Salvation – grace and spirit
graceThe gift of God's love and support regardless of whether or not a person has done God's will. is the term Christians use to describe God’s unconditional love for everyone, whether or not they have behaved as he wants them to. Because God’s love is thought to bring redemptionAtonement for sins; the idea of being saved from sin or evil., some Christians believe that salvationThe healing of a broken relationship between people and God. does not need to be earned through good works. Instead, it can be achieved by believing in God and his son, Jesus Christ.
This belief is supported by St Paul, who writes: all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Christianity teaches that God’s grace gives humans the opportunity for salvation through the incarnationThe belief that God took human form in Jesus Christ. It is also the belief that God in Christ is active in the Church and in the world. and sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God. St Paul explains this in the Bible: for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)
So, even though human beings are sinful, Christians believe that Jesus’ death and resurrectionThe Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after the crucifixion. The rising from the dead of believers on the Last Day in a new, or risen, life. allowed human souls to be saved from eternal punishment. This means that they can enter HeavenA physical place, or a state of mind, associated with God and the afterlife. and be in the presence of God.
Although salvation is possible through Christ, St Paul also points out that people must follow God’s laws in order to be saved. He writes: Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? (1 Corinthians 6:9)
This may seem contradictoryOpposing or opposite., but many Christians would say that it is faith in God that leads believers to live good lives. A person could not be faithful and claim to love God, and at the same time ignore God’s laws.
Salvation through spirit
Christians believe that the Holy SpiritThe third person of the Trinity. Active as God's presence and power in the world. helps Christians towards salvation as it is God’s force and inspiration at work in the world. For Christians, the Holy Spirit:
- inspired the authors of the Bible to accurately communicate God’s laws
- is believed to prepare minds in order for people to be able to understand God’s truth
- is present as conscienceAn inner sense (or 'voice') which communicates what is right or wrong in one's behaviour., giving human beings a sense of guilt about wrongdoing and a sense of righteousness when they live according to God’s laws
Each of these powers of the Holy Spirit is essential for salvation. Without the action of the Holy Spirit, many Christians believe that humans could gain no understanding of God or Jesus.
Question
What is meant by ‘grace’?
God’s love for all people.