Within the church community, “works” is a dirty word.  Only blaspheming the Holy Spirit is viewed with more contempt than the idea that one needs to do anything more than believe in order to be saved.  Pity the poor soul who even hints that one must qualify for salvation by “doing works.”

The seminal problem with the globally embraced “all grace and faith–no works” theory relative to salvation comes from the writings of the Apostle Paul.  Contrary to universal religious opinion his statements against obeying the Law had nothing to do salvation.  In every case he was referring to justification–the one-time forgiveness of the salvation seeker’s sins.  In his epistles Paul, who received his gospel directly from Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:12), refers to “justification,” “justified,” justifier,” “justifieth,” and “justifying” a total of 37 times.  In the first 8 chapters of Romans–the so-called “no Law” book–he mentions the subject 17 times.  Not once did he down-play obedience to the Law relative to conversion, Christian living and salvation.  In fact, he commanded it repeatedly.

In every case relative to justification, he condemned obedience to the Law/commandments AS A CONDITION FOR RECEIVING JUSTIFICATION.  The one-time removal of all PAST sins (Rom. 3:23-26) is a gift from God based on man’s faith and His (God’s) grace–nothing else.  Let us study that important passage in order to glean from it the Lord’s Truth concerning the receiving of justification (NOT SALVATION).  Here Paul reminds us that everyone HAS (IN THE PAST) SINNED.  Note that he does not say that everyone CONTINUES TO sin, or that everyone MUST sin–one of Satan’s favorite lies which he repeats incessantly through his false prophets.

Paul tells us that JUSTIFICATION IS FREE–A GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE THROUGH MAN’S FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.  He tells us that man’s only part in the justification process is to believe (have FAITH) that God will forgive him of his sins because of Christ’s sacrifice.  What sins does justification totally forgive?  “sins of the PAST” (Rom. 3:25)  Note it: due to Christ’s death, God will forgive one’s PAST sins through His GRACE if one has FAITH in the blood of Jesus Christ to erase THOSE PAST sins.  Note that he does not mention salvation.  Nor does he mention future sins, which are an entirely different subject.

Once justified, the recipient of justification must obey God’s Law and thereby keep sin out of his life, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God (justification by grace) is eternal life THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.”  Note several things about this important passage: Paul is writing to God’s church.  Eternal life is gained only “THROUGH”
(IN) JESUS CHRIST (see the previous posting), which is possible only IF HE IS ONE’S LORD.”  We must understand the difference between ACCEPTING Jesus as one’s SAVIOR and MAKING Him one’s LORD.   To ACCEPT Jesus as one’s SAVIOR is a momentary, instantaneous mental construct which reportedly takes place thousands of times daily around the world.  However, to MAKE Jesus one’s LORD (MASTER) is to LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM CONTINUOUSLY, which, Jesus said, is extremely rare (Mat. 7:13,14; 22:14).  In his second epistle to the church, the Apostle Peter noted that “only the righteous–those who ‘obey the gospel of God’–will be saved, and they just barely” (1 Pet. 4:17,18).  To obey God (His gospel) means to overcome Satan’s temptation to sin as did Jesus of Nazareth (Rev. 3:21).  To do this one must obey His Law, for “To transgress the Law is sin, for sin is the transgression of the Law” (1 Jn. 3:4).  The opposite of sin is righteousness/holiness, which is the result of obeying the Law.  Paul proclaims in Romans 5:21 and 6:22 that THE END RESULT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLIHNESS IS ETERNAL LIFE.  As Jesus said in Matthew 10:22, only “those who endure to the end (in obedience to Him) will (then) be saved.”

Yet the church insists on separating salvation from obedience to the Law, WHICH IS GOD’S DEFINITION OF “WORKS.”  The belief that salvation is not dependent on obedience to God’s Law is a tragic, soul-killing lie straight from the heart of Satan.  Read God’s Two Laws, Paul, Titus and the Works Question and Faith versus Works. Key words–Laws, Titus and Question respectively.  Three Satan-instilled errors have led to the church’s condemnation of works (obedience to God’s Word/Law/Truth/Gospel) relative to the attaining of eternal life: 1) the desire to be free to sin and get away with it, 2) the refusal to be governed by God, and 3) the belief that justification, conversion and salvation are all one in the same.  Read The Salvation Process.  Key word–Process.

By far the most graphic passage of Scripture relative to the faith, grace and works question is found in the second chapter of James’ epistle.  In verses 10,14,17,18,20,24,26 the apostle tells us that faith without works is dead faith.  He also tells us that faith alone cannot save the soul.  Neither can the combination of man’s faith and God’s grace save us.  WE MUST OBEY GOD’S LAW, the same Law that Jesus came to earth to “magnify and make honorable (again)” (Isa. 42:21).  This is the same Law that Paul said “is holy, just and good” (Rom. 7:12), the same Law that defines sin and righteousness (sin if broken, righteousness if obeyed)–1 John 3:4), the same Law that God summarized in the Ten Commandments which He wrote in stone with His own finger, the same Law that not so much as a jot or tittle can be changed, the same Law that nothing can be added to nor removed from, THE SAME LAW BY WHICH WE WILL ALL BE JUDGED (Jn. 12:44-50). 

In summary, justification–the removal of all PAST sins–is a free gift from God through His grace based on the death of Jesus Christ.  Salvation, on the other hand, is the END RESULT of obedience to God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation.  God’s Word is His Law which He summarized in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS which we must obey in order to show our love for Him (Mat. 4:4; 19:17/ Jn. 8:31).  Jesus told His disciples that He would die for only His FRIENDS–those who “… do whatsoever I command you” (Jn. 15:13,14).  These are His BRETHREN whom He defines as those who “… obey the Words of My Father which is in heaven” (Mat. 12:46-50).  To obey God’s Word is to do “works” of obedience to that Word, which is proof of His LORDSHIP over one’s life.  Accepting Jesus as one’s Savior is meaningless unless one makes Him one’s LORD.  TO BE ONE’S SAVIOR IN THE FUTURE, JESUS MUST BE ONE’S LORD IN THE PRESENT.  Lordship is proven by obedience to command, which is God’s definition of “WORKS.”  WE WILL ALL BE JUDGE ACCORDING TO OUR “WORKS” (Rev. 20:13).  For this reason God commands us to be DOERS/WORKERS Word/Law and not merely hearers, thereby deceiving ourselves (Jam. 1:22/ Rom. 2:13).  Jesus speaks to those who only hear the Word/Law and not work/do it in Mat. 15:8,9: “This people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,  FOR THEY TEACH THEIR OWN DOCTRINES AND NOT MY COMMANDMENTS.”  L.J.