There are several ideas in the Bible that work in partnership. If you look at them separately, without the balance of working together it is easy to get into error. I believe grace and faith is a perfect example of this. It is easy to fall heavily to one side or the other. Many claim to ‘error on the side of grace’ while others boast of being ‘faith people’. Admittedly I do this myself, (although I would claim to be heavily vested in both camps), but still looking at them as very separate things—here’s an idea, they are not exclusive, they are meant to be used together.

There is a balance between grace and faith; when realized you exist in a sweet spot of unity with the Lord.

“True faith is not something we do to gain a response from God; but true faith is our positive response to what God has already done by grace” Andrew Wommack.

That is a powerful statement. God provides for us by grace. We receive that provision by faith. Faith doesn’t try to talk God into something, it is the means to access what He’s already provided by grace.

Let’s put this in a context we can understand—How about Salvation? Did you know that God doesn’t save you apart from you wanting to be saved? However, it is true that Jesus provided the salvation for ALL humanity regardless of that choice (1 Tim 4:10; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2). This is grace. He’s already provided it and He is no respecter of person (Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34), meaning He doesn’t arbitrarily choose one and not another. 

Yet, we know that not everyone is saved. To be saved we must accept this gift. This is faith. So we see that both are needed for salvation. Which of course Paul’s famous words back this up, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith...” (Ephesians 2:8a).

This is a textbook example of the balance between grace and faith.

If there is a paradigmatic model of something that may be copied, then shouldn’t we apply this to all areas of life?

What would happen if we understood the balance of grace and faith when praying? Wouldn’t we merely reach out and appropriate what His grace has already provided?

What would happen if we understood the balance of grace and faith when giving? Wouldn’t we give from a perspective of trust knowing that God will meet our needs?

What would happen if we understood the balance of grace and faith when ministering to others? Wouldn’t we see them through the eyes of God, and respond based on that?

Let’s use our faith moves us over to where God is already moving by grace. Maybe this would get us in alignment with what He’s doing in the world. Imagine the result of moving in the same direction with the same momentum as He is!

Questions For You!

Do you lean toward one or the other?
Name one area where you see the benefits of both grace and faith working together?

Need More Information on Salvation?

Then head over to this article; The Gospel, How To Know Without a Shadow of a Doubt that You Have Eternal Life—You’ll be glad you did!