Five things Scripture makes clear
Received by faith alone
God declares sinners righteous when they trust Christ, apart from works of the law.
What Scripture says
Faith is the empty hand that receives the gift.
28We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Romans 3:28 (WEB) · context
5But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Romans 4:5 (WEB) · context
16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
Galatians 2:16 (WEB) · context
1Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
Romans 5:1 (WEB) · context
The good news
Saved by grace, through faith, in Christ
Salvation is God's free gift to everyone who trusts Jesus Christ alone.