Dear Pastor:
If we say that 'works' do not save us, why then do we say that we have to be obedient to God or we will be lost?
Dear Reader,
This is a very neat question that needs to be answered carefully. In a previous article on salvation and works I made it plain that salvation or the gift of salvation is only because of what Jesus did for us. No amount of working or effort can put us in good standing before God. Ephesians 2:8, 9 say: "For by grace are you saved, through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast." Here Paul tells us that our salvation is due to the gift of God through Christ which we accept by faith. If we were saved according to our works then those who worked more might ask for more recognition; one can easily find oneself doing things in order to be on the right or good side of God. This is why the Catholic church has introduced penance, so the erring believer can atone for his actions by his works of penance. When this is done the emphasis is placed on the actions of mankind to atone for one's sins and not on the merits of Christ's sacrifice for us; or the merits of his sacrificed are watered down by our part, our works, hoping that through our actions we can put ourselves in good standing with God. Paul objects to that very forcefully as we have read. Since our heart is affected by sin that means our own righteousness or efforts can never be righteous. Sin has corrupted us all, and only God through Christ can correct that situation, and not anything we can do.
Is Paul saying that works of obedience are not necessary? No. He goes on to say in verse 10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." What Paul is saying in these verses is, since it is impossible for our good works to save us because of what sin has done to us, God sending his son in human flesh paid the penalty of disobedience for us, and has granted us the ability through the Holy spirit to live a life of obedience, providing we accept this offer of free salvation with no strings attached. Paul underscores this line of reasoning when he says in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." And again in Romans 1:5 Paul says that we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name.
What all of this means is that, our works are not to save us (which they cannot possibly do, only Christ can), and they are not to put us in good standing with God (since our works can be good while our motives evil). Our works are simply because God has opened within us, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a love for him and a desire to serve him. If on the other hand, we do not produce good works or be obedient to his requirements then this is evidence that we have not accepted his offer of pardon and forgiveness. It means that we do not fully understand his free gift of saving us. Whoever accepts God's offer of pardon through Christ will of necessity receive his Holy Spirit who will cleanse us and cause us to produce good works. It cannot be any different. Refusal to produce good works is an indication of not walking in the Spirit, but of walking in the flesh; and this is a sign of rejection of God's free pardon through Christ. Paul assures us in 2 Cor. 5:17 that, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, for the old things have passed away. Our good works, while they are necessary, are a sign that Christ is dwelling us through the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised us in John 14:17.
So my friends, it is because God loved us that he gave us his Son for keeps. It is through the sacrifice of Jesus that we are delivered from sin and its corruption; and being delivered from sin and its corruption we become new beings in Him and we do the good works of obedience through his Holy Spirit dwelling in us; without his Holy Spirit dwelling us we can do nothing, as Jesus said, without me you can do nothing, John 15:5. And we know that Jesus dwells in us through his Holy Spirit. May God bless us as we seek to understand the relationship between our acts of loving obedience to God and the free gift of salvation.
Selections from the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan/6
"What The Bible Says About" Series/5
Email: postmaster@silverliningministry.com