Grace, faith, and obedience are brothers in the kingdom of God. Some seem to dismiss the need to obey completely because they see grace in a lopsided kind of way. To them, grace means not having to obey, not required to actually do anything lest it gives the impression that they are trying to earn salvation. They reason that we have no part in salvation at all because if we did, it wouldn’t be grace. On the other hand, some seem to dismiss grace because they see obedience in a lopsided way. Obedience is everything, and unless we are perfectly doing it all flawlessly, there is no hope. Oh, we can seek forgiveness if we fail, but that’s more of last-ditch approach. Grace is the life-saver we grab onto when we are about to drown, but other than that we are swimming on our own. 

Neither approach is correct. Grace and obedience are not in antithesis to each other; they are in synthesis with each other. One does not negate the other. In fact, one without the other is incomplete and does not represent God’s revealed plans. 

Consider Ephesians 2:8-10 and what it means to be saved “by grace through faith.” That we are saved “by grace through faith” is undeniable, but let’s break it down a bit. 

First, “by grace” is not complete without “through faith.” Bear in mind that biblical faith is not mere mental assent. It is active, obedient, and trusting. If we are saved by grace through faith, then this passage clearly puts both grace and obedience together, for if we aren’t trusting God enough to strive to do what He tells us to do, then we don’t have faith. In that case, one cannot say, “by grace through faith.” Faith does not just say, “I believe.” Faith says, “I trust, and at Your word I will do as You say” (cf. Luke 5:5). Is salvation “by grace”? Without question! Yet, “through faith” means something, and there is no “through faith” without obedience (cf. Heb. 3:18-19). 

Second, “through faith” is not complete without “by grace.” Faith cannot rightly say, “I’m doing this all on my own.” Faith can only say, “I trust God, will do as He says, and will rely on His grace and mercy to save me. Salvation is not of myself; it is God’s gift.” “Through faith” is not a ticket to self-righteousness; it is a path to submission. The epitome of this spirit is seen in this: “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10). God’s grace is what lights up faith’s path. Grace does not negate duty, but neither does an active faith allow for a self-reliant, works-righteousness. As Daniel recognized in his prayer so long ago, so ought we to have the same spirit: “for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion” (Dan 9:18). 

Can we afford to say that either grace or obedience is unnecessary? If we say that grace is unnecessary, then we are only left with ourselves as our own saviors, and miserable saviors are we! If we say that obedience is unnecessary, then we make grace cheap, a mockery of God’s will, for it is by His grace that He revealed what He wants from us. Dare we shun God’s grace by downplaying His revealed will for us? 

Jesus didn’t die so that we can do whatever we want. “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor 5:14-15). 

We cannot live “for Him” if we aren’t actively seeking to obey Him, and Paul ties this idea directly to the fact that Christ died for us, which is the greatest act of God’s grace. It’s not one or the other; it’s both hand in hand. 

Must we have God’s grace? Paul answers:  

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:23-24). 

Must we obey? Paul answers: 

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury” (Rom 2:6-8). 

How, again, do they fit together? Paul answers: 

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14). 

Passages abound that demonstrate the need for both grace and faith. Let’s not allow ourselves to get lopsided by thinking that one is going to work without the other. We can never merit our salvation, and a biblical understanding of “through faith” will not allow us to think that way. Yet we also cannot afford to take God’s grace for granted, thinking that what we do doesn’t matter. A biblical understanding of God’s grace will not allow us to think that way either. 

Thanks be to God who gives grace and mercy, and thanks be to Him who has revealed His plans and desires for us! Be thankful that He has told us what He wants us to do, and be thankful that forgiveness is always available, not just as a last-ditch fail-safe, but as a continual reminder of our daily need to rely on Him. 

Doy Moyer