All Christians agree on a few basic facts as stated in the following verses:
ROM 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
ROM 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
ROM 5:6, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."
Of course not every person agrees with these statements, but surely we can't call anyone a Christian who does not believe them. But there is disagreement between Christians about where to go from there. Do people receive forgiveness by GRACE through FAITH, or by their WORKS according to LAW? A person's answer to this question determines the way he looks at the rest of the Scriptures. A few key verses are found in Ephesians:
EPH 2:4-10, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Many teach that the Church will be perfect before Jesus returns, but we just read: "that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." When we really examine the Church we see that it often is as stubborn as the Apostles were when they walked with Jesus. Surely it is true that the Church continues to require the riches of God's grace. As Ephesians shows, God's grace is the source of our salvation. It is received through faith, not on account of faith. Faith is not the source of salvation, only the channel through which it comes. This scripture also shows very plainly that salvation is "not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." Salvation is a precious gift from God and is not the results of works. Works in the scripture are the product or fruit of salvation - not the cause of it. Any works a Christian does are a result of Christ working through him, and the credit is to go to Jesus - not to the Christian. It is impossible for anyone to produce good works before he is a Christian. The walk through life is compared to being a soldier and this comparison is useful in explaining this point. The most basic question for a soldier to answer is where his loyalty lies - or whose side he's on. One of the first things a new recruit does is take an oath of allegiance. Would you count it as good if your enemy is skilled at his work? That would be worse than if he was a fool. The more skill he has - the more damage he will do to you. People who are not Christians, but do many things that are good, do more damage to those who follow them than the drunks in the gutter do. Many people follow these "good" people and as a result never accept the gift of eternal life from God. Jesus doesn't want these people to quit doing "good", but to follow Him and thus lead the people following their example to life - instead of death. I repeat: God does not see any of our works as "good" until we start leading people the right direction.
So we aren't saved by works, but what about the law? What does the word "law" mean? In Bible terms it is simply what defines right and wrong. Anyone who is trying to be saved by their "good works" has a law describing which actions are "sin" and which actions are "good works." The law may be from the Bible, it may be from their church tradition, or it may not even be written. But if you describe an action to them, they will probably be able to say if they see it as a sin or not. Whatever they used to make that decision is their law and the Bible is very plain that we cannot be saved by both law and grace.
GAL 5:4, "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace."
The word "grace" in the New Testament comes from the Greek word "charis." It is used to describe something given free as contrasted with "debt", "works", and "law".
ROM 4:4, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt."
ROM 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."
JOHN 1:17, "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ."
We can see from these verses that perhaps the best way to define "grace" is to say it is the opposite of "debt," "works" and "law." Any labor to keep the law in order to earn salvation will fail, because salvation is a free gift of God. We could never be good enough to even approach God, let alone win His approval. It took Jesus to do that. Through faith in Jesus we can now be justified, can boldly approach God, and can receive salvation as a free gift.
ROM 3:24,28, "being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus...For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."
Often Christian leaders are not satisfied with the believers being answerable to Jesus. They use laws to demand obedience to human leaders, or organizations.
During the old covenant, or in old testament times, people were saved by their obedience to the law. God had set a choice before the people of Israel. He told them of the blessings He would give them if they obeyed the law and the curses if they would not obey it. They agreed to the covenant, but the scriptures show they were never able to keep the law. Through the life and death of Jesus, God made another covenant with people and it was different than the previous one. He would now judge people individually (not as a nation, organization, or race), look at their heart instead of outward appearances, and put His will (or law) in their hearts and minds. This meant that since no one can read another person's heart, they can not fully know God's will for that person, and judging would be wrong. Each person is answerable to God for his own actions.
ROM 3:21-27, "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith."
LAW MADE THE BAD INCREASE:
God gave the law so the effects of sin might stand out and our need for Him be shown.
ROM 5:20-21, "And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
DOES GRACE ENCOURAGE SIN?
Many feel that preaching about God's grace encourages people to sin, but the opposite is true. When a law is used to determine whether a person is saved or not, people are so afraid of failure, they often just sit and do nothing. They feel they are better off doing nothing, than failing and being condemned by the people around them. Their attention is not on God, but on their own actions. But when salvation is accepted as a gift from God, they are free to put their attention on Him. He can then help them look for the needs of others and proceed to meet those needs, or in other words - to do "good works." As we read before, we are Christ's workmanship. He is remaking us, and everything good we do as His creation is to His credit and not to our's. He is changing us from selfish creatures that only look out for ourselves into ones who care more about others than themselves. By saving us by His grace, Jesus frees us from the fear of failure.
1 JOHN 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love."
When we have been freed from the fear of punishment, we can truly be free to work to help others and if one is free from the fear of failure, he is then free to grow. No one ever learns anything new without taking the chance of stumbling in the learning process. Those who have deceived themselves into thinking they never sin, are so busy looking at their own actions that they seldom look for the needs of others. When they do look at others, it is often only to judge and find fault with them. Despite what people might think, the Bible says those who accept God's grace will not continue to live in sin.
ROM 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"
ROM 6:15, "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace."
THE RESULT OF GRACE IS ACTION
Paul was the chief preacher of grace, yet he showed that grace resulted in action.
