with no strings attached.\u2019 I keep thinking about what my preacher says, that God\u2019s grace and our salvation do not depend on our efforts. Are you saying that He bestows grace and provides salvation only to those who comply with certain conditions? If so, does that not keep grace and salvation from being a gift?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut what does the Bible say, Bob? Let me put it this way: God\u2019s grace which brings salvation is \u2018free\u2019 in that we cannot earn or merit it. However, it is not <\/strong>free from the standpoint of God-given conditions men must meet to receive it. If there were no conditions to salvation and grace, then all would be saved. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:4 that it is God\u2019s will that all men would be saved, but Jesus said in Matthew 7:14 that only a few will be saved. We can only conclude that the Lord has conditions for receiving His forgiving grace. Those who meet those conditions He will save; those who fail to meet them will not receive his grace and forgiveness, resulting in their being lost.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019m beginning to see how these things fit together, but I still can\u2019t seem to harmonize the idea of a free gift that is conditional.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see if I can illustrate the principle. Suppose a rich relative died and granted you $10,000.00 in his will. However, the will stipulated that you must bring a leather briefcase to the courthouse to pick it up and that failure to do so would cause you to forfeit the grant. The award would be no less free because the will stipulated a condition and you complied with it. Nor would complying with the will\u2019s condition in any sense constitute earning the award. Likewise, one does not earn God\u2019s grace by merely complying with His conditions for receiving it; salvation is no less a free because it is conditional. Faith in Christ is the first and foundation of the other conditions that bring to us the wonderful grace of God. For example, Jesus said in Mark 16:16, \u2018He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n By this time Jerry had driven up in Bob\u2019s driveway. Bob rested his hand on the door handle but did not immediately open the door. Turning to Jerry, he reflected, \u201cThis has been a good day all the way around. I got a good report from my doctor, I enjoyed the outstanding dinner, I was in the company of a good friend and neighbor, but most of all, I learned in our discussion that I don\u2019t know nearly as much about the Bible as I thought I did. I see that I need to study and restudy some things I\u2019ve been taught to see if they are in the Bible. I thank you, my friend, not only for devoting most of your day to my physical needs, but more than that, for opening my eyes to some spiritual needs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad I was available to take you, and I hope you\u2019ll not hesitate to call on me for your doctor appointment next month. And if you think I can help you further with your study of this great theme of grace and salvation or other Bible themes, I gladly offer my services.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Bob opened the car door, and Jerry came around to help him with his crutches. As Bob entered his front door, he assured Jerry, \u201cYou can count on me to call you soon for some further study and discussion of these matters. Good day, and thank you again, my friend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [Note: <\/strong>I wrote this MS on assignment for the 35th Annual Bellview Lectures, hosted by the Bellview Church of Christ, Pensacola, Florida, June 12\u201316, 2010. It was published in the lectureship book, Back to the Bible<\/em>, Michael Hatcher, ed., and I delivered it orally as well.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 2[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] While Jerry and Patricia Norton were viewing the latest recorded episode of \u201c24,\u201d they were interrupted by a phone call. Caller ID indicated it was their neighbor, Bobby Crandall, two doors down…<\/p>\n