--------------------
The Gospel Observer

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
--------------------
October 3, 2010
--------------------

Contents:

1) Works (Tom Edwards)
2) Religious Freedom (Philip Mullins)
--------------------


-1-

Works
by Tom Edwards

Many religious people today, of various denominations, hold to the belief that salvation is entirely up to God; and to, therefore, try to do anything to be saved would nullify the grace of God.  For in their thinking, to do anything would be to try to save yourself by "works."  It is, therefore, because of this false notion that many people reject water baptism for the remission of sins -- even though the need for it is clearly taught in the Scriptures (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; 1 Pet. 3:21, and elsewhere).  

As we also saw, in last week's article ("Faith -- As Seen in the Bible" -- http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards15/go/go100926.html), faith must be coupled with obedience in order to become a valid faith by which one can be saved.  So that also establishes the fact that there are some "works" that are necessary.  

We need to point out, though, that the term "works" (or the idea of it) is not always referring to the same thing in the Scriptures.  For example, when Paul states in Galatians 2:16, "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus...since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified," what "works" is he talking about?     He calls it "the works of the Law," and he is referring to the Law of Moses.   

Paul is emphasizing this because of the wrong belief  that the Judaizers were teaching: that Christians must keep the Law of Moses, along with the gospel of Christ, in order to be saved (Acts 15:1,5). This was one of the false teachings during the time of the early church -- and that's why we often see, in the Scriptures, faith (the gospel) in contrast to works (the law of Moses). For notice how detrimental to their faith this false belief was, according to Galatians 5:4: "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace."  

So the "works of the Law" that Paul is referring to in these verses is the Law of Moses, which was abolished by the Lord's death at Calvary.  For it was by His death that He did away with the Old Covenant and established the New Covenant (Col. 2:14; Heb. 10:9).  

This, however, does not mean that a person today is not saved by any kind of law nor by any kind of work -- which would necessitate obedience.  For notice that in 1 Corinthians 9:21,  Paul refers to himself as "...not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ...."

This "law of Christ" is the gospel, and James refers to it as being "the perfect law, the law of liberty"; and he shows in that verse that the "...one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does" (Jms. 1:25).  This is why he also exhorts Christians, a few verses earlier, to "...prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves" (v. 22).

Consider also Romans 6:16-18: "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, YOU BECAME OBEDIENT FROM THE HEART TO THAT FORM OF TEACHING to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness" (emphasis mine).  

That "form of teaching" they became obedient to is the gospel, which  involves much more than just believing that Jesus is Lord -- for even the demons do that (Jms.  2:19,20).  But unlike the demons who believe, faithful Christians are those who have submitted to God's commands and continue to abide in them (Rev. 2:10).  

I often like to think of a statement that a friend of mine, Chuck Bartlett, made some time back, along this line.  He said, "Just because I believe in Satan, it doesn't make me a follower; the same is true with Christ." Chuck is showing that just because a person believes in the existence of Satan (which we all should) doesn't make that person a follower of Satan. And on that same principle, neither does merely a mental acceptance of the reality of Jesus make a person a devoted follower of the Lord.  For only faith coupled with obedience to God's word can do that.  

In addition, when people make the blanket statement that we are not saved by any kind of works, look at the position they put themselves in, in light of John 6:28,29: "They said therefore to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?'  Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.'"

To say, therefore, that we are to avoid "work" of any kind (in regard to salvation) is to say we should not even believe in Jesus!  But how wrong that would be (cf. John 8:24).  

So even believing itself is a work, and that is understandable in view of Romans 10:17.    For "...faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."  It takes work to hear the word of God -- regardless of whatever method we use to learn it.  I once told the brethren, during an evening service, that if they didn't believe that hearing God's word was a work, then I'd just keep preaching until midnight -- or until they changed their mind.  

