So this is one of the biggest differences between the different Christian denominations.
Are we saved through Works or Faith or a combination?
Disclaimer: To be upfront with you as I always promise to be, I believe we are saved by Faith only, in Christ Jesus. That locks in our eternal salvation through God’s grace and that works follow later out of gratitude and to store up treasures in heaven. Keep reading to find out why I believe this through exploring God’s word on the subject.
Ok back to the article, we see this very topic discussed in Matthew 7 (one of my favorite chapters). Jesus had just gotten finished talking about how we will know a person or entity by their fruit, a good tree produces good fruit. He then transitions into the passage below, titled “I Never Knew You”:
Matthew 7:21-23
New King James Version (NKJV)
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
So who shall enter the kingdom of heaven?
“…he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” So to do something means we do have “works” as a requirement? Not exactly.
Not just any works in His name (like miracles and driving out demons, you know small stuff) but specifically the will of God.
So what is the “will of God” and how do we do it?
I believe John sums it up best in John 6:28-29:
John 6:28-29
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
The work of God is to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. (Whew! No miracles or Demons needed.)
So we come back to the faith thing…
Christ’s work on the cross was complete!
We must have faith and accept God’s gift of salvation. Just like Ephesians 2:8-9 states:
Ephesians 2:8-9
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
God’s word is amazing and is inerrant.
Maranatha – Lord come quickly!
-myblessedhope
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Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.
In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile. He writes:
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5
What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law. But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9
Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved. It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.