1 COR 15:10, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me."
PAUL FOUND GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
Many people try to add things to God's grace. They want to add their works, or their ability, or their wealth. Paul did too. He just knew that if he was free from his "thorn in the flesh" he could do so much more for God. God knew better though.
2 COR 12:7-10, "... for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me - to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
CONFIDENCE COMES BY GRACE
Have you ever heard someone pray with an attitude that God owed them something because of their works? They seek confidence from their works, but the scriptures teach something else.
HEB 4:16, "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need."
Real strength and confidence comes from grace, not from our works. Many may seem strong because they argue and fight a lot. But their arguments come from a lack of confidence and self esteem. We argue and fight one another in attempts to win the approval, or agreement, of other people. When we really know we are doing God's will, we do not have to fight for man's approval.
HEB 13:9, "Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited."
HOPE IN GRACE, NOT WORKS
Our hope is not to be based on our works, but on God's grace. That's why so many are hurt when the people they had their confidence in fall. All men fail at times - that's why our hope is not to be placed in our works or anyone else's.
1 PET 1:13-15, "Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;"
FREEDOM
GAL 5:13, "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
Although God will give us the gift of eternal life, it takes good works to help others in this life.
JAM 2:15-17,21-22, "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself ... Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected."
REWARDS
Jesus told us to lay up treasures in heaven. Although salvation is by grace, there are different rewards waiting for us, and those depend on our works. Paul explained the relationship between gifts and rewards.
1 COR 3:11-15, "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire."
If you study this scripture, you should see that the man's salvation did not depend upon his works, but his rewards did. In the scripture, the word "fire" is used to describe God's word. Our works will be tested to see if they are according to God's will. If they are not, we will lose our reward.
ATTITUDES USED TO "EARN" GRACE:
This scripture is the parable Jesus used to illustrate the difference between one who is attempting to be saved by his works and one who is receiving his salvation by God's grace. Today's church still has many, many Pharisees.
LUK 18:9-14, "And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."
These are those who believe in what I call a "jump start." The Bible not only teaches that we have sinned, past tense; it also teaches we all still sin as Christians.
1 Jn 1:8-2:2, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
When we have become Christians, we have been declared righteous because of the righteousness of Jesus - not our's. We become the sons of God and He does not look at our sin as something to cast us out for, but as something that He will help us correct. He is not blind to our sin and He may chastise us to call our attention to it and then He will help us overcome it.
Many people try to convince themselves they deserve God's help because they are better than others. They usually go on to believe a doctrine of salvation by works and, as a result, are never really free to serve God fully. They are so afraid of failing that they seldom try anything new. If we are not free to stumble in the learning process, we will never try anything new. We will stay with the "safe" old habits and traditions. When we believe a doctrine of salvation by works, our attention is on ourselves and we will compare our works with those of others. Paul described those who practiced this as unwise.
2 COR 10:12,17-18, "For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding .... But he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord. For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends."
Jesus is not comparing us to others and He wants us to concentrate on what He wants us to do - not on whether we are better or worse than someone else. We are to be dead to the desires to please ourselves, or to compete with others. We are to be alive to the guidance of Christ. When we compete with others, we desire their failure; but we are to work for the edification of others - not their downfall. Paul wrote about those who were still subject to laws instead of to Christ.
COL 2:20-23, "If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using) - in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence."
As it says, those laws did not eliminate fleshly indulgence. They only served to give our pride a boost and help us feel we have "earned" God's help. In fact, many demand God's help in payment for their works. Far too many Christians have their eyes on their desires and not on God. Paul goes on to address this.
COL 3:1-5, "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."
When we look to our works for part of our salvation, we are looking at ourselves and not at Christ. We are told in the scripture to keep our eyes on Him - not on ourselves. This is a result of Grace. When salvation is received as a free gift, our attention is on the Giver. Our desire is to please the Giver, whether or not it feels comfortable to us. When salvation is accepted as a reward our eyes are on ourselves. We will do what we "feel" is right. But when we do anything new it feels uncomfortable for a while. Our feelings are determined by the habits we have formed, not by what is right or wrong. In Old Testament times, people were under a doctrine of salvation by works and law. We can see this resulted in a people who hated everyone who was not with them and who were constantly fighting among themselves. On the other hand, in New Testament times, after Christ brought Grace and Truth, the believers first went into "all the world." This is true today also. Churches that still preach a doctrine of salvation by works and judge one another by some set of laws fight among themselves and seldom help anyone who is not a member of their church. While churches who preach a doctrine of salvation by grace, spend their time, talent, and money helping people in their communities and in other countries. I emphasize - preaching grace results in people sharing that grace with others and doing good works. While preaching salvation by works and law results in judgment of others and almost a complete lack of really doing anything. The result does not depend on what law they preach. Some preach Old Testament laws once required by God. Others preach a set of laws from a church discipline. Others preach a set of unwritten laws made up of their tradition. Much of their arguing is about which law to preach. But the Bible teaches it is not possible for any law to take away sin and that Christ was the end of using law to determine righteousness.
GAL 3:21, "...if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law."
ROM 10:3-4, "For not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
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