If you've spent any time in church or Christian circles, you've probably heard debates about faith, works, and what it really takes to be saved. Maybe you've heard someone say "faith without works is dead" and wondered if that means you have to earn your salvation. Maybe you've heard the phrase "Free Grace" and weren't sure what it meant.
Free Grace theology answers one of the most important questions a person can ask: How is a person saved — and can they be sure about it?
This isn't an academic paper. It's a simple guide to what Free Grace theology teaches, why it matters, and how it shapes everything we do at Living Water Clothing.
The Core of Free Grace Theology
Free Grace theology can be summed up in one sentence: Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone — and nothing can change that.
That's it. No asterisks. No fine print.
Here's what that means in practical terms. When a person believes in Jesus Christ for everlasting life — resting in Him and His finished work — they receive eternal life as a free gift (John 6:47; Ephesians 2:8-9). At that moment, they are saved — completely, permanently, and unconditionally. In the Gospel of John, saving faith is being persuaded that Jesus gives everlasting life to the one who believes in Him (John 3:16; John 6:47).
The key verses that anchor this belief are hard to miss:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." — Ephesians 2:8-9
"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." — Romans 3:24
"And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace." — Romans 11:6
These aren't obscure passages. They're central to Paul's teaching about the gospel. And Free Grace theology takes them at face value.
How Is Free Grace Different from Lordship Salvation?
This is where the conversation usually gets interesting. Lordship Salvation is the view held by many mainstream evangelical teachers. Many Lordship Salvation teachers argue that genuine saving faith will necessarily result in perseverance and observable fruit, and that persistent lack of fruit calls one's salvation into question.
Free Grace theology respectfully disagrees. Here's where the two views diverge:
On what saving faith looks like: Lordship Salvation says true faith always results in a transformed life. If someone believes but doesn't show fruit, their faith may not be genuine. Free Grace says faith is simply believing the promise of the gospel. A believer might grow tremendously, or they might struggle. Either way, their salvation isn't in question — because salvation was never based on performance in the first place.
On assurance of salvation: This is one of the biggest practical differences. Under Lordship Salvation, assurance is often tied to examining your life for evidence of faith. "Am I changing enough? Am I bearing enough fruit?" Under Free Grace, assurance comes from believing God's promise — not from self-inspection. Jesus said in John 6:47, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." If you believe, you have it. That's the assurance. It rests on Jesus' promise to the believer (John 5:24; John 10:28-29).
On the role of works: Both views agree that good works matter. The difference is what they're for. Free Grace theology teaches that works are the expected response to salvation — motivated by gratitude, empowered by the Spirit — but they're not evidence that salvation occurred, and their absence doesn't prove it didn't. Good works are for discipleship, usefulness, fellowship with God, and eternal rewards — not for getting saved, proving you're saved, or staying saved (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
At a Glance: Free Grace vs. Lordship Salvation
Free Grace in 60 Seconds
Eternal life is a free gift, received by believing in Jesus (John 6:47)
Assurance comes from God's promise, not self-evaluation
Works are for discipleship and rewards, not for getting or keeping salvation
A believer is eternally secure the moment they believe (John 10:28-29)
Lordship Emphasis in 60 Seconds
Saving faith will necessarily produce fruit and perseverance over time
Assurance involves examining your life for evidence of genuine faith
Works are the inevitable result and proof of true salvation
Persistent lack of fruit may indicate the person was never truly saved
Both views are held by sincere Christians who take the Bible seriously. We believe the Free Grace reading is the most faithful to what Scripture actually says — and it leads to the clearest gospel presentation.
What About James 2? "Faith Without Works Is Dead"?
This is probably the most common pushback Free Grace theology gets, and it's a fair question.
James 2:26 says, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
Here's the Free Grace reading of this passage: James isn't talking about salvation from hell. He's talking about faith that is productive versus faith that is unproductive. A "dead" faith isn't a fake faith — it's real faith, but it's barren — unproductive and unhelpful to others (James 2:14-17). James is writing to believers, challenging them to put their faith into action so it accomplishes something in the world.
It's also worth noting that when James uses the word "justified" in this passage (James 2:21-24), he's talking about being shown or vindicated as righteous in the sight of people by actions — not being declared righteous before God for eternal salvation. That's a key distinction that keeps James and Paul in harmony.
Think of it like a phone with a dead battery. The phone is still a phone. It's real. It exists. But it's not doing what it was designed to do. James is saying: don't let your faith sit there doing nothing. Put it to work.
Paul says faith saves you. James says faith should move you to action. Both are true.
Why Does This Matter?
Theology isn't just an intellectual exercise. What you believe about salvation directly affects how you live, how you relate to God, and how you share the gospel with others.
If you believe your salvation depends on your behavior, you'll live with anxiety. You'll wonder if you're "really saved." You'll look at other Christians and compare. You'll treat the gospel like a contract with conditions instead of a gift with no strings.
But if you believe salvation is truly free — a gift received by faith — it changes everything. You can rest in what Christ accomplished. You can serve God out of love, not fear. You can share the gospel confidently, knowing the message is simple enough for anyone to receive.
That's the kind of faith we want to live out and share at Living Water Clothing. It's why our Faith Alone Tee carries Ephesians 2:8-9, and why our Grace is Free collection is built around Romans 3:24 and Romans 11:6. These aren't random designs — they're core convictions.
We named our brand "Living Water" after the promise Jesus made in John 4:14 — "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst." It's a picture of the lasting, satisfying life Jesus gives — life that doesn't depend on you "earning" it day by day. And the security of that life is grounded in Christ's own promises: the believer has everlasting life and will not come into judgment (John 5:24), no one can snatch them from His hand (John 10:28-29), and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee (Ephesians 1:13-14).
A Note on Disagreement
We want to be upfront about something: not every Christian agrees with Free Grace theology. Lordship Salvation is taught by many respected pastors and theologians, and we don't question anyone's sincerity or love for God. This is an in-house debate among believers who all love Jesus and take the Bible seriously.
We simply believe the Free Grace reading of Scripture is the most consistent and faithful interpretation — and we think it leads to the clearest, most joyful presentation of the gospel. If you disagree, that's okay. We'd love to have the conversation. Preferably over coffee, while you're wearing one of our hoodies.
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Living Water Clothing is a faith-based streetwear brand rooted in Free Grace theology, based in Corpus Christi, TX. Read about Ephesians 2:8-9 → | Read our story →