The Role of Grace in Redemption

“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:89 ESV)

This scripture by Paul is not just a mere depiction but a profound revelation of the Gospel of Jesus. It encapsulates the awe-inspiring good news of Christ. We are not just saved but saved by grace through faith in Christ. It is not just a gift but a gift of such magnitude that it is beyond our comprehension. It is a gift freely given, a gift that cannot be earned. If you use a grammatical checker when you write “free gift,” it will flag “free gift” and tell you to eliminate the word “free” because it is assumed a gift is always free. In the case of the gospel, you cannot eliminate the word free.

One reason is that we cannot change scripture to meet the requirements of a grammatical program; that is a given. But my main reason is much more personal. You cannot do anything to receive this gift other than to be saved by grace through faith in Christ. It is a deliberate act under which lies torrents of reality. Not only that, but the gift is also the giver. When we receive Christ, He lives in us—He is the gift! So not only is God the gift, but He is also the giver, reaching out to each of us individually.

Johnathan Edwards established the link between redemption and grace. You cannot understand his view of the doctrine of grace without understanding his view of the doctrine of redemption. Regarding covenant in the broader sense, as the eternal covenant of redemption, Edwards states: “The excellency of this covenant and the great desirableness of an interest in its blessings is set forth here by two things: 1. that it is an everlasting covenant, 2. that the mercies promised in it are sure.” 1 The covenant of redemption, with qualifications, contains the covenant of grace within its boundaries.2

Without grace, there is no salvation. We are saved by the grace of God, just as a saved life receives new mercies every day. This regenerating cycle is all brought about by faith in Christ. In John 1:16, he explained this grace: “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” This is the only passage in the ESV where John used the word grace. We see it frequently in Paul’s writings, but in this passage, John emphasizes that salvation is a gift. In the Reformation, we see grace alone, Sola Gratia, in the five Solas as an integral part of salvation. Without grace, there is no redemption. In verse 17, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ,) John further elaborates on grace, showing that through God’s grace, Moses received the law. However, by the fullness of Jesus, grace and truth are received, superseding the law.

We truly cannot comprehend the grace and mercy of God. The fact that God selected us is staggering. The notion that Jesus died for us while we existed in sin is overwhelming. But the truth is that through our faith, our sins, past, present, and future, are wiped clean, allowing us to have a personal relationship with the living God, Yahweh. If that does not cause you to fall in worship and praise, well, there is a problem. Praise God, for without Him, we are left in darkness. Grace and Peace!

[1] Jonathan Edwards Sermon on Isaiah 55:3, Yale MSS, 2.

[2] Carl Brogue, Johnathan Edwards on the Covenant of Grace, Ligonier Ministries, 18 March 2012.