Salvation Without Works

Most people would love to know they are saved from judgment and have a secure relationship with God as their Father.

In point of fact, any person can rest assured of God the Father’s unconditional love, grace, care, and eternal salvation if they simply would believe. Believing, they then trust the truth of His word – the Bible; which points them to Christ as their Savior and sufficiency.

The Apostle Paul wrote the following, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to the believing members of “the body of Christ.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: ⁹ NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now HE (GOD) which STABLISHETH US WITH YOU IN CHRIST, and hath anointed us, is GOD; ²² WHO HATH also SEALED US, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

It’s great to know we are sealed by and unto God, and that no person or thing, and not even we ourselves can break that eternal seal.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby YE ARE SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION.

It is wonderful to know that when we fail in the course of our life we remain securely sealed in Christ. We perhaps at times grieve the Holy Spirit, but we are still sealed unto that day when we will enjoy full redemption of our sinful bodies and receive our new, eternal, spirit-bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and WE SHALL BE CHANGED. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Yet, most denominations require either “works for salvation,” or “works to keep one saved” after being saved by grace, or they imply “your works are needed to make God more pleased with you.” Actually, the Lord is most pleased with us being “in Christ;” and when we simply believe, trusting what we reveals of that relationship in His written holy word.

Many so-called Christian churches practice a sort of “bait and switch.” They say sure, you are “saved by grace,” but… unless you “do this” and “don’t do that” you probably aren’t saved, or you won’t please God and be blessed of God. Their way is not according to the truth for today under “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2), as taught by Paul, “the Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13). Such a merit system that requires works is contrary to pure grace we enjoy under Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God” (Act 20:24).

Yes, at one time, under “The Law” given to Israel (not the Gentiles, Eph 2:12), works of the law were then required as a demonstration of faith. Thus, James in 1:1 of his epistle writes to “the twelve tribes (of Israel) which are scattered abroad,” exactly as the twelve were directed by Jesus in Matt 10:5-6, saying; “… faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Contrast James’ words with Paul’s words to the Gentile “body of Christ”; “ye are NOT under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Today our salvation is NOT based on our conditional performance under the Law of works – it is based solely upon our faith in Christ alone.

The Roman Catholic Church has long opposed the teaching that salvation is by grace, through faith ALONE. She teaches that it is by grace, through faith PLUS good works; protesting that others do not place the proper stress upon good works, while she places as much emphasis upon grace and faith as we should. No! Our good works are not a requirement for salvation; our proper good works come only AFTER we are saved as Christ begins to live through us. Thus, our works are the fruit of our faith in the Savior and our new found response to the love of God.

Paul makes clear that today, as a basis for salvation, grace and works are diametric opposites -- grace and works cannot coexist.

“And IF BY GRACE, then is it NO MORE OF WORKS: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6)

Catholicism agrees that men cannot be saved without Christ, faith or grace… but they object, saying the grace of God, accepted by faith in Christ, is not enough to save us. I here paraphrase their theological concept; “All men are born in original sin, and all must be cleansed by Water Baptism. They teach that one is saved in Water Baptism; with grace is implanted in the soul by God, conferring the right to heaven.” Hence, around 450AD Pope Leo introduced the unbiblical idea of infant water baptism.

The fact is that the outward work of “water baptism” is not at all required for salvation. Consider that the thief on the cross, who looked to Jesus in his dying moments, never had an opportunity to be baptized? Was he not saved? (See Luke 23:42, 43). Jesus told him, “This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.” Paul writes in Hebrews 10:4; “For it is NOT possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” If it is not possible for the blood of sacrificed bulls and goats to take away sins, even though it was prescribed and required by God for the children of Israel under “The Law,” how can any amount of water possibly wash away one sin or right one moral wrong?

I’ve often thought to propose this question for those who require “works for salvation.” It exposes their folly and reveals the reason there can be NO assurance of salvation under law and works. The question is this.

“HOW MUCH WORKS IS ENOUGH and HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF WORKS?

The Answer: NO AMOUNT OF WORKS IS SUFFICIENT to merit salvation. Therefore you can never know if you’ve done enough to secure your salvation. We must take God’s way of “salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone.”

By contrast, the word of God offers us these satisfying and reassuring words.

“Now to him (the man) that worketh (i.e., for salvation) is the reward NOT reckoned of grace, but of debt. BUT TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT, BUT BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, HIS (that man’s) FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS” ( Rom. 4:4b, 5).

God will be a debtor to no man no matter how good that man tries to be; but God will by His grace receive and save whosoever will believe on His Son’s meritorious work at the cross on behalf of all men.