What If Grace Isn’t Something We Earn After All We Can Do?

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, grace is often taught as something God gives you after you've done your part. You’ve probably heard 2 Nephi 25:23 quoted a lot: “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” But what if that’s not how grace really works?

According to the Bible, grace isn’t something we earn—it’s something God gives freely. It’s not a backup plan for when we fall short. It’s the only plan. And when you truly receive that kind of grace, it doesn’t make you want to sin more—it changes you. It gives you a completely new life, one that’s not driven by trying to be “worthy,” but by the freedom that comes from knowing Jesus paid it all.

The Apostle Paul talked about this in Romans 6. He asked, “Should we keep on sinning so God can show us more grace?” (v. 1, NLT). Then he answers his own question forcefully: “Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (v. 2). In other words, grace isn’t an excuse—it’s the power to live differently. When we put our faith in Christ, we’re united with Him in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3–5). Our old self—our sinful nature—is crucified with Him. And just like He rose from the dead, we’re raised to live new lives.

That’s why Paul says in Romans 6:14: “Sin is no longer your master… You are no longer under the law, but under grace.” That might sound radical to someone used to commandments, covenants, and the structure of church expectations. But grace doesn’t make obedience irrelevant—it makes it joyful. It gives us the desire and the power to do what’s right—not to earn anything, but because we’ve already been accepted in Christ.

Now, this isn’t just a theological debate. It’s rooted in something bigger—the nature of God Himself. Christian philosopher William Lane Craig, in his book The Kalam Cosmological Argument, makes a powerful point: “If God does not exist, objective moral values do not exist” (Craig 104). He’s right. But if God does exist—and LDS people and Christians agree on that—then we have to take seriously what God says about salvation and righteousness. And the Bible is clear: salvation isn’t based on ordinances, priesthoods, or temples. It’s based on Jesus—His work, not ours.

That’s why Paul says in Romans 6:13, “Give yourselves completely to God… Use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” That’s not legalism. That’s the natural result of a changed heart. When you’re made alive in Christ, you don’t want to serve sin anymore. You want to serve Him.

Of course, we still mess up. Paul admitted that in Romans 7:19: “I want to do what is right, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Sound familiar? That’s the human experience—even for believers. But here’s the key difference: when you’re saved by grace, you’re not defined by your failures. You’re fighting sin, not serving it.

John puts it another way in 1 John 3:9: “Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning… they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.” That doesn’t mean Christians never sin—it means they can’t stay comfortable in it anymore. God’s Spirit convicts and transforms them.

If you’ve grown up LDS, you might hear all this and think, “But isn’t that dangerous? Won’t people abuse grace if it’s just given freely?” That’s a fair concern. But biblical grace isn’t a loophole. It’s a miracle. It’s not cheap—it cost Jesus everything. And when you truly understand that, it humbles you. It leads to holiness, not laziness.

Some in the LDS Church might feel they have to check off all the boxes—temple recommend questions, Word of Wisdom, tithing, callings, enduring to the end. But grace isn’t a reward for how well you kept the list. It’s a gift. “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God” (Ephesians 2:8, NLT). That’s not “grace after all you can do.” That’s grace when you bring nothing to the table but your need.

Craig also notes that the universe isn’t just random—it’s designed on purpose (Craig 147–149). And so are you. But God’s purpose for you isn’t just to perform. It’s to reflect Him. And that starts when you stop trusting in your efforts and start trusting fully in Christ.

At the end of the day, Christianity isn’t about trying harder to become worthy. It’s about being made alive in Jesus. Like Paul says in Ephesians 2:10, “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” The good works come—but they come after salvation, not before.

So no—grace isn’t a loophole or a side topic. It’s everything. We don’t live for ourselves anymore. We live for the One who died and rose again for us. That’s the power of the true gospel. That’s the power of real grace.

Bible Verses Quoted (NLT)

Romans 6:1–14 – “Sin is no longer your master…”

Romans 7:19 – “I want to do what is right, but I don’t…”

1 John 3:9 – “They can’t keep on sinning…”

Ephesians 2:8–10 – “It is a gift from God… We are God’s masterpiece…”

Romans 6:13 – “Use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right…”

Works Cited

Craig, William Lane. The Kalam Cosmological Argument. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2000.

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, 2015.

BibleGateway. New Living Translation. https://www.biblegateway.com/

The Book of Mormon. 2 Nephi 25:23.

Doctrine and Covenants. Section 130:20–21.