Does your church teach salvation is earned by works?

You may be surprised to learn that many churches teach salvation is earned by good works. Others teach salvation is a free gift that we accept by faith. But what says the Scripture? Before we dive into this compelling subject, allow me to lay down a few basic rules of biblical interpretation.

First, context is key to correct interpretation. If you remove a verse from its context, you can “prove” anything! For example, in Psalm 146:3 KJV, we find this admonition: “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom is no help.” The Bible says here to not put my trust in the son of man. That’s pretty clear, right? Then we go to Matthew 8:20, which states, “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” From these two verses, it’s possible to say we should not put our trust in Jesus. Why not? Because he is the son of man and the Bible says to not put your trust in the son of man.

That’s a simplistic and silly example, but it shows how the truth of God can be distorted when we ignore context and cherry-pick whatever verses we need to prove our point. In the above example, isn’t my argument sound, my position logical? Consider it again. The Bible says to not put my trust in the son of man, Jesus called himself the Son of man, therefore, I must not put my trust in Jesus. Furthermore, why should I trust Jesus when he doesn’t even have a place to lay his head? When we “force” verses together, that should not be together, we distort the truth of God. Likewise, when we jumble theological concepts together, such as justification and sanctification, without making the proper distinctions, we distort the truth of God.

“He who distinguishes well, thinks well” is a motto that is very relevant when examining the Scriptures. Second Peter 3:16 tells us that Paul’s writings are in accordance to the wisdom given to him from God, “in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” Some theological concepts taught in the Bible are not easily understood at first glance. I appreciate that the Holy Spirit admits this. It is hard to understand how we are made righteous before God apart from the works of the law, but that is exactly what the Bible teaches in Romans 3:21-24. It is difficult to understand that, “not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us…that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5-7), but isn’t that exactly what the word says?

Our flesh recoils at the thought of justification by faith alone in Christ alone because our pride wants to contribute to our salvation. Jonathan Edwards, the anointed minister from America’s First Great Awakening, declared, “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” It’s human nature to believe we must earn our place in heaven. But God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts, and His ways are not like our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Therefore, as we seek to understand the ways of God, we must set aside our human impulses, put on our spiritual thinking caps, and ask the LORD to open our eyes and hearts that we may comprehend the wondrous truths in His word (Psa.119:18; Acts 16:14; Eph.1:15-18).

The second rule. The Bible does not contradict itself. The Bible is the inspired word of God. That being the case, God does not contradict himself in his word. Contradictions foster confusion, and God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). Many people are confused when the inspired writings of Paul are placed alongside the inspired writings of James. The apostle Paul states in Romans 4:5 KJV, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Paul states plainly that we are justified by faith and not by works. But the apostle James writes, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” and “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:21,24 KJV).

On the surface, Paul and James appear to contradict each other. It seems one is teaching salvation by faith and the other is teaching salvation by faith plus works. Which is correct? Since the Bible does not contradict itself, whenever we run across verses that seem to clash with one another, it’s probably due to our lack of understanding what the verses truly mean. Because of this confusion, some have struck a compromise and concluded that both faith and works are necessary requirements of salvation. But doesn’t that make God contradict Himself?

The third rule is in the form of a question. When it comes to spiritual matters, is your final authority the Bible alone, or is it the Bible plus the writings of some latter-day prophet or denominational leader? I bring this up because many churches will claim the Bible is their final authority, but they also consider the writings of their latter-day prophet(s) to be just as authoritative as the Holy Bible. I need not call out any of these groups by name, but you know who you are.

Almost all the major cults that claim to be “Christian” fall into this error. They have their Bible (often a “Bible” that was translated and tweaked by their denominational leaders to support their unique doctrines), and they also have the writings of "prophetess so and so," which they consider to be just as inspired and authoritative as the writings of Holy Scripture. Many of these leaders used visions and dreams to support their false teaching because they couldn't justify their unique doctrines from any reliable translations of the Bible.

In the last book of the Bible, we find this warning. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18, 19). We find similar statements in the Old Testament. “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it” (Deut.12:32) and “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Pro.30:6). See also Galatians 1:6-9.

I believe the inspired Word of God was complete at the end of the first century (ca. A.D. 94-96) when the apostle John penned Revelation 22:21. Anything after that is suspect. Are you aware that several well-known denominations started in America during the 1800s? Some were founded by so-called “latter-day prophets” who claimed extra-biblical revelation. Many of these groups proclaimed to be the only true church on earth, and that all other denominations are the apostate church of Babylon. They established dietary laws, observed certain days, and some actually set specific dates for the physical return of Christ. Google “the great disappointment” for one example. And even though what they were espousing was often contrary to the Bible (please see Rom.14:3-6; Col.2:16-23; 1 Tim.4:1-5; Deut. 18:18-22), they controlled their gullible flock with visions and new revelations. Sadly, the words of men and women became the final authority instead of the word of God. The Bible was now being reinterpreted based on the current revelations of their leaders. And nearly all of these groups that started during this time frame have a “works-based” system of salvation, and they all use passages from James 2 as their go-to proof texts.

