Mission Venture Ministries

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) 

Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ. Our best efforts can never be good enough to earn salvation, but God declares us righteous for Christ’s sake. We receive that grace through faith, and it is God who gives us the faith that trusts Him. We are not saved by obeying a list of do’s and don’ts, but by grace through faith in Christ. Our salvation is in God’s hands. Through the cross, we are given a second chance to be in a relationship with the Lord since when we trust in Christ, He pours out His unconditional love and grace upon us. 

Because of grace, we have been justified by faith. Justification is a declaration by God that we are not guilty in His sight. When we understand and accept that Jesus died on the cross and rescued us from the penalty for our transgressions all our past, present, and future sins are fully forgiven because we believe in Him and He becomes the Lord of our life. 

We gain this remarkable pardon through genuine faith in Jesus Christ; in other words, by acknowledging God’s judgment that we are sinners who need a Savior because we’re unable to save ourselves. True faith rests on the belief that Jesus’ death atoned for our sins, God accepted His Son’s sacrifice on our behalf, and we are fully forgiven. Grace gives us peace with God because we’ve trusted in Christ and now we’ve been adopted into the heavenly Father’s family (John 1:12-13) and have His favor forever. 

When God grants the gift of faith that enables us to be saved (Ephesians 2:8), this should not be seen as a static power that merely resides in our minds, but rather an empowerment that is expected to grow into a dynamic and demonstrable “divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4-9). 

Salvation is by grace, but it is through faith that we lay hold of that grace. This truth is echoed throughout the New Testament. In Romans 5:1-2, Paul writes, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” It is through faith that we are justified, and it is through faith that we access the grace in which we stand. 

Importantly, even the faith by which we receive grace is itself a gift of grace. As Paul writes in Philippians 1:29, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.” Faith is not something we gather on our own; it is granted to us by God. 

Faith preserves and protects us as Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24). These words are precise. Once faith is exercised, an eternal transaction takes place wherein a person is “passed” from spiritual death to eternal life. This is an absolute change and eliminates the possibility of hell (John 10:28-29). 

Understanding the connection between grace and faith is not just a matter of theological precision; it has profound implications for how we live as Christians. The Bible makes it clear that we are not just saved by faith, but we are also called to live by faith. 

In Galatians 2:20, Paul provides a powerful description of the faith-filled life: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Living by faith means daily trusting in Christ, relying on His grace, and surrendering to His will.

This kind of faith impacts every area of our life. It shapes how we make decisions, how we face trials, how we interact with others. As the author of Hebrews writes, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is not an optional add-on to the Christian life; it is the very essence of it. 

Living by faith also means trusting God’s promises, even when our circumstances seem to contradict them. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” Faith looks beyond what is seen to what is unseen, anchoring itself in the trustworthiness of God. 

Importantly, living by faith does not mean a life free from doubts or struggles. Even the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 faced challenges, setbacks, and uncertainties. But they persevered in faith, trusting in God’s character and promises. As Jesus said to doubting Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) 

Grace and faith are truly two sides of the same coin in the Christian life. It is by grace that we are saved, and it is through faith that we receive this grace. But the connection between grace and faith does not end at salvation; it defines the entirety of our Christian journey. 

We are called to live by faith, daily trusting in God’s grace. This faith will manifest itself in a life of good works, not as a means of earning salvation, but as an outpouring of the grace we have received. And as we feed our faith through the Word, prayer, and even trials, we will find our faith growing and maturing. 

At the heart of it all is the incredible grace of God, His unmerited favor towards us in Christ. May we never lose sight of the wonder of this grace, and may we continually respond to it with a life of vibrant, living faith. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). 

*******