How Christ saves us. I’m not talking about his infinite Atonement, what it means, and how it provides salvation to the world. No. I am referring to how Christ saves us through grace and how we claim hold on that grace.
This is a very simple idea that can become very complex and overthought by many of us, leading to some stressed-out individuals. I believe that as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we tend to be the ones that complicate it the most. We create all these rules and lists of must-dos creating rather pharisaical followers.
Elder Bednar called out members of the Church in his October 2018 Conference talk Gather Together in One All Things:
We must be careful because pharisaical focus upon checklists can divert us from drawing closer to the Lord.
The purpose and purification, the happiness and joy, and the continuing conversion and protection that come from “yielding [our] hearts unto God” and “[receiving] his image in [our] countenances” cannot be obtained merely by performing and checking off all the spiritual things we are supposed to do. Rather, the power of the Savior’s gospel to transform and bless us flows from discerning and applying the interrelatedness of its doctrine, principles, and practices. Only as we gather together in one all things in Christ, with firm focus upon Him, can gospel truths synergistically enable us to become what God desires us to become and endure valiantly to the end.
What Elder Bednar is saying here is by focusing upon Christ and the truths of his Gospel do we receive the power to become who and what God desires us to become.
The Simple Answer
It is important we established this foundation when approaching the idea of “How Christ Saves Us” because we often get it stuck in our minds that it is what we do that determines our salvation and hold upon the grace of God. In all reality, it is much simpler than that and we can find all our answers in the Bible and The Book of Mormon as they wholly support and build upon each other.
The simple straight forward answer? It is through our faith in Jesus Christ that we lay hold on his grace, for his grace is sufficient for all men who believe on his name (Ether 12:27).
Faith in Christ
Faith in Christ. What exactly does that mean? Is it more than just a belief? Yes. Faith in Christ requires works. Faith in Christ requires us to turn our hearts towards Him as we let the Gospel of Jesus Christ fill our hearts, minds, and souls.
I love James chapter two because he focuses a lot on this idea of faith.
Even so faith, if hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou has faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God, thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when had offered Issac his son upon the later?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
What I glean here is that faith is meaningless without works. It is with works that we perfect our faith in Christ and we are also made perfect. We are also taught that our works need to be placed in Christ. As God’s prophet, Abraham’s works were based on the revelations and commandments he received from God. Our works should also be based on the revelations and commandments which have been received and revealed by God to His prophets. We may also receive our own personal course corrections along the way, inspiring us how we may improve our works.
Course Corrections: How Faith Makes Us Perfect
I think it goes without saying that 2020 has been a really rough year for everyone for different reasons. There have been some really big challenges I’ve had to face this year. I lost my daughter Adlee, I was without work for a month and a half and my relationship with God not only felt stagnant but silent … to name a few.
I’ve had my husband give me multiple Priesthood blessings in my quest to find healing and guidance from the Lord. I really struggled to hear Him and my faith was lacking. By exercising what faith I had in Jesus Christ, I began to sincerely study my scriptures and pray again. I was seeking out God’s will, voice, and love. With exercising my faith through works I eventually received a personal course correction I needed to take: faith and diligence. God needed me to learn greater faith and diligence.
This is how our faith, by works, makes us perfect. I am not saying I have now reached perfection. Believe me, I fully recognize how perfectly imperfect I am. I am, however, one step closer.
Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing — unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God …
Alma’s comparison of faith to a seed is such a beautiful illustration and one even a child can grasp. In some ways, it was made even simpler as Alma’s comparison became a primary children’s song:
Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.
Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray.
Faith is like a little seed:
If planted, it will grow.
Faith is a swelling within my heart.
When I do right, I know.
Faith is knowing I lived with God before my mortal birth.
Faith is knowing I can return when my life ends on earth.
Faith is trust in God above;
In Christ, who showed the way.
Faith is strengthened; I feel it grow
Whenever I obey.
A powerful song because of pure and simple truths. Our good works are in fact our obedience to the Lord’s commands. It is our desire to come unto Christ, to be pure in heart as Christ taught during his sermon on the mount, that our good works become natural and no longer a pharisaical checklist.
Faith: The Key to Grace
Faith is the key to accessing grace which comes through Jesus Christ.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans chapter five is actually full of golden nuggets testifying of the salvation of the world and I highly recommend reading it. Right now, we will focus on the two verses above which clearly state that by faith we have access into this grace. Without faith, we cannot receive grace and remember, faith without works is dead.
I am not saying our faith is what saves us. I am not saying it’s our works that save us. I am saying exactly what the scriptures are saying: we access grace by our faith. It is also just as Nephi teaches us in The Book of Mormon. Nephi tells us of the diligence and labor he placed into persuading others to believe in Christ, “And to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23).
All we can do refers to our belief and faith in Christ, which means we practice repentance, prayer, the study of His words, and good works.
Good Works
Good works is a principle that’s been frequently used here, but what does it mean? If we are to access grace through our good works (because it’s intimately connected to faith) then it’s only right that we briefly address it.
James is another great source for this and teaches us in a sort of parable.
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Good works mean serving others. Good works mean we are Christ-like. Christ-like means we do as the Savior would in thought, word, and deed. As we practice good works we become more like Christ, we strengthen our faith, we become perfect, and we receive access to grace.
By Grace
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
Grace is the ultimate gift of God. Grace is what meets the demands of Justice. Grace is our redemption. We are still required to act in faith, to repent, to cleanse ourselves through Jesus Christ. If we cannot exercise the Atonement of Jesus Christ, from which Grace comes, then what business do we have in laying hold upon it? We have none.
Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
By grace, we truly are saved. Grace is of God. These two verses in The Book of Mormon are, for me, the ultimate culmination of the teachings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, repentance so we may be perfected in Christ and faith. It is only fitting that they are two of the last verses in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ because it is just that, a Testament of Jesus Christ.
We are saved by grace only when we have perfected ourselves in him, through our faith just as Abraham of old and countless other prophets. Without works, our faith is dead. It is through our faith in Jesus Christ that we lay hold on his grace, for His grace is sufficient for all men who humble themselves and believe on his name (Ether 12:27).
