No one denies that we are saved by grace. The Bible makes this abundantly clear.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

It is important to realize, however, that obedience does not in any way eradicate grace. In fact, the same Bible that says we are saved by grace, says that we are also saved by works.

James 2:24 (ESV)
²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Being saved by grace and works is not contradictory, as long as we are talking about the right kind of works. Noah was saved from the impending flood by grace, but he still had to build the ark. Who would say that building the ark was not work? Of course, building the ark took work, but what it did not take was meritorious work. Noah could not brag about his salvation because he built the ark. Without the grace of God, Noah would have never known, first that the ark was even necessary, and second, how to build it so that it would withstand the coming flood.

Obedience never negates grace. Paul, who championed the case of salvation by grace, regularly taught the importance of work in relation to the salvation of the soul.

Philippians 2:12 (ESV)
¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

What did Paul mean when he told the brethren at Philippi to work? That question is answered by looking carefully at this verse. Just before telling them to work out their salvation, he mentioned their obedience. What is the difference between obeying and working in this verse? Obviously, nothing. We work out our salvation by doing the work that God directs us to do.

God has always demanded obedience. It is by our obedience that we prove that we know God.

1 John 2:3-4 (ESV)
³ And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

Are you keeping the commandments of God? If not, you are not saved. Obeying God is essential to our salvation, and it is necessary, not only to stay saved, but to be saved in the first place. Paul told the saints at Rome that they were delivered from sin and set free only after they obeyed from their hearts (Romans 6:17-18).

Without the grace of God, we would be hopeless as far as justification and salvation are concerned. We, however, must obey God in order to activate that grace. No wonder the Hebrews writer said that Jesus is “the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). Whether people believe it or not, this is the plain truth.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.