Bible Question (short): Considering grace. |
Question (full): Considering grace. A challenge to the forum. Traditionally, Christian churches have believed that salvation comes through the grace of God but that God expects us to demonstrate our faith by performing good works, including baptism. The confusion over grace results principally from the writings of the apostle Paul. But if Paul really taught that grace alone was sufficient for salvation, we must consider a number of questions: Why did Paul write so often to Christian congregations admonishing them to abandon their sinful ways? Why did Paul have to tell believing Christians that those who committed various sins could not be saved in the kingdom of God?12 Why did Paul teach that Christ is "the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe?"13 Why did Paul say that "godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation?"14 Why did Paul tell the Philippians to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling?"15 When discussing "the grace of God that bringeth salvation," why does Paul say that it teaches "that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world?"16 Why does the epistle to the Hebrews say that Jesus was "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him?"17 12 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-5. 13 1 Timothy 4:10. 14 2 Corinthians 7:10. 15 Philippians 2:13. 16 Titus 2:11-12. 17 Hebrews 5:9. Each of these passages suggests that grace alone is not sufficient for salvation. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."Romans 10:9-10 From this passage, it is clear that grace alone is insufficient and that it must be coupled at least with faith and with one act, confession. In several of his epistles, Paul wrote that salvation came by grace, not works. For example, he wrote of Christ "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."He told the Romans that "if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." He asked his readers, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Was Paul teaching that good works were not the basis of salvation? If so, how are we to understand passages like Revelation 20:12-13, which say that God will judge men "according to their works"? The answer lies within Paul's epistles to the Romans and the Galatians, in which he clearly explained what he means by "works." He declared that "Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone."He also wrote, We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 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 2:15-16. He did not teach that good works in general were not necessary for salvation, only that the law of Moses "was added because of transgressions...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. Christ taught that it was necessary to keep the commandments, both in reality and in thought, in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:19-28. When the rich young man came to Jesus asking how he could gain eternal life, Jesus began by telling him to keep the ten commandments, then added that he should give his wealth to the poor and follow him.Matthew 19:16-22 He required his disciples to follow his teachings and commandments and said that they would be rejected at the judgment day if they did not do so. |