Works Will Not Save But Works Are Required to Save

David Sproule

There are fewer subjects that will get some denominational folks charged up as much as the discussion of works and salvation.  It has seemed over the years that some very sincere religious individuals consider “work” (as used in a “Christian context”) to be a four-letter word that should be avoided.

Unfortunately, some have tried to pit some Bible verses against other Bible verses, to make an apparent contradiction between what the Bible says about works.  We must remember that the Bible has no contradictions!  If there is an apparent contradiction, the problem is with us and not with the Bible!  It is up to us to change us, and not to change the Bible!

The New Testament speaks about “works of the law” (Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:27-28).  Early Christians of a Jewish background struggled with their new relationship to (and without) the old law.  They had to be reminded that “by faith in Jesus Christ” (Gal. 2:16), they no longer needed nor could they be “justified by works of the law.”  When we read, we need to see if these are the “works” under discussion.

The New Testament speaks about “works” of human merit (Rom. 4:2-9; Eph. 2:8-10).  Ephesians chapter two is often the passage to which individuals run to “prove” (in their minds) that we are not saved by works.  But what kind of “works” is Paul addressing?  Notice in both of these passages that Paul is speaking of “works” by which a man (whether Abraham or a Christian) could “boast.”  Our salvation is certainly “not of works” by which we might “boast” (Eph. 2:8-9), lest we think that we can earn our salvation.  But that does not, by any means, deny that God can still require certain works of us in order to secure salvation.  When we read, we need to see if the “works” are meritorious works.

The New Testament speaks about “works” of obedience (Jas. 2:14-26).  This is where folks want to suggest that the Bible contradicts itself.  It does not!  The inspired text clearly teaches that “…faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead…faith without works is dead…Abraham our father [was] justified by works…by works faith was made perfect…a man is justified by works, and not by faith only…”  These are not meritorious works, by which someone earns salvation.  These are works of obedience, which are required in order for Christ to save us (Heb. 5:9).  When we read, we need to see if the “works” under discussion are the means of obeying God.

Christians are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10; cf. Matt. 5:14-16; Tit. 2:11-14; 3:1, 8, 14).  We are required to “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).  “Work” is not a bad word.  It’s a glorious requirement to demonstrate our love (John 14:15).

What Does The Lord Require?

Wade Webster

We should all be interested in what God says is good for us.  We should all want to know what God requires of us.  Micah revealed three things that God says are good and that He requires of us.  We read, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

To Do Justly

Solomon wrote, “To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3). Although God loves sacrifice, He loves justice more.  He is a just God and He wants His children to be like Him.  You may recall that justice is one of the reasons why God chose Abraham.  We read, “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him” (Genesis 18:19). It should come as no surprise that this man was later called the friend of God (Jam. 2:23). After all, he loved the things that God loved.

To Love Mercy

God is a merciful God.  He loves mercy and He wants His people to be merciful.  Jesus declared, “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Not only does showing mercy make us like God, it puts us into a position to receive the mercy of God.  We read, “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).  James warned that judgment would be without mercy to those who have shown no mercy.  We read, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (Jam. 2:13).  No doubt, you recall the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Mat. 18:21-35).  May we realize the great mercy that we have been shown by God and show it to others.

To Walk Humbly

God receives the humble, but resists the proud.  Peter wrote, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6).  We see several examples of this in the Scriptures.  The first is Hezekiah.  We read, “Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah” (2 Chronicles 32:26).  The second is Josiah.  We read, “Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD” (2 Chronicles 34:27). A third example is that of the praying publican.  We read, “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14).  Humility is one of the foundational requirements of God.

What does God say is good for us?  What does He require of us? Micah says that it is good for us to do justly. He says that we are required to love mercy.  He says that we should walk humbly before our God. How are you doing with these three things?

The Full Soul

Wade Webster

Solomon wrote, “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet” (Proverbs 27:7).  Honey was one of the sweetest things in the ancient world.  When God wanted to picture the sweetness and goodness of Canaan, He described it as a land flowing with milk and honey (Exo. 3:8).  As sweet and as good as honey is, a man can be so full that he detests even the thought of it.  Have you ever felt that way?

A week or so ago, we were anticipating a huge Thanksgiving meal.  Likely, our mouths were watering for turkey, dressing, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and a host of other things.  An hour or so after eating, the thought of these things was likely less appealing.  Eventually,  after several hours of family, football, and turkey induced napping, our appetite returned.  However, after a second round of these same dishes, the thought of them a third time probably had little or no appeal for us.  We may have even loathed or recoiled at the sight or mention of them.

If we are not careful, the same thing can happen with spiritual things. As you likely know, God’s word is described as honey.  The psalmist wrote, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalms 119:103).   The psalmist delighted in the thought of God’s word.  Even the bitter things (hard things) were sweet to Him because he was hungry to know God and to please Him.  We read, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips” (Psalms 63:1-5).  The psalmist never lost his hunger for God, for God’s word, or for God’s house.  The same needs to be true of us (Mat. 5:6; Acts 17:11; 1 Pet. 2:2).

Sadly, individuals who once hungered for righteousness and for God’s word can lose their appetite for these things.  Jesus spoke of some like this in the Parable of the Sower.  We read, “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles” (Mat. 13:20-21).  The initial joy of the stony soil hearers soon faded.  Given more time, they might have even grown to hate the thought of truth.  Through Amos, God spoke of some who fell into this category. We read, “I raised up some of your sons as prophets, And some of your young men as Nazirites. Is it not so, O you children of Israel?”Says the LORD. “But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, And commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’ (Amos 2:11-12).

