Grace That Assures
Romans 5:1–2
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory of God.”
Grace is the gift by which we are saved. But does grace also give assurance of salvation? Many Christians wrestle with this question. If asked, “Are you going to heaven?” even professing believers are often left uncertain. This lack of confidence usually stems from a poor understanding of salvation itself or view of salvation that requires works of righteousness. The doctrine of sola gratia (grace alone) matters deeply because it shows, from Scripture, how one is saved and how we can rest assured in God’s promises.
Faith: The Means of Justification
Faith in Christ is the pathway by which we are justified. Scripture is clear that peace with God comes only “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul writes elsewhere, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). Faith lays hold of Christ, and justification is reflected in our confession of Him. As Paul echoes from the psalmist: “I believed, therefore I spoke” (2 Cor. 4:13). Our justification is not earned by works, but is received by faith in the crucified and risen Savior.
Enduring Grace
Grace is not only the beginning of salvation but it is its power and endurance. Grace teaches us to turn from sin and live for God (Titus 2:11–12), and it preserves us so that we can stand firm to the end. Our standing before God does not rest on our ability to merit His favor, nor can we present ourselves perfect. It is His grace that upholds us.
Peter testifies, “This is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!” (1 Pet. 5:12). Jude also assures us: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy” (Jude 24). Grace sustains us in life for God’s glory and secures us in death for God’s judgment seat. We endure only because His grace holds us fast.
Assuring Grace
Grace also gives confidence. Paul says we “boast in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:2). This hope is not wishful thinking, it is assurance grounded in the God who saves. Since salvation is God’s work, we can rest secure in His promises.
This assurance does not excuse a life of sin, for “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9–11). Rather, it compels us to live redeemed lives. Grace frees us to glory in God, not in ourselves. It is His saving action, not our merit, that brings us into His kingdom.
Grace to the Glory of God
Finally, grace leads us to worship. Paul reminds us, “For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:15).
If salvation depended on us, we might be tempted to share the glory. But because salvation rests entirely on God’s grace, all glory belongs to Him alone. We praise, not because of what we contribute, but because of what God has done for us in Christ. Ultimately, grace given by God brings glory back to himself. Soli Deo Gloria!