Some claim that all men are saved. These arguments hinge on words and phrases like “saved by grace” and “salvation is free.” While these words and phrases are found in the scriptures, when placed in context of the body of scripture, there is no argument for automatic salvation.
Grace requires faith, and cannot therefore be automatic. If salvation did not require any action from us, then everyone would be saved, and no one would be separated from God. Yet very few people in this world are saved, as evidenced by several observations. First, very few people have had an audience with God. Second, Jesus himself indicated that few will be saved: “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14)
The biggest problem with the doctrine of “free salvation” is that its believers have absolutely no reason to change. They can continue to disobey God with blatant disregard. In doing so, they are perpetuating their alienation from God and voiding the purpose of this life—to prepare to meet God by correcting the conditions that caused individual separation from him.
In order to reconcile the obvious contradictions between “free salvation” and God’s word, proponents seem to have contrived an arbitrary God who saves some few for no particular reason, and damns all others. If we will be so foolish as to impose a doctrine upon God, we ought to at least ensure that whatever we concoct is consistent with God’s rarely disputed attributes: He is all-knowing, perfectly just, and perfectly merciful. The doctrine of automatic salvation for the arbitrary few is not just by any shade. Since God is just, automatic salvation cannot be true.
While salvation from death is free, salvation from individual sin is not.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus _unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them._ (Ephesians 2:8-10)
The scriptures teach that we are saved by grace only after all we can do:
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, 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)
In other words, grace is free, and grace is necessary, but grace is not sufficient when we deviate from its scriptural meaning and instead use it to refer to something happening independent of our own faith and works. Real grace—scriptural grace—is conditional. It comes from God and is a result of his goodness and glory, but always includes the heart, mind, and might of the individual. Without grace, man could not be saved from his sins, because without Jesus there would be no way of obtaining forgiveness from those sins. Yet, even with grace, man cannot be saved without actually doing what God says.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2)
Although professed believers are probably truthfully expressing that they believe in something, they cannot actually believe in God without doing his works. If you believe in God, you will accept God’s grace and perform good works.
When most professed believers say belief, what they actually mean is wishing. They look at God as a genie who will do what they say, rather than a deity to whom we must submit. They wish that God would save them without them having to believe him by doing what he says. If what they actually meant was belief as defined by the scriptures, belief in Christ would indeed be sufficient to save.
Professed believers in God who don’t actually obey God are not new. Paul wrote of them in his day: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16) If you believe in God, you will actually keep his commandments.