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What makes the Christian faith different from other religions lies in these two words: forgiveness and grace. These are not merely words from the church but the very foundation of Christian faith.
Without them, there would be no hope, no salvation, and no eternal life.
Dr. Julius Mosley II explains this clearly in his book Living Life With Blinders On.
“The work of Christ on the cross accomplished the redemption work of Christ. Redemption means that He purchased us back from the god of this world, and He offers this to every man, woman, and child as a free gift.”
Forgiveness means our sins are wiped away, while grace reminds us we did nothing to earn this gift. Together, they form the heart of the Christian faith.
Many people spend their whole lives trying to be good enough for God. Yet, the Christian heart teaches something different: we cannot save ourselves.
Only God can save us through His son, Jesus Christ.
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What the Bible Says About Our Condition
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
—Romans 3:23
Every person has sinned; therefore, no one is perfect.
“We are all descendants of Adam. We were in the genes of Adam—the entire human race.”
Because of this, we all need forgiveness and grace.
The heart of the Christian faith rests on the truth that we cannot fix ourselves. “God is holy. We are unholy. We have been cursed, and there is no cursed thing going to heaven.” This might sound like bad news, like there’s no path for us toward heaven.
But it actually makes God’s grace so much more amazing. He loves us even when we are broken, offering us forgiveness even when we do not deserve it.
Divine Grace: A Gift We Cannot Earn
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
—Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace is a word that bears a lot of weight, yet it has only a simple meaning. And that is to acquire something good without merit. Or, as Dr. Mosley calls it, “unmerited favor from God for everyone who believes it.” This is the heart of the Christian faith.
God does not wait for us to become good enough; He offers us forgiveness right where we are.
Dr. Mosley conjures this analogy, talking about a dirty glass. If someone hands you a dirty glass full of clean water, you will not drink it because the glass is dirty. “You cannot please God with your body/vessel,” Dr. Mosley writes. “It doesn’t matter how you dress it up, what pious position you put it in, or what kind of work you do with it.”
This is why we need grace, for we cannot clean ourselves up enough for God: Only He can make us clean through forgiveness.
Salvation Through the Resurrection of Christ
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
—1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Biblical salvation is built on something that has already happened: Jesus died, and he rose again. As such, Dr. Mosley asks an important question: “What is it that man must believe about the son of God?”
We must believe Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. This is the gospel message in its simplest form.
The resurrection of Christ proves that God accepted His sacrifice, revealing to the world that death has no power over Him. For believers, this means eternal life is real. “Physical death is just the beginning, not the end.”
Because Jesus rose, we can have hope that we will rise too.
How to Receive Forgiveness and Grace
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
—Romans 10:9-10
Receiving forgiveness and grace is not complicated, for it does not require years of study or perfect behavior, and it only requires believing in Jesus and what He did for you. Dr. Mosley writes of its simplicity in his book, even including a prayer for those who want to receive this gift:
“Lord God, I know now that I am a sinner and have sinned against You and am worthy of death. I was born a sinner without any hope and I now understand that You sent Your son to die for me on the cross. I believe that He did die and was buried and rose again on the third day. You promised if I accepted Your son’s death as payment for my sins that You would give me the free gift of eternal life. I am eternally grateful for Your love and grace. Thank You, Father. Amen.”
This prayer captures the heart of the Christian faith: a complete admission that we need help, trusting what Jesus did, and receiving His gift.
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Bearing a New Life in Christ
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
—2 Corinthians 5:17
When a person receives forgiveness and grace, everything changes–not because they become perfect overnight, but because their standing with God changes completely.
“Your name is now written in the book of life and you have been placed into the body of Christ.”
Christian doctrine teaches that this new life comes with purpose: believers become ambassadors for Christ, sharing the good news with others. This new life also comes with assurance, as 1 John 5:13 says: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
Believers know they are saved and do not have to wonder or worry.
If this has helped you understand the heart of the Christian faith, Dr. Mosley’s Living Life With Blinders On goes deeper into these truths, helping you see clearly what God has done for you and what He offers you today.
Get your copy and discover the full picture of God’s amazing love.
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