So, how are we to harmonize the teachings of Paul with that of James? Surely they must be harmonized because they can’t be contradictions. Let’s recap our three basic rules of biblical interpretation.

1. Context is key to correct interpretation. If you remove a verse from its context, you can “prove” anything!

2. The Bible does not contradict itself, because God is not the author of confusion.

3. Regarding spiritual matters, your final authority is the Bible alone; not the Bible plus the writings of a so-called prophet or denominational leader.

Before we explore the book of James, I will first establish the glorious truth that God’s salvation is a free gift that we accept by faith in the gospel message. Let’s consider the classic passage in Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV,

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Verses 4 and 5 say there was a time when we were dead in trespasses. Yet a merciful God, who loved us, made us alive in Christ by grace. We didn’t quicken ourselves. How could we, when we were dead in trespasses? What can a dead person do other than stay dead? According to the Bible, God did a soul-saving work in us. See Phil. 1:6 and 2:12-13, where we find another notable distinction. Paul said to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. He didn't say work for your own salvation.

Verses 6 and 7 states that God raised us up and made us sit together with Christ in the heavenlies, so that in the ages to come, God will show the riches of His grace and kindness toward those who believe.

The clear teaching in verses 8 and 9 is irrefutable. Read it out loud, if you like. It’s as clear as a bell! We are not saved by works. We don’t save ourselves via our good deeds or by keeping the laws of God; salvation is the gift of God. Verse 9 implies if our salvation was earned by our good works, we would have reason to boast. But there will be no such boasting in heaven! By grace through faith, we’re seated with Christ, that in the ages to come God will show forth His kindness and grace to those whom He made alive from spiritual death. God gets all the glory, not us. “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD” (1 Cor. 1:31).

No one will be running around heaven boasting about how they gave 100% - because ninety-nine and a half won’t do! No one can give 100%. Only one person who walked this earth gave 100%. All others fall short. “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8,9). You don’t get to heaven on your own merits. You will not be in Gloryland because your good deeds were judged to outweigh your bad deeds. That’s not how it works. If it did work that way, wouldn’t that be cause for boasting?

“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about … Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt” (Rom.4:2,4). This shows Abraham was not justified by works, but by grace through faith. If eternal life is earned by our own efforts, God would be obliged to grant salvation as a debt, with grace being completely left out of the equation. Salvation is either by grace or by works, but not both. King David said, “Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous” (Psalm 143:2). So, if no one living is righteous, how is one made righteous? See 2 Cor.5:21 for the answer.

Ephesians 2:10 tell us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” We are made alive in Christ for good works, not by good works. That’s a key distinction we must not overlook! There's a big difference between being saved for good works versus being saved by good works, wouldn’t you agree? Words are important, especially the inspired words of God. Syntax, or the arrangement of words, is equally important. The Bible states clearly that we are saved for good works, not by good works. However, it's important to point out that Scripture does teach our rewards in heaven will be based on our works, see 1 Cor. 3:10-15; but our admission into heaven is not of works, but by grace through faith.

Believers are called to be zealous of good works, Titus 2:14. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt.5:16). So, even though our good works won’t provide us with an admission ticket to heaven, they do have a purpose. Once we are saved, we’re zealous of good works because that reflects well on our heavenly Father. Good works glorify God, which opens up opportunities to witness for God. I believe we should always have an eye on the great commission when studying Scripture. The last thing Jesus shared with believers should permeate and flavor everything he shared:

"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen." ~ Matthew 28:16-20

Christians tend to forget two vital points. Number one: Jesus, our ultimate role model, was a humble person (Matthew 11:29). Number two: Jesus, our commander-in-chief, has given the church a mission to complete, which is to make disciples of all the nations. He calls us to be fishers of men. Our actions and our words should reflect the love and graciousness of our heavenly Father. If our faith does not manifest itself in good works, then something is wrong with our faith, for Jesus Christ is both our righteousness and our sanctification (1 Cor.1:30).

True faith will be accompanied by good works, by a yearning to grow into Christlikeness, and by a desire to see lost people saved. In other words, if our faith is real, we don’t just talk the talk, we also walk the walk. Please keep this in mind as you read the epistle of James. The book of James is very practical. It has been called the “Proverbs of the New Testament.” Some books in the Bible are heavy in doctrine, e.g., Romans, Ephesians, and Hebrews. Other books, like Proverbs and James, are heavy in application. As such, James exhorts believers to be doers of the word, and not just hearers (or talkers, or armchair theologians) only. Simply hearing (or talking about) the word of God without actually following the commands of God leads to unfruitfulness, stagnation, and charges of hypocrisy.

