Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 27:74 (Spring 2023)
Article: Faith Alone: Understanding Free Grace
Author: David E. Olander

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Faith Alone: Understanding Free Grace

David Olander

* David Olander, STM, Th.D., Ph.D., professor of biblical languages & theology, Tyndale Theological Seminary and Biblical Institute

Genesis 15:6 reads, “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” All men from time immemorial are saved unto eternal life by the Lord’s grace, which has been from Adam and will be to the last soul trusting in God. Abraham1 is defined as the father of all (Rom 4:16),2 and this is so significant and yet surprisingly misunderstood by many. Salvation (eternal life) is entirely by God’s grace through faith alone or faith plus nothing. Eternal life is completely free; it is a gracious gift; it is all of God’s grace, no work on the part of the believer is acceptable. The conduit of faith receives this gracious gift of God’s imputed righteousness.

Today – in this dispensation of grace – the believer, a condemned sinner, does nothing but believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for his gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17), which includes complete forgiveness of all sins and eternal life with Him, because of his provided righteousness. The believer’s hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. The object or Person of faith in this dispensation of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is completely dependent on who He is and what He did, for salvation completely and totally concerns Him. If anything or any work is added to faith then the faith for receiving his grace which saves is made null and void (as will be discussed later).

Man is declared right or righteous with God on the basis of faith alone, which is called justification, a man is declared just or right with God on the basis of the gift of righteousness. “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the

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abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17).3

Abraham Our Father

What is of concern here is the faith of Abraham as the father of all prior to the cross and the law. One becomes a son or child of Abraham simply by believing. “Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS