Introduction.
Anyone who follows what is happening in the Christian world knows that there is a great debate about whether we are saved by grace alone, or whether our works play a role in our salvation, and whether the law is still valid. Many Christians go into the trenches to defend their view on this if someone is so insolent that they dare to claim something other than what they believe.
Most denominations believe we are saved by grace alone, and consider themselves finished with that discussion, and they don’t want to hear anything else. Of these, there are many who claim that the law, that is, God’s ten commandments, was nailed to the cross together with Jesus, and for that reason are no longer valid, and the reason is precisely because we live in the age of grace. This group always has problems defending their view when, for example, the question of whether it is okay to steal comes up. Then the answer is, of course, that it is sin to steal. But they don’t want to know anything about the commandments. Understand it whoever can!
Still others believe that at least parts of the law, up to nine of God’s ten commandments, are still valid. Finally, we have some who, in addition to believing that salvation is a gift given to us by God’s grace, believe that our works are part of the big picture, and that the law – God’s entire Ten Commandments – is valid.
All Christians basically agree that we need a faith, but what kind of faith do we need? The question of what kind of faith we need is relevant in our time when syncretism and ecumenism say that it does not matter what you believe, as long as you believe. Is it enough to believe in Jesus, or do we have to have the same faith that Jesus had when He was on earth the first time? The big question is not what you or I think, but what the Bible says about these things. This is what we will try to find out, and then there are some questions that need to be answered.
Do we need works to be saved?
Are there even any things we must do to be saved?
Was the whole of God’s law, both the ceremonial law (= the law of Moses) and the moral law (= God’s ten commandments), nailed to the cross together with Jesus?
Are there any connections between salvation, grace, the law and works, and where does faith come into the picture?
What kind of faith is the Bible talking about?
These are important questions that we will try to find the answer to eventually, but first we should read and think about what these scriptures tell us. We will return to these verses later.
1) The salvation:
2 Corinthians 6:2: For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.
2) The grace:
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
3) The law:
Revelation 22:14: Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.
4) The works:
Revelation 20:12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
5) The faith:
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
So what does this mean for us who call ourselves Christians?
All scriptures are taken from the King James Version 1611/1769 unless otherwise stated.
- The salvation:
To Titus, Paul says this in chapter 3 verses 4 and 5: But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Why do we need salvation, and what are we to be saved from?
When God created man, it was so that they would live and dwell with God all their days, and God said that what He had created «was very good«, in other words everything that He created was perfect. In the beginning, God and man walked together in the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve saw God face to face because they were sinless. But this idyll did not last long. Man sinned when Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the only tree God forbade them to eat from and this separated them from God. Thus they opened an abyss between themselves and God. God actually gave the people complete freedom to eat from all the trees in the garden but gave them only one prohibition to test their loyalty. Would Adam and Eve obey God’s command unconditionally, or would they break God’s command.
When man had fallen into sin, the plan of salvation was implemented. This plan aims to bring people back to God and restore the whole earth to the state it was in before sin entered the world.
The plan of salvation was first visualized through animal sacrifices and the temple service in Old Testament times, and the plan of salvation was completed through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. I cannot save myself by works, no matter how good or how many they are. The only way to salvation is through the saviour, Jesus Christ.
- The grace:
In 2 Timothy 1,9 Paul says: Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
It is important that we have the right understanding of the word grace. This understanding has probably changed somewhat over time, but the correct understanding is the biblical understanding, and the way the authors of the Bible understood the word.
The understanding of the word grace, as it is used in the Bible, has its background in the Oriental autocratic kingship. When a king, for example King David, showed one of his subjects grace, or mercy, it always meant that he personally intervened in this person’s life and did something for him that he could not do himself, for example, the king could forgive all debts the person in question had.
When we talk about the grace of God, or the grace of Jesus, it means to me that God or Jesus gives me something that I am never able to achieve by my own works, something that I can never earn no matter how flawlessly I live. Grace is one of God’s gifts. Out of grace, God gives me something – salvation, and God forgives all my sins. I can do nothing but accept this gift.
- The law:
Paul says in Romans 7:12: «Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good«.
Paul wrote the book of Romans during his third missionary journey in the spring of 57, or 26 years after Jesus died on the cross. Would Paul have formulated himself like this if Jesus had abolished the law?
Jacob, Jesus’ brother, calls God the law, God’s ten commandments, both perfect and the law of freedom: But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed., (Jacob 1,25). Notice also that he says those who continue to look into God’s law become a doer of the work.
When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, it says that they sinned.
Sin is breaking the law in other words they violated God’s law. This means that the law was already active in the Garden of Eden right from creation. Paul explains this in Romans 5:12 where he says that «… by one man sin entered into the world (Adam) … …»
The Bible is very clear that sin is an offence, i.e. breaking one or more of God’s ten commandments. Both Paul in Romans 4:15 and John in 1 John 3:4 show us that:
… for where no law is, [there is] no transgression, (Romans 4:15).
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law, (John 3,4).
What is one of the most important tasks of the law?
The law reflects God’s character and is as unchanging and eternal as God himself. It has existed from eternity, has eternal validity, and in addition to being as unchanging and eternal as God, the law is holy, just and good.
The law thus expresses God’s good will and love, and is a guideline that tells us …
… how we should live our lives in relation to God …
… how we should live our lives in relation to our fellow human beings …
… so that we can live the best possible life on earth and prepare for a life in heaven with God and Jesus.
The law shows me that I am a sinner, because it shows me how to live, and compared to how I live, if I am honest with myself, I will see that I am a sinner when I look into the perfect law of freedom.
But there is one thing the law cannot do: it cannot save me, nor can I save myself even if I kept the entire law of God, to the letter, all my life.
Besides reflecting God’s character, the law is for me a guideline, or like a road map, a GPS, which shows me which way I must go to reach the final goal. The salvation.
About transgression, or sin, Paul says this in Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are all sinners according to the Bible and then our «wages» is death. But if we turn to God and ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus as our saviour, Jesus’ death on the cross will pay for our sin. If God’s grace had been enough to save people, it would not have been necessary for Jesus to die on the cross, but because of the validity of the law, it was necessary for Jesus to suffer death so that you and I could avoid dying for our sins.
- Works:
Here in the book of James 2:14 we read the following: What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Paul states in Ephesians 2:8 that we are saved by grace, through faith – it is the gift of God. Do we have any contradictions here?
In Matthew 25,45 Jesus says this: Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me
Isaiah writes in chapter 58 verse 7 something that is in harmony with what Jesus says: [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Here in James 2,14 James talks about faith and works. Let’s look at what these expressions mean.
There are many within the church who claim that their faith can exist without works, but James claims that a faith that does not result in good works is worthless. Others will be able to see your true faith from the works you do, and the existence of faith does not rest only on a personal testimony. The person who has faith without works can be compared to the man who thinks of himself as religious, but who fails to show this by performing the works God expects of us.
James emphasizes in chapters 1 and 2 the importance of Christian works. He now directly confronts those who neglect the duties of a «pure religion» (see James 1:27) under the pretext of faith. Here, like Paul’s writings (see Romans 2:6-10), James emphasizes the necessity of both faith and works in a genuine Christian experience. Works become the very evidence of a converted life – because the works spring forth spontaneously because of the motivation of faith.
The rhetorical question «can faith save him?» assumes that it is faith without works. The Greek language suggests that Jacob expects a negative answer: «No, of course not». Faith that is not expressed in good works will never save a person. Neither will good works without true faith.
- The faith:
Where does faith in the biblical sense come from? Is it something we are equipped with from birth, or is this something that comes into play at a later stage?
In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul discusses the gifts of the Spirit, and in verse 9 he says: to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. Faith is therefore a gift of grace given to us by God through the Holy Spirit.
Why have we been given this gift? When we accept Jesus as our Savior Satan will always challenge our faith. He will try to make us fall from the pure faith and into the confusion that Babylon represents. Paul talks about this spiritual battle we are part of in Ephesians 6, and to be able to stand through this battle we must use the weapon of faith. As Paul says in Ephesians 6:16, we must put on the shield of faith in order not to be hit by the fiery arrows of the evil one, which are the attacks that Satan throws at those who adhere 100% to God and the teachings of the Bible.
What else can we say faith is? According to the author of the book of Hebrews, faith (…) is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is given to us as a help to stand safely when we doubt, and when we are exposed to persecution and hatred.
How are these principles related?
How the law and grace are connected:
In John 8:1-11 we find the story of the woman caught in adultery, whom the scribes and pharisees presented to Jesus because they wanted to find something so they could pin him down. This narrative clearly shows the relationship between law and grace.
The law states that a woman caught in adultery should be stoned to death. Jesus knew what the scribes and Pharisees were after, so he did not answer the question of whether a woman should be stoned or not but said that whoever was sinless – with reference to the law – should cast the first stone. None of those who accused the woman threw stones at her, but they all left together.
In verses 10 and 11 we find what it’s all about. … … Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord.
Based on the Bible, I understand it to mean that God does not forgive anyone who does not repent of their sin. We can therefore assume that Jesus could see that the woman had repented of all her sins, and Jesus answered the woman, saying: … Neither do I condemn thee, and in this way He places the woman safely under God’s forgiving grace, … … … … before He goes on to say: go and sin no more. with which Jesus places her safely under the law.
For me, this story is a good picture of how we should perceive the law and grace, and how we must see the connection between them. What comes first is a sincere repentance for the sins we have committed, this triggers God’s grace, which covers the misdeeds we have committed.
Another picture of how the law and grace relate to each other is this.
I’m out driving on the highway. I’m in a hurry because I want to be present at the birth of my first child, and I’m driving way too fast. I am stopped by the police who want to give me a big fine, which is my well-deserved punishment for breaking the law. I admit my guilt and explain why I was speeding. The policeman looks at me and says: «I’ll let mercy prevail this time», tears up the fine and lets me drive on, urging me to take it easy so I can get to the hospital where the newborn baby is waiting for me.
