Some thoughts to consider on works

If you are saved by the gospel you rest, it is those who are still trying to gain God’s favor that are compelled, required to work for their salvation. So the gospel which is of grace needs to be explained to those who are in these other religious systems that practice what the Bible denies.

Over and over the Bible makes the point there is nothing in man or anything man can do to inherit salvation. Its origin is found in God who saves us through Christs work.

Gal. 3:22: “ that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe .” Not to those who work but have faith.

Gal.5:4 “ You who would be justified by the law (obedience and works) you have fallen away from grace .”

Phil. 3:9: “ And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law (by works), but that through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

Rom.4:4 “ Now to him that works the wages are not counted as grace, but as debt. 5: But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. ”

If you work for salvation God calls it a debt, grace came through Jesus Christ and what he did, he is the initiator and we are the responder by faith.

Paul further states in Rom.11:6 of works and grace.

“ And if by grace then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. but if it is by works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work .”

Salvation is either works or grace (through faith), it can't be both. One is freely given, the other is earned. These are two different ways, two completely different systems. We are told to believe on him who was sent to be the lamb of God.

The Savior is a person; God in the flesh, it is His work that one must believe in, in order to be justified (legally declared righteous before God, which results in receiving the Spirit of life).

We are NOT justified before God from the works WE DO, God requires faith. A trust in what he sent His Son to do. He made simple and the same for all. Men complicate it be adding our works to Gods work by the crucifixion. In doing this they nullify the gospel of grace. Instead of Jesus being the focus, your works, what you do is the focus and the savior. If you really know yourself and are honest you should be able to admit that depending on your work is clearly insufficient and utterly foolish to believe this instead of the gospel.