9. What is the relationship between a Christian’s spiritual growth and salvation?

Salvation by grace is often misunderstood as denial of obedience and fruit-bearing. Nothing could be further from biblical truth! It is true that we are saved freely by faith in what God’s grace has done through Christ, and we have nothing of which to boast in ourselves. But we are not saved to do what we please; we are saved to live in accordance with God’s will. This is not legalism or salvation “by works.” Good works and obedience are the natural outgrowth of living in Christ’s amazing grace. JTL17 11.1

Jesus helps us to understand this contrast in John 14 and 15 where He describes the closeness of His relationship with the Father. Jesus’ obedience to the Father was not a forced legalistic compliance but an outgrowth of His abiding in the Father’s love. This relation-based sacrificial obedience is what God longs our obedience to be! JTL17 11.2