Can one who works for their salvation still be saved – in spite of their works? Let’s take a look at three very important verses in this discussion:
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
These verses in Ephesians 2 leave no doubt that we are saved by grace through faith – that salvation is not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Romans 4:2-6
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
Here’s that word boast again. If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about (among men). The Scripture is clear, he was not justified by works and the implication is no one has anything to boast about in regards to salvation. Romans 4 says “Abraham believed God” but this differs slightly from the verse in Genesis, take a look:
Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Notice: Abraham believed in the Lord. I think this is very telling, more than that – I would leave open that the LORD is the Lord Jesus Christ by way of special revelation. The Word is, of course, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is the perfect place - if salvation is trusting in Jesus Christ for eternal life and not trusting at all in works - to make it clear.
However, it simply says “to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt”- it simply says that works do not produce grace and therefore not part of the salvation equation. Verse 5 goes on to say “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” – so someone who does no work but simply believes in the Lord (as Abraham did in Genesis 1) – is saved by faith.
It would be odd not to say “But to him who does not believe in his work” if that is indeed the case, since this is the perfect time to make it crystal clear. My summation is this – if God doesn’t say it why should we? God simply says salvation is by grace through faith – through belief in Him (the Lord, Jesus Christ) who justifies the ungodly. Any man who believes in the Lord, the one true God, Jesus Christ – has faith and that faith is accounted to him for righteousness (just as it was Abraham).
Galatians 2:16
16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
This verse says that man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.
It DOES NOT say that man is not justified because he has faith in the works of the law.
Again, this is the perfect opportunity to make it crystal clear by saying that man cannot have faith in the works of the law to be justified and faith in Jesus Christ to be justified.
If belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God is believing in the one true God it harmonizes with these passages. If belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God is believing He is the guarantor of eternal life - then you must read between the lines of these passages and import your soteriological view into the text, making it say what it does not CLEARLY say.
Being all Scripture is God breathed – I do believe it is crystal clear. Though man may have faith in his works for justification – those works do not justify him – but if the man who has faith in his works for justification AND faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God – his faith in Jesus Christ has produced justification, is accounted as righteousness - saved him, not the works of the law, for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified! Just faith has saved him - his works were all for naught, the filthy rags we know them to be.
15 comments:
The Catholic Church "affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation (emphasis theirs). They claim "Sacramental grace" in order to try to obfuscate the fact that they're actually substituting submission to the Catholic Church for submission to God.
Here's a link to the Catechism's word on this.
Ask any "good Catholic" and they will disagree... demonstrating a woeful lack of knowledge in the Roman church. People just go along with the tradition, unaware that it's marching them straight to hell.
Cf
Clint -
Thanks for the info - I have read and re-read the Catechism numerous times. There is much to object and much that contradicts.
That being said - I don't see where we are called to submit to God for eternal life. The act of submission to Allah is foundational to Islam and produces a "works righteousness" theology. God has put all things under Jesus Christ, and by faith in Him we are saved.
I would say the Catholic Catechism (and tradition) most definitely usurps Biblical authority and that is the danger. Many are being led to believe in Mary as co-mediatrix - probably the most dangerous of all Catholic dogma's (sounds as if it could soon be doctrine!) - at that point, Mary can be elevated to co-Savior - co-God, and can rob the earnest seeker of belief in the one true God.
While Catholicism holds to there being no salvation outside the Church - it also teaches that Judaism and Islam adherents can be saved because they worship the God of Abraham! The glaring error is that to deny Jesus is THE Christ, THE Son of God - is to deny THE one true God - the one true God that Abraham believed in and was accounted righteous.
I appreciate you brother!
In Christ,
JL
Don't take my term "submission to God" too literally; basically I mean going along with God's plan, ie the gospel. In order to follow Catholic instruction you have to disregard God's word. That's all I'm saying. I'm not throwing out a new doctrine or anything :-)
A footnote:
The Catholic church teaching on "no salvation outside the Church" is much more in depth than what it may seem.
I don't want to get into "Catholic's believe" - I can't speak for any individual Catholic and understand many of them to believe in the one true God - Jesus Christ.
The teachings of the Church, however, I hold as suspect.