While Paul devotes large sections of his writings to the concepts of redemption, justification, and sanctification, James devotes only thirteen verses to the relationship between faith and works. And the way he introduces the topic is the key to understanding the entire passage. He starts off with, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” (Jas.2:14). It’s apparent that James is talking about the person who professes faith in Christ, but this same fellow has no works to validate his claim. None. Zilch. Nada. That’s the key to understanding this passage. The person is only claiming to have faith. James doesn’t say this person actually has faith. The verse doesn’t read “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone has faith but does not have works?” That’s not the scenario that’s being addressed in chapter 2, verses 14-26. James, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus Christ, is addressing the individual who says he has faith but is devoid of any external evidence of faith. This deceived person (Jas. 1:22) is talking the talk, but he’s not walking the walk. So the question now is, can mere claims of faith, devoid of works, save him? Can that kind of faith, which James will later say is dead, save him? I think the answer is obvious.

In the rest of the passage, James provides a few examples to clarify the point that a mere profession of faith that’s lacking any external evidence is a fraud and is utterly useless. “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jas.2:15-17). Words of compassion without deeds of compassion is no compassion at all! It’s phony! Likewise, a claim of faith without the works that accompany genuine faith is not faith at all! It’s a dead faith, a phony faith. Can that kind of faith save him? Of course not.

I hope it’s clear by now that James is not contradicting the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone. James is not talking about a genuine faith that leads to salvation and manifests itself by good works (Eph.2:8-10). He’s addressing the person who only gives “lip service” to the faith. They talk the talk but do not walk the walk. This person does not possess real faith; all they have is a mere profession of faith. Real faith does indeed save (John 3:16); a phony faith saves no one.

Later in the passage, in verses 21 and 25, when James speaks of Abraham and Rahab being "justified by works," he is not referring to how the repentant sinner obtains a right standing before God, which is the center of Paul's teaching on justification in Romans and Galatians. When the apostle James speaks of justification, he is referring to the manner in which believers prove (or justify) to the world that our profession of faith is not just “lip service,” but is confirmed by the good deeds that flow from genuine, living faith. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works…” Thomas Manton, an English Puritan clergyman from the 17th century, put it this way, "By the righteousness of faith we are acquitted from sin, and by the righteousness of works we are acquitted from hypocrisy.”

James closes the chapter with “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” And that’s the major point of the discourse. The person who says they have faith, but does not have works, has a dead faith. And a dead faith is of no profit to anyone. If you say, “‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” The book of James is emphasizing the practical aspects of our faith. This is where the rubber meets the road. He is not delving into the theological concepts of redemption, justification, and sanctification. He deals with everyday matters like self-deception, the tongue, worldliness, and showing partiality. Should we misuse thirteen verses in James chapter two to contradict the extensive teaching in Romans and Galatians that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone? Would we make God contradict Himself?

How can churches that teach we must earn our way to heaven by good works get around clear passages in the Bible such as, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness”(Rom.4:5 KJV) and “I don’t make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!” (Gal.2:21). “And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work” (Rom.11:6). From this verse, we see salvation is either by our works and perfect obedience to the law (James 2:10), or salvation is by His amazing grace (Eph.2:5), but not both. It’s not a 50/50 proposition. It’s not part faith and part works. It’s one or the other, period.

When you leave this old, sinful world and stand before God, will you be clothed in the righteousness of Christ alone (2 Cor.5:21), or will you stand before the King of eternity clothed in your own righteousness (Isaiah 64:6)? Or, do you hope to be half-clothed in the righteousness of Christ and half-clothed in your own righteousness? According to Romans 11:6, the third option is not a possibility. It’s either grace or works, not a combo of the two. “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Rom.4:4,5 NKJV). Praise God!

In closing, I encourage you to do your own Bible study on the topic of salvation by grace through faith. This is a subject that demands your “due diligence.” There are many Bible topics that we may be wrong about, e.g., the role of angels and demons, the organization and ordinances of the church, forms of worship, etc. But the topic of salvation is one that we must get right! The saints in Berea did not accept the teachings of the apostle Paul just because he was a leader in the Christian movement. They searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether the teaching of Paul aligned with the truth of God’s word (Acts 17:11). I love that! Serious students of the Bible know there’s no place for lazy thinking. “He who distinguishes well, thinks well.”

May God bless you as you ponder the life-changing truths of Scripture. I pray you grasp the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone in Christ alone, that you may walk in the blessed assurance of your redemption. “Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things” (2 Tim. 2:7).

Grace, Peace and Jahspeed.

Brother Quick

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