Salvation by faith and works..?
Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 8:38 am
I'm going to be very blunt. In the short time I have been here, I am surprised how many people on this forum directly or indirectly advocate works on top of faith and grace,as a necessary prerequisite for salvation and get quite hostile if anyone questions this theology. There seems to be a very negative view of Evangelicalism or Protestantism as "easy believism" or just a theoretical theology without any life, and seemingly to counter this unbiblical view of Scripture, people go to the other extreme and feel justified to add works as necessary for salvation. But it's a very unbiblical view of salvation, and it's not a minor detail either, it perverts the very core of the Gospel.
I emphasize salvation, because I do not mean to deny the importance of sanctification or bearing fruit. But this will come as a result of salvation, of being ingrafted into the Lord Jesus Christ, and even though it will impact our eternal reward, it is not a requirement for our eternal salvation.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Our eternal life only depends on our foundation, on the Lord Jesus Christ, on His perfect and Holy life and sacrifice on our behalf, and by faith in Jesus this can be credited to our account as our sins were laid upon Him on the cross.
Salvation by grace/faith and works is not a new issue, the Apostle Paul had to deal with the Judaïzers that had crept into the early church, teaching a different Gospel of salvation by faith/grace and works/circumcision/rituals. In the beginning of his epistle to the Galatians he even pronounces a curse on them that do so. Probably the Apostle Paul was getting the same kind of criticism from these false teachers, that many "Evangelicals" or "Protestants" seem to get here. Something along the lines of "he is just teaching an easy Gospel that doesn't require any effort" or "God cares much more for holiness of life, than for some mental ascent to a theological proposition". I am just filling this in, but I can imagine they acknowledged faith and grace had their place, but it wasn't enough for salvation and so they attempted to discredit the Gospel which the Apostle Paul taught, and led the people of Galatia astray with a false Gospel.
Galatians 1:6-8 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 3:3-4 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 3:7-9 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Galatians 3:11-14 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:21-26 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
I emphasize salvation, because I do not mean to deny the importance of sanctification or bearing fruit. But this will come as a result of salvation, of being ingrafted into the Lord Jesus Christ, and even though it will impact our eternal reward, it is not a requirement for our eternal salvation.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Our eternal life only depends on our foundation, on the Lord Jesus Christ, on His perfect and Holy life and sacrifice on our behalf, and by faith in Jesus this can be credited to our account as our sins were laid upon Him on the cross.
Salvation by grace/faith and works is not a new issue, the Apostle Paul had to deal with the Judaïzers that had crept into the early church, teaching a different Gospel of salvation by faith/grace and works/circumcision/rituals. In the beginning of his epistle to the Galatians he even pronounces a curse on them that do so. Probably the Apostle Paul was getting the same kind of criticism from these false teachers, that many "Evangelicals" or "Protestants" seem to get here. Something along the lines of "he is just teaching an easy Gospel that doesn't require any effort" or "God cares much more for holiness of life, than for some mental ascent to a theological proposition". I am just filling this in, but I can imagine they acknowledged faith and grace had their place, but it wasn't enough for salvation and so they attempted to discredit the Gospel which the Apostle Paul taught, and led the people of Galatia astray with a false Gospel.
Galatians 1:6-8 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 3:3-4 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 3:7-9 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Galatians 3:11-14 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:21-26 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.