I firmly believe that we do not honor the Lord Jesus Christ by tearing down and judging others who profess to believe in Him.
I do think that we should be able to air our concerns about another's system and authority without it being taken as a personal attack on anyone.
Clint's use of "good Catholic" and "woeful lack of knowledge" seems to be more personal in nature - verbiage that I am not comfortable with as I would rather the concern be focused on the system.
That being said, I truly do appreciate you Clint - I know you as a brother in Christ and I rejoice in that.
Clint -
Thanks for the clarification. You having come out of the system in question know it far better than most.
In Christ,
JL
Actually "good Catholic" is not something I've coined. But what does it mean to be a "good Catholic" in the first place? If you asked a pool of people you'd hardly get two identical answers, except that they'd all center around keeping church tradition. There's very little widespread knowledge of Catholic dogma.
I grew up in the Jesuit tradition. I was a faithful altar boy, attended private Catholic school with nuns teaching and uniforms and all that. I went through every Sacrament when I was able, and really thought I was on track. I was, for many years, a "good Catholic."
The "woeful lack of knowledge" is exactly what I felt burdened with once my eyes were opened to the gospel. Not just the lack of knowledge, though; a lack of knowledge of the Catechism, although I thought I was pretty sharp, because I had never viewed it through the filter of sound Bible doctrine. That is the state that I feel most (NOT all) Catholics are in these days, and it is a woeful state indeed. By the grace of God I'm no longer in such a state, and I'm saddened that so many are still likewise deceived.
Clint -
Thanks for sharing more of your story - I think it is extremely helpful!
I have a friend who recently converted to Catholicism and I don't thing he would feel a "woeful lack of knowledge" but more of a sense of fullness in the Catholic church.
I doubt that he has worked out the contradictions between the Catechism, all the council decrees (especially Trent), the papal encyclicals and "sacred tradation" yet - let alone the contradictions with the Word - and I'm guessing he won't ever feel the need to since it is a huge undertaking and he's already been through a lot. Also, I think he has found a system that allows him to "rest" and not do the tedious work of exposition.
Many converts to the RCC share a similar story - they are fed up with all the different views held in protestantism. One more reason to keep the main thing the main thing.
If there is one thing I'm thankful for in the RCC it's the "cafeteria Catholics"!
In Christ,
JL
How one could find fullness in a system that disregards the Bible and contradicts itself, I don't know. God is not the author of confusion.
As for the different views in protestantism, I think those are again largely due to not taking the Bible seriously. Start injecting man's opinions into everything or giving a lexicon more authority than the scriptures and you've taken your first step in the wrong direction. Next thing you know there are all kinds of wacky doctrines running about.
Clint -
I agree. However, How can one find fullness in Calvinism, a system that disregards the Bible and contradicts itself?
In Christ,
JL
Amen to that, brutha! :-)
I think we need to make a distinction in faith that leads to works and working to be justified.
Abraham believed God and was justified, but he proved that he believed God by obeying him...This is also what James says, "If you say you have faith, good, let me show you my faith by my works"
It would appear that many within some Christian circles would say we don't have to do any good works to be saved and they would be right...But scripture also proves that if they don't do any good works then they are not truly saved, and their faith is useless, for God has already ordained good works for us to do.
P.S Jon, I linked your blog to my site.I have enjoyed what I have been reading so far.
Craig -
I would say a "useless" faith is only useless in regards to justification before man. I would be in one of those Christian circles that would contend faith alone, separate from works, saves and that the Christian may not live a very good life - in fact may have no visible works - yet can rest on the promise of God. Works are an issue of reward not of "proving" ones salvation. There is no question that we are created for good works - but the whole thing gets pretty subjective. How much good must you do, how many works must you perform before you are assured of your salvation?
Thanks for stopping by Craig!
In Christ,
JL
Jon,
I would say the works we will be judged on will be on that of love. How much did we love....for the fruit of the spirit is Love...
Craig -
We are pretty much on the same page - I would say there is more to the fruit of the Spirit than Love and that evangelism is part of Love. I agree, we will be judged on works - that which we do of our own selfish accord will be burned up - that which we do through the Spirit will be rewarded.
Totally agree with your comment Jon.
I look forward to continue to interact with your posts.
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