Let it also be pointed out, however, that there are a couple senses in which we are not saved by works:

First, we cannot simply make up our own works, as in our own man-made plan of salvation, by which to try to justify ourselves.  Paul, for instance, spoke of those Jews who had a great zeal for God, but they were ignorant of "God's righteousness" (the Lord's gospel plan of salvation); and, therefore, they sought "to establish their own" (Rom. 10:1-3).  As a result, they were still lost in their sins -- and even though they were enthusiastic toward serving God (though wrongfully in their own way).  

And, secondly, even after a person submits to God's plan of redemption, salvation is still not earned nor merited.  Rather, it is by God's grace and mercy, after having met the proper conditions. This often reminds me of what the Lord states in Luke 17:10:  "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'"  

So in summing it up, there are some works by which we cannot be saved (as we saw with regard to the Law of Moses and with a man-made plan of salvation).  We also noted that even after doing the things (the works) that God requires of us to be saved, we are not saved by those works in a meritorious sense.  For salvation could never be earned nor deserved by us.  It will always require God's grace and mercy, regardless of how much we do in our service to the Lord.  And in this latter point, we also realize that there are those works that must be done -- such as the initial steps in becoming a Christian that involves hearing the word (Rom. 10:17), believing in Jesus (John 8:24), repenting of sin (Luke 13:5), confessing our faith in Jesus (Rom. 10:9,10), and being baptized in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) -- in order that we can benefit from Christ's sacrifice and, thus, have our sins blotted out and become a Christian.  

In addition, as children of God, we must strive to maintain that right relationship with the Lord in order that we might continue to have Christ's atonement applied to our lives.  As John writes in 1 John 1:6,7, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

When Robert Turner was returning home from a gospel meeting, one of the other passengers found out that brother Turner was a member of the church of Christ.  He then said something like, "Oh, you are one of those who believe you need to work out your own salvation."  And Robert responded by saying, "You  mean 'with fear and trembling?'" -- in which he was making an allusion to Philippians 2:12.  This verse states, "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling...."

Here, as well as elsewhere in the Scriptures, the need for faithful service unto God is clearly expressed.  

Therefore, let those of us who are Christians continue in those works that make our faith an obedient faith and one that is complete (James 2:20-26).  For then it truly will be the faith by which we can be saved -- a faith that is characterized, and made alive, by the works of righteousness that God has commanded and, by which, He will also be pleased in our submission to and will honor us for having done so (cf. John 12:26). 
--------------------


-2-

Religious Freedom
by Philip Mullins

Worshiping God however we would like to worship Him sounds like real freedom to man. Yet, the Bible calls it something different. In quoting from the Old Testament, Jesus Christ said of some of His Jewish brethren, "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:6-7).  

Man has always sought to replace God's will for worship with his own ideas and agenda. The Scriptures refer to this as "vain worship."

Here is an important question for us all to consider on the matter of worship -- Who is it for? If it is for God whom we are seeking to honor, shouldn't we worship the way that He wants us to, the way that is revealed in the Bible? Yet, if we are trying to please ourselves, then by all means we should tailor our religion to suit our personal tastes. The problem with this is that God is the one who deserves our praise. Romans chapter 1 condemns people who worship and serve "the creature rather than the Creator" (vs. 25).  

Freedom comes not by doing our will, but the will of our God. When we worship our way, we sin, Sin enslaves; it never liberates.  

-- Via The Beacon, September 21, 2010
--------------------


The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17;  John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
--------------------

CHURCH OF CHRIST
201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn), Denham Springs, Louisiana 70726
Sunday services: 9:15 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 4 PM (worship)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
tedwards@onemain.com
tedwards1109@gmail.com
http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go (Gospel Observer website)
http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/audioser.html (audio sermons)

Directions:

Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off of I-12.  At the end of the exit ramp, turn north.  Go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road.  (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas stations; with each on each corner.)  Turn left on Rushing Road, and go a little less than 0.3 of a mile.  Hampton Inn will be on the right.  We assemble in its "Meeting Room," which is very close to the reception counter.  Just walk pass the check-in counter; turn right at the hall.  The first and second doors on the left lead to where we meet.