____________________________________________________ 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" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ March 22, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Saved By Works? by Tom Edwards Much disagreement exists today over the role that works play or do not play in one's salvation. Many contend that there is nothing one must DO in order to be saved, except ``believe''; while others insist that one can gain salvation by a life that is characterized with many good deeds. As we shall see, however, the truth of the matter, as the old cliche goes, lies somewhere in between. Let us investigate God's word for His answer. Before we answer this question, we must be sure that we thoroughly understand it. If the inquirer is asking whether one can be saved by works in a meritorious sense then we must answer with a categorical ``no,'' because salvation can never be earned or merited by anything we do. But if the inquirer is implying that any type of ``work'' would be non-essential to one's salvation, we would have to disagree--for there are certain things one must DO in order to be saved. I believe this wide divergence in man's view toward works is due to a misinterpretation and a misunderstanding of God's word. Much is said in the Scriptures that tend to show a contrast between faith and works. The book of Romans for example reiterates the principle that man is not saved by works, but rather through faith. James, on the other hand, seems to be teaching a doctrine to the contrary when he says in James 2:24 that a man is ``justified by works, and not by faith alone.'' How do we reconcile these two seemingly conflicting ideas? We must first realize what ``works'' Paul is speaking of as in contrast to that which James is alluding to. Obviously, these two thoughts must either harmonize with God's word or the Bible contains a false teaching. In the early church there were many Judaizers who felt that the Law of Moses was still in effect and had to be kept along with the gospel of Christ in order for one to be saved (Acts 15:1,5). Christ, however, nailed the Old Law to the cross (Col. 2:14), thus doing away with it; and by His death, He established the New Covenant for our times. The Bible refers to the Old Covenant (or the Law of Moses) as being a system of ``works'' (Gal. 2:16). The futility of trying to be saved by this is seen in various places throughout the Scriptures. For example, Paul taught in Galatians 5:4, ``You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.'' No one could be saved merely on the basis of keeping the Law for it could not atone for the sins one had already committed, and if righteousness could have been obtained by it, then ``Christ died needlessly'' (Gal. 2:21). Consider also these following verses: ROM 3:20, ``because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.'' ROM 3:28, ``For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.'' GAL 2:16, ``nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.'' Conclusively, these passages show that man could not be saved by merely keeping the Law of Moses--and let us be sure we are not applying this to the Law of Christ as seen in the gospel. When we learn in the New Testament that the alien sinner must believe, repent, and be baptized in order to become a Christian, this is NOT the Law of Moses; and man must, therefore, subject himself to these laws of the gospel if he wants to be saved. Furthermore, believing is not only a law, it is also a work, according to Jesus (Jn. 6:29). I have no trouble accepting this, for I know that ``faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God'' (Rom. 10:17). It requires EFFORT to acquire faith, and though you might not want to admit it, anything that requires effort is a work. By this, as well as other passages, I know that there are certain ``works'' we must do to be saved. The gospel itself is sometimes referred to as the ``faith'' (Jude 3; Acts 6:7), and, as we have seen, the Law of Moses is spoken of as ``works.'' To be saved by faith, one must hear, believe, and obey the gospel; and to be ``obedient to the faith,'' therefore, is synonymous with obeying the gospel--which is more than a mere ``mental ascent'' toward Christ's deity. Repentance also involves the need for one to do something--to turn from sin and to turn in a new direction toward God. This turning unto the Lord might require a great sacrifice on the part of the one so doing. It might mean giving up a lucrative career, dissolving an unscriptural marriage, or making other dramatic changes in one's lifestyle. As John had told the people of his day, ``Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance'' (Matt. 3:8). And the apostle Paul said likewise in Acts 26:20, while relating his mission to King Agrippa, that he had been instructing others to ``repent and turn to God, PERFORMING DEEDS appropriate to repentance.'' ``Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven'' (Matt. 7:21). God's will for the alien sinner to become a Christian is more than to merely ``believe'' in the deity of Jesus and to confess Him as ``Lord.'' One must also submit to the full gospel plan of salvation, which includes repentance, baptism, and being faithful unto death. But let it be noted that even after one has done everything which God has asked him to do, and continues doing those ``works of righteousness'' throughout life, salvation is still on the basis of God's mercy and grace and not on the basis of human merit. Jesus teaches this in Luke 17:10 by saying, ``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.''' It seems so irrational for one to think that we in the church of Christ believe that we have ``earned'' our salvation by works because we teach--what the Bible teaches--that one must be baptized in order to be saved (along with have faith and repent). How in the world can anyone think that one could actually feel that he earned everlasting life in heaven by simply being dunked in some water? I do not feel that I have earned the remission of sins by being baptized, any more than I have earned it by believing in the deity of Christ and the gospel (which came through reading/hearing the word); what I had to DO to have my sins forgiven is quite small in contrast to what Jesus had to do to make it possible that they could be, and in no way do I feel entitled toward God's forgiveness on the mere basis of my own personal accomplishments. Are we saved by works? Not in a meritorious sense, but that still doesn't mean that there are not certain things that one must do in order to be saved. As we have considered the Bible passages in this lesson, there are works of righteousness that we must do in order to be forgiven of our sins and to become Christians by God's grace. And in view of this, we can understand why James teaches that ``faith without works is dead.'' How is your faith today? Has it motivated you into obeying the Lord? If not, your faith is in vain (1 Cor. 15:1,2). Remember, we must each not only believe, but also obey (Heb. 5:9). Let us do this today and throughout our lives, for salvation is based on not only what we believe, but also on what we do--there must be the proper conjoining of these two and for each to be harmonious with the word of the Lord. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________