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Grace That Saves (Not Assists): Testing Ladder Spirituality
Show: Contending for the Word with Dave Jenkins •
Date: October 21, 2025
Show Summary
In this Reformation Month episode, Dave Jenkins tests a familiar but unbiblical creed —
“God helps those who help themselves” — and contrasts it with the far better news of
sola gratia: grace that raises the dead, grants faith, and keeps God’s people to the end.
We expose the counterfeits (decisionalism, elitism, and the self-improvement gospel) and anchor
assurance in Christ’s finished work.
Key Texts
- Ephesians 2:1–10 — Dead in sin, made alive by God; saved by grace through faith.
- Titus 3:3–7 — Saved by mercy, washed and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
- John 6:37–40 — Christ receives, keeps, and will raise His own.
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Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
