In Romans 1:16 the Apostle Paul provides for us a mini-course in the process of salvation, noting that it begins with the Word of God–the Gospel–the good news about the coming Kingdom of God on earth. It is from the Gospel/Word/Truth/Light/Way of God that we receive true, God-given faith (Rom. 10:19). As we embrace the word of God we recognize that His will for us includes blessings in this life, eternal life with Him in the future, and how to qualify for both. In part 1 of this series we noted that GOD’S WORD IS THE POWER OF GOD THAT ENABLES TO LIVE IN SUCH A WAY SO AS TO RECEIVE THOSE PROMISED BLESSINGS.

We are told from day one that faith is the most important factor in the Christian walk (life). The Apostle James addresses that church “truth.” He tells us that faith alone, no matter how great, will not produce what God has promised, salvation being the most important part. Something relative to faith must be a part of the salvation formula. That something is introduced in Romans 1:17: “For in the Gospel THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS REVEALED.” What does God’s righteousness have to do with salvation? We are told from pulpit and podium, from t.v. screen to street corner that we are saved BECAUSE OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND OUR FAITH IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Are those two factors all that is needed?

No. Because of His righteousness He gives us the OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAVED AND THE MEANS BY WHICH SALVATION CAN BE ATTAINED. FAITH is one of the first factors that, IF embraced and developed by the believer, will LEAD TO SALVATION. It is true that “By grace we are saved, through faith.” However, the Scriptures tell us that grace and faith are not enough to save us. We must have LIVING FAITH in order to qualify for salvation made possible by God’s grace and righteousness. What is living faith? James tells us in chapter 2 verses 14,17,18,20,22,24,26. He begins with verse 10 where, writing under the power of the Holy Spirit, he tells us that to break one of the ten commandments in God’s Law is to break the entire Law by which He governs His true saints and enables them to receive all that He has in store for them by obeying it.

James tells us repeatedly that faith, no matter how great, is dead if it does not include WORKS. BIBLICAL WORKS INVOLVE OBEYING THE WORDS IN WHICH WE HAVE FAITH. For example, in God’s Word we are told to love Him with every part of our being. Our faith, in order to be of any value, requires us to DO THAT. Jesus says in no uncertain terms that we must PROVE our love for Him (and His Father) BY OBEYING THE TEN COMMANDMENT LAW–THE SOURCE OF OUR FAITH (Jn 14:15). He goes deeper into that Truth by proclaiming that HIS LOVE FOR US DEPENDS ON OUR PROVEN LOVE FOR HIM. In John 15:10 Jesus states that in order to abide (remain) in His love we must KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. He delves deeper by saying that He–Jesus–had to obey those same commandments IN ORDER TO ABIDE IN HIS FATHER’S LOVE. In Matthew 19:17 He makes clear the love-obedience-salvation connection by saying that IF YOU WANT ETERNAL LIFE, KEEP (OBEY) THE COMMANDMENTS. Read The Lord-Love-Law Connection. Key word–Connection.

With the Words of Jesus Christ fresh in our minds, I have a few questions for professing Christendom: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH FIRST JOHN 3:4 WHICH STATES THAT SIN IS THE BREAKING OF THE LAW? WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ISAIAH 59:2 WHICH STATES THAT SIN SEPARATES YOU FROM GOD? WHAT DO YOU DO WITH COMMANDMENT #4 IN WHICH GOD COMMANDS YOU TO OBSERVE HIS SABBATH ON THE 7TH DAY OF THE WEEK (SATURDAY)? DO YOU PROVE YOUR LOVE FOR HIM BY OBEYING HIS TEN COMMANDMENT LAW? ARE YOU ABIDING IN HIM? IF YOU ARE BREAKING THE 4TH COMMANDMENT, NOT ONLY ARE YOU NOT ABINDING IN HIM, YOU ARE BREAKING THE ENTIRE LAW (Jam. 2:10). Hopefully none of you are Sabbath-breakers.

Jesus speaks loud and clear about this issue in Matthew 7:21-23 where He tells us what He will say to Law-breakers on the day of judgment. He will say to them “… I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice iniquity (Lawlessness).” In verses 13 and 14 of that chapter He warns Law-breakers concerning their fate. In verses 26 and 27 of that chapter he compares them to a man who built his (spiritual) house on sand (church doctrines) instead of on the Rock (Jesus–the Word made flesh–Jn. 1:1-4,14). He says of the house built on church doctrine that it will fall, and great will be its fall.

Now back to the question relative to the part God’s righteousness plays in man’s salvation (Rom. 1:16,17). GOD IS RIGHTEOUS WHETHER OR NOT MAN OBEYS HIM. Therefore His righteousness is not THE deciding factor relative to one’s salvation. The deciding factor is: DOES MAN TAKE ON GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH HE FINDS IN GOD’S WORD? This is brought out in First John 2:6 where we are told that if we claim to be Christ’s spiritual brethren, WE MUST “WALK (LIVE) EVEN AS HE WALKED” while on this earth. In John 4:19 He said that whoever looked at Him was looking at the Father. In order to join them in paradise we must walk in such a way that when people see us they see the Father and the Son. This requires more than faith; it requires works commensurate with that faith. Faith without the corresponding works (obedience to God’s Words upon which faith is built) is dead faith. Can work-less (dead) faith save the soul? No. (Jam 2:14). We must ask ourselves if we are Christ’s friends for whom He died. We must also ask ourselves if we are His spiritual brethren? Read the series using the key words–Friends and Brethren respectively to determine if Christ died for you and if you are His spiritual brethren.

In Romans 1:18,19 we are reminded of God’s attitude toward those who have the oracles (Word) of God but refuse to obey them. About His attitude Paul writes: “For the WRATH OF GOD WILL FALL UPON ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF THOSE WHO HOLD THE TRUTH OF GOD IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” Only church people hold (possess) God’s Truth (His Word–Jn. 17:17). Such people know God’s Truth because He has shown it to them in His Holy Scriptures which contain “all that may be known about Him.” Jesus said that He was the way, the Truth and the life. The Holy Bible is God in written form. Jesus was the Holy Bible in human form. We must walk as He walked.

In summary: in order to be awarded salvation at the return of Jesus Christ we must walk in the holiness of Jesus Christ until the end of our lives (Mat. 10:22; 24:13). God’s love, His grace, His righteousness and His power are not enough to save our souls. WE MUST OBEY HIS TEN COMMANDMENT LAW, THEREBY MAKING US HOLY AS HE IS HOLY (1 Pet. 1:15,16). L.J.