Faith Alone part 2.

There has been much contorversy of the role of faith & works in Christendom (Christendom means all forms of religion that claim to believe in Christ- meaning Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, etc.). Last time I began to address this when I started quoting Romans 4. I will continue to dialogue with you about that passage.

But first I need to say a couple of things. 1) Jesus said that salvation was like having the simple childlike faith of a child. Many times in The Gospels He would say, "Unless you become like little children you cannot enter The Kingdom of Heaven" (you check it out -& look it up - it's repeated many times in all the Gospels). If it is SO complex then children could not be saved. But THE expert and final authority is not Luther, Augustine, or Bishops, or Popes. The final authority is Jesus whom Protestants, Catholics, and Greek Orthodox claim is God - He has the final word. So what did Jesus say?

He had the perfect opportunity when someone asked Him, "'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? (i.e. to get eternal life or be saved'")(Jn 6:28) NKJV1. The NET tranlsated this “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?”2 So right here it is. If salvation was thru any works or faith plus any certain works, then Jesus THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF OUR FAITH, THE PERSON WHOM CHISTIANITY IS BUILT UPON had the answer.

So what is His answer? He replies, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Who He has sent"NKJV. NET tranlates it, "29 Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires—to believe in the one whom he sent.” NET Bible. (Jn 6:29). 3

In context the "Him" that Jesus is talking about is Himself....i.e. to trust Jesus for eternal life and salvation. He did not say "believe and do the sacraments, or believe and tithe, or believe and do good works or believe and ____ (insert any works of your choice. " If you believe Jesus is our Master then you MUST take HIS word. He has the final say.

St. Paul is considered by both catholics and protestants (and orthodox) to be writing the New Testament as one writing Canon, that is the very word of God. What does he say? In Acts 16:13 a man about to commit suicide very plainly asks, "Sirs what must I do to be saved?" Very straightforward and clear. Paul's reply is short and to the point to avoid confusion. What does he say, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved?" Folks it's right there. It does not get any more simple than that.

Let's look again at Romans 4. But first let me say works are important! We should obey God. But the only works God accepts is after we are saved. We are not saved by faith + works. We are saved by faith alone. However ...a true saving faith will produce good works. Because we are changed immediately when we believe then we are given a brand new nature (this is called being born again, also referred to in Titus 4 as "regeneration." - by the way that word was not invented by Luther.) In Ephesians it says we are "saved by grace thru faith" and "not by works." (Eph 2:8,9) However 2 verses later is says, "we were made(i.e. born again) in Christ Jesus to do good works." So God re-creates us and fashions us to be able to do truly good works that please Him (and not just religious works to try to earn our salvation).

Although works are important once we are saved, they have nothing to do with our initial conversion. Paul says in Romans 4 that works do not play any role in salvation. In fact he says plainly that in order to be justified you must put aside your works and trust alone in God, "Romans 4:5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. "

Notice Paul says that when we are believing for salvation we must NOT trust in our works we must be a person who "does not work ." Folks that is scripture and if you are catholic or protestant you MUST believe it because you claim to believe that The Bible is God's Word!
He goes on to say that it is the man "who does not work but trusts God". He specifically says "who trusts God Who justifies the wicked."

It is an act by God alone. He turns wicked people into just and righteous "new creatures" (2 Corinthians)...but first He gives us another person's righteousness.....the very Righteousness of Jesus Christ "He made Jesus Who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf the we might become the righteousness of God in Him." WOW that is powerful.

Paul continues to say in verse 6 that "Ro 4:6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works". Did you see that God credits him righteousness apart from works." He goes on to say "
Ro 4:7 "Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Ro 4:8 Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him." "

We are forgiven and justified thru Christ. He lived a perfect life "the righteousness of God (remember)." He also totally took all of our judgement on the cross ("He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us"). It is the great exchange!!! Jesus takes away our sinfulness and gives us His own perfect righteousness. We did not earn the righteousness and He certainly did not earn our sinfulness. It is a transference just like when the Jews would place their hands on the scapegoat to "transfer their sins to the sacrifice....the atonement" and the goat would be cast out and sacrificed.

Now I know that some people believe that the book of James creates a problem. I will deal with that later but for now just let me say something. The Bible does not contradict itself!!! It say 100 times in John's Gospel that if we "believe we will have eternal life." 100 times!! I have hand counted it. So when the Bible consistently teaches one thing but we think we find a place where it contradicts....the problem is with our understanding but NOT the Bible.

Scipture plainly says over 150-170 times in some form or fashion that "we saved by grace through faith and not by works." Ephesians 2:8,9. What a free and wonderful gift. It is so wonderful that once we are forgiven we serve out of a love and thankfulness towards God and not trying to earn His love. We become born again the moment we trust and then ...then we start doing good works thru Christ as a "branch draws life from the Vine." Christ said "I am the Vine and you are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing (we can do no works that are pleasing to God except thru Him)".

That's all for now. Till next time. GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU!!!!
Steve J
1The New King James Version. (Jn 6:28).
2 Biblical Studies Press. (2003; 2003). The NET Bible (Noteless); ibid.
3.Biblical Studies Press. (2003; 2003). The NET Bible (Noteless) Jn 6:29