Recently, when asked about his relationship with the Lord, a popular politician replied that his relationship with God was good because, “I believe in Jesus Christ.” The governor’s statement did not shock me because I have found that to be the attitude of hundreds of millions of self-professed Christians world-wide. “I believe in Jesus; I love the Lord, I belong to such and such church” are voiced as proof positive that the speaker is a “Christian.”  As I watched and listened to the two well-meaning but Scripturally challenged pillars of the church I wondered if anyone else watching the popular t.v. program understood the width and depth of the gulf separating their words from the Word of God. If God’s Word can be believed, and if what comes forth from millions of pulpits and podiums is any indication, the answer is: very few (Mat. 7:13,14). One of the areas where the professing church totally misses the Way and Will of God involves faith and works. The common mind-set is that faith is of God and works is of Satan.

The “faith versus works” argument raging between the Institutional Church and the Lord has a long history. Unlike most differences, this contention has not weakened over time, but has instead grown more powerful. The Old Testament having been set aside and the Law having supposedly “nailed to the cross,” any mention of “works” brings on a “faith but no works” lecture from any church member within ear-shot. Like their spiritual ancestors who would not listen to Stephen as they were stoning him, today’s faith-only proponents refuse to listen to the “faith, grace, Law and works” proponent as they verbally stone him. Anyone who has tried to reason with a Catholic or Protestant using God’s Word as the basis for his/her beliefs knows that it is usually an exercise in futility. Even so, those situations occasionally do arise. When that happens it is good to have some relevant Scriptures at the ready, even though one knows that man’s religion will win the day. In any contest between God’s Word and church doctrine, God will lose in the eyes of the vast majority. Jesus Christ Himself could appear before them speaking the Truth and the typical church member would reject His Words, and thereby reject Him. Those of us who love the Lord’s detractors and wish the best for them thank God for the second resurrection. See The Resurrections.

For those Word-believers who occasionally find themselves in a discussion with “faith and grace only–no Law or works” people, I have put together a few Scriptures that will help explain God’s will relative to the faith versus works question. In that the Old Testament is rejected by the modern church (except for a few select episodes and nine of the Ten Commandments), I will limit my presentation primarily to the New Testament with an occasional reference to the Old Testament. In the following references one will note that there is a continuing correlation between the Word, the Law, faith, grace and works. Note also that God uses both “work” and “works” when referring to obedience to His Word.

Matthew 5:16,17–Here Jesus unites work and the Law. Note that in verse 16 He talks about works, then immediately refers to the Law in verse 17, the two statements connected by the word “but,” which is significant. He begins by telling His people that they must conduct their lives (“walk”) before other people in such a way that they will “… SEE your GOOD WORKS and (by seeing them) glorify your Father in heaven.” As noted, He immediately reminds them that He “… DID NOT COME TO DESTROY THE LAW, BUT TO FULFILL IT.” The word “but” (or “however”) reveals that He is about to say the opposite of what He had just said. The word “fulfill” describes His reversal of action. “Fulfill” in the Greek language is “pleroo,” meaning to fill up/manifest/complete–the opposite of “destroy”–exactly as Jesus said. The Father’s attitude toward the Law and Jesus is best stated in Isaiah 42:21 where God prophesied that He would send His Messiah to earth to “… magnify the Law and make it honorable.” “Fufill,” “magnify,” “make it honorable” all prove that He did not destroy the Law that we must obey in order to be saved. See God’s Royal Law. Obviously, obedience to the Law was the “works” to which Jesus was referring in Matthew 5. Paul backs up the works-Law connection in Romans 2:15. Here he is applauding some Gentile converts because they “show the WORKS OF THE LAW (that was) written in their hearts.” Notice that the Law was written in their hearts. In Jeremiah 31:31-33 God said concerning His New Covenant Church He would later establish that He would write the Law on the hearts of His New Covenant people. In Hebrews 8:8-12 Paul reminds the church that He did so. Clearly, God is telling us that obedience to His Law constitutes the “works” He requires for salvation. To be continued. L.J.