The most important teaching of Scripture is that we are made right only by God's loving kindness through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9).

God's grace is his loving kindness for us that we don't deserve. He showed this merciful kindness for us by sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins (Romans 5:6-9).

We are guilty of sin and deserve eternal death in hell. Jesus lived a sinless life and died an innocent death on the cross for us. In God's court of Law, Jesus offers His sinless life in place of our sinful life. He offers His death in place of our death in hell for our sins (1 John 2:1-2). Because of Jesus, God has pardoned everybody, declared them not-guilty. This is justification, making right in His sight (2 Corinthians 5:19-21).

We are personally made right with God through faith in Jesus. Faith is not simply knowing some Bible stories about Jesus or accepting that Jesus exists. The Devil and his angels know that Jesus exists, but they don't have saving faith (James 2:19). Faith is first believing that Jesus Christ died for all sins and rose again to give eternal life to all (John 3:16). Second, faith applies this forgiveness to yourself, personally (Acts 16:30-33).

We reject those who teach that faith in the work of Christ does not fully make us right with God, but merely prepares us to keep God’s Law, or to do works of love, or willingly stop committing sin so that we can earn our justification.