Is Saving Grace Unconditional?

Is Saving Grace Unconditional?

Dear Bro. Waddey:
I read these lines in a church bulletin: "There is quite a difference between a grace system and a law system. God's system does not grade us or even save us because of our performance. We are saved by His grace. We serve God out of gratitude and love because we are saved. The difference is important. A grace/love system brings a deep peace and assurance in our relationship with God, law keeping brings failure, guilt and fear." They seem very consoling, but somehow they seem to clash with other Bible teachings about obedience. Can you help me understand this?
-Nona

Dear Nona:
I suspect that if you listened to enough of this brother's lessons you would conclude that he is teaching that we are saved by grace alone and that all other acts are nice but "not necessarily necessary." It is a revival of the old Calvinistic doctrine of unconditional grace. It reasons that since God saves us by his grace, what we do in response is of no great consequence. In the end it means that you can be baptized if you wish to (Acts 10:48), but God will save you by his grace anyway. You can be a member of his church if it suits you, but grace has and will save you (Eph. 5:23). You can be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10), but if you are not, grace will still save you.

It is certainly true that we are saved by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9). It is true that cannot earn, merit or deserve salvation by our works and efforts (Tit. 3:5). But it is not true that saving grace is unconditional. All the verses in the Bible that speak of faith, repentance and obedience prove that more than grace is involved in our salvation. Jesus said if we do not believe he is the Messiah we will die in our sins (John 8:24). Without faith in God it is impossible to please him (Heb. 11:6). We must repent or perish (Luke 13:3). To have our sins washed away we must be baptized (Acts 22:16). Remission of sins is promised only to those who repent and are baptized (Acts 2:38). Christ is the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him (Heb. 5:9). We must be faithful unto death to receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).

God saves us by his grace. But to receive his free gift of salvation, paid for by the death of Jesus, we must comply with the conditions he has set forth. If I said, I will give you $100, it would certainly be a gift of grace. But if I said you must send me a self-addressed and stamped envelope to receive that gift, you would have to meet those conditions or not receive my gift of grace. So also with salvation.

Sincerely,

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