For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. ~ Titus 2:11-15

Within Western Christianity, there is a theology known as free grace theology. This is the theology embraced and taught by many who advocate the Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) view. Free grace theology is the belief that saving grace requires nothing but a one time belief in Jesus Christ. Those who meet this basic requirement have eternal life with the assurance of an eternal home in Heaven, even if they do not repent or turn from their sins.

According to this theology, absolutely nothing is required but an acknowledgement of belief in Jesus at a specific point in time. Even if a person goes on to deny the faith later, that denial of the faith will not undo the salvation they obtained through free grace given because of a one time believing experience.

Is this the grace of God spoken of in the New Testament? No it isn’t.

To be clear, the free gift of salvation through grace is biblical, but the “do nothing because nothing is required” free grace theology is not. Now let’s compare the free grace theology mentioned above with Paul’s description of saving grace in his letter to Titus. Paul says that the grace of God that brings salvation, teaches us…

Now stop and allow that to sink in. Saving grace teaches us something. Does it teach us that we only need to have a one time believing experience, in which no repentance is required, and no change in how we live? 

Absolutely not!

Paul says, it teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Furthermore, the grace that saves us teaches us to look for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Paul goes on to tell us that Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar (special bought) people, zealous of good works.

True salvation that comes through the grace of God works a zeal within our hearts for righteous and godly living. If the grace you believe you have received doesn’t, then you need to seek for the true grace of God.