It is okay to have your fill of turkey and to not want it for a while.  I suppose that it is even okay to be so full that you don’t want pie.  However, it is not okay to grow weary of the preaching of God’s word.  It is not okay to loathe the very thought of truth.

Who Doesn’t Want To See Good Days?

David Sproule

David asked a question in Psalm 34 that seems to have an obvious answer, but it comes with some clear responsibilities.

David asked, “Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?” (34:12).  Who wants to live?  Who wants to live for many days?  Who wants to live…for many days…and wants those many days to be “good”?  Well, that’s everyone!  Isn’t it?

Better than any self-help book out there, God tells us what is involved in seeing good days.  They do not just come on their own.  We must take steps in our lives to bring them about.  Note the inspired keys to having a good life.

Good days involve your tongue.  The inspired penmen states, “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit” (34:13).  Do not lie (Eph. 4:25), do not slander (Jas. 4:11), do not use filthy language (Col. 3:8), do not tell crude jokes (Eph. 5:4), etc.  Use your tongue for good—to comfort (2 Cor. 1:3-6), to encourage (Eph. 4:29), to thank (Eph. 5:4), to teach (2 Tim. 2:2), to extend kindness (Eph. 4:32), to express forgiveness (Col. 3:13), etc.

Good days involve your conduct.  David goes on to say, “Depart from evil and do good” (34:14).  We must resist the devil (Jas. 4:7), resist bitterness (Eph. 4:31), resist sexual impurity (Gal. 5:19), resist anger (Col. 3:8), resist fleshly lusts (1 Pet. 2:11), resist the pride of life (1 John 2:16), etc.  Instead, we need to do good to everyone, especially our fellow Christians (Gal. 6:10), seek the church first in our lives (Matt. 6:33), teach the gospel to lost souls (Mark 16:15), obey the commandments of God (Ecc. 12:13), etc.

Good days involve your relationships.  The second part of verse 14 says, “Seek peace and pursue it.”  There are words and behaviors that can destroy peace in our relationships (Eph. 4:31; Gal. 5:20; Col. 3:8), which is why we must “have regard for good things in the sight of all men” (Rom. 12:17).  For we are told, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (12:18).  This requires “humility, meekness, longsuffering” (Col. 3:12), in which we always go the second mile (Matt. 5:41).

Good days involve your prayer life.  David focuses on “the righteous” who “cry out” to the Lord, with the promise that He “hears” them and “delivers them” (34:15-17).  Bad days can become good days if we will “cast all [our] care upon Him” (1 Pet. 5:7) and “trust” (Prov. 3:5-6) that He will be “with” us (Josh. 1:9), “strengthen” us (1 Pet. 5:10) and “help” us (Psa. 46:1).

Who wants to see good days?  All of us do!  Our Lord gives us the secret to enjoying all the good days He supplies!

Keep the Jews in Context

David Sproule

God had an eternal plan!  That plan did NOT waver one bit based upon man’s acceptance or rejection of that plan!

Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  God’s eternal plan was already in place and already at work (Gen. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Eph. 3:1-11).  The whole world turned their hearts to wickedness in the days of Noah.  God’s eternal plan was already at work and would not be thwarted (Luke 3:36; 2 Pet. 1:5; 1 Pet. 3:18-22).  The Israelites became slaves to an Egyptian superpower (Ex. 1:1-22).  God’s eternal plan was already at work and this was part of it (Gen. 15:13-14; Acts 7:6-7).  Israel continually rebelled against the Lord from the exodus through the judges (Deut. 1:19-28; Judg. 2:11-23; 1 Sam. 8:1-22).  God’s eternal plan was still at work and would not be altered (2 Sam. 7:10-13; Acts 13:20-24; 1 Cor. 10:1-6).  The nation of Israel became strong and their borders expanded far and wide (1 Kgs. 4:21), as God had promised (Gen. 15:18-21), but they turned against God and worshiped idols (2 Kgs. 22:15-17; 23:26-27).  God’s eternal plan was still at work, and He would remain on course, even though His people were taken into captivity (Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10-14; 32:21-44; Deut. 30:1-10).  The Lord had a purpose for the Jews.

This is the background for Romans 9-11.  Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel warned, wept and wrote of Judah’s captivity in Babylon; yet, all three prophets gave Israel hope, speaking of a “remnant” that would come out of captivity.  The remnant had a purpose—to bring the Messiah into this world!

So, Paul addresses the Lord’s rejection of Israel and the acceptance of the Gentiles in Romans 9-11, emphasizing that such was foretold by the prophets (9:25-29) and was not arbitrary (9:30-10:21).  Paul longed for his “countrymen” (i.e., the Jews) to “be saved” (9:3; 10:1), and they could be saved in the same way that the Gentiles were saved (i.e., through obedience to the will of God, 10:1-17).

Just as a “remnant” of Jews came out of Babylon (9:27), fulfilling those prophecies and their God-given purpose, a figurative “remnant” of Jews (“some of them” [11:14], not all!) would be saved in Paul’s day (11:5), by following the same plan that God had for the Gentiles (11:22-24).  “All” of the Jews who would “be saved” would “so” be saved (an adverb of manner), by following God’s plan—that is the context of 11:26.

Even when the Jews rejected the Messiah when He came (John 1:11), that was expected by Jehovah (Psa. 118:22-23) and would not alter His eternal plan of redemption.  God wants “all” (Jew and Gentile) to be saved! “The way” for salvation is the same for all—through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).  Each person (not as a nation) must choose for himself.