When I was stopped by the policeman, he placed me under the law, and according to the law I was to be punished. When the policeman says you don’t have to pay the fine but can drive on, he places me under the grace, which I certainly did not deserve.
But what do I do now? Do I continue to drive too fast to have a chance of making it to the birth on time because the policeman has placed me under his grace, or do I only drive as fast as I can according to what the law says I should do?
Although the police showed me grace by not giving me this fine, the speed limits on the road on which I am driving have not been lifted. The law still exists. Grace does not abolish the law.
But because the law requires the offender to take his penalty, which according to Paul is death, and because I am unable to pay the penalty the law requires, Jesus comes to me when I regret and repent my sins and He places me under his grace , with the following message … go, and sin no more and He places me under the law.
It sounds undeniably tempting to «live under grace where there is no law», but this is an impossibility in itself. If the law does not exist, we cannot break the law, and then we also do not need an intermediary who was willing to die for us so that we could be forgiven our sins undeservedly by grace alone. Grace is that which is shown to us because we are sinners and notorious transgressors, and unable to save ourselves. It is because we are helplessly lost and notorious lawbreakers that God shows us mercy, comes to us and forgives us our sin and pays the price that the law demands of a sinner, which is death. This is what Jesus did for you and for me when He died on the cross.
Briefly summarized.
Without the law, God’s ten commandments, we do not need God’s grace. That we live in the age of grace is because without God’s grace we are condemned. It was to take our punishment that Jesus died on the cross and it is in this that God’s grace lies.
How the law and salvation are connected:
There are many who believe that one must keep the law to be saved. Jesus placed the woman caught in adultery under the grace, but He also placed her under the law.
In many ways, I was once in the same situation as the woman in John 8. I was an atheist who lived a life that was not consistent with God’s law, and I did not care at all that I was breaking God’s law. I was a great sinner who constantly broke God’s law, until I had an encounter with Jesus, who took hold of me, and slowly but surely he shaped me, as the potter shapes the clay.
When I rose from the water on the day I was baptized, I was fully certain that God had forgiven me all my many sins, and that without me having done anything other than accepting Jesus as my saviour and repented my sins. It was not my own effort, but God’s boundless and endless love that triggered His grace and forgiveness. It was certainly not because I had kept God’s commandments that Jesus saved me, on the contrary, it was because I had been a great sinner all my life.
Paul says in Romans 6:23 that «the wages of sin is death«. This expression that «the wages of sin is death» must be understood correctly. Those who transgress God’s law are sinners, and by definition they are dead – in a spiritual sense. At the time I was an atheist, I was dead … … spiritually dead. when I repented and asked for forgiveness for all my countless sins, Jesus took my place and died for me so that I could share His life.
In Galatians 3:13, Paul says that Christ has bought us free from the curse of the law. But, what is the curse of the law? The curse of the law is the same as the wages of sin, which is death. Even if we manage to keep the law to the letter, it will still not be able to save us. There is only salvation in the name of Jesus, because Jesus Christ overcame death when he rose from the dead on the third day.
Christ bought us free from death and from the curse of the law when he died in our place on the cross. It cost Jesus Christ absolutely everything, when He bought us free from the curse of the law. His death was the payment for me to escape the curse of the law.
God offers us a gift, and this gift is absolutely free. We cannot earn it; we can only choose whether we want to accept the gift or not. Salvation in the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed for us on Calvary, is this gift that God offers, and it is the greatest gift I could wish for, and it contains a hope for the future, and a promise of an inheritance: eternal life. Even if we die before Jesus returns, we will still live forever with the Lord. This is what the law is unable to do for us. It cannot save us or give us eternal life. Only Jesus can do that (Acts 4:10-12).
But how does the law work when it cannot save us?
The law can be compared to a mirror. The mirror only provides a reflection of reality but cannot do anything to change this image.
A little parable:
If I am dirty in my face, I can’t see it without looking in a mirror. When I look in the mirror I see that I am dirty. I can try to clean myself with the mirror, but it doesn’t work. The only thing I achieve from this is that I get dirtier. I need something else, and this is what the mirror shows me. I’m dirty and I have to do something about my appearance, in other words I have to find something or someone who can make me clean. To remove the dirt, I need clean water so I can wash myself clean.
But what does this parable mean?
I have sinned, which is the same as having dirt on my face, but I do not see it without seeing what the law, which is the mirror, says. The law cannot make me clean but shows me that I need water to wash away the dirt, which is the same as a saviour who can cleanse me from my sins.
As I said, there are many who believe that one must keep the law to be saved, but that is impossible. I myself want to say that I want with all my heart to keep God’s law, not because the law can save me, but because despite the law’s demands, I am saved by grace alone in Jesus’ name. That I want to keep the law is a fruit of salvation.
How grace and salvation are connected:
God’s grace is one of the expressions that show us God’s infinite and boundless love. John says in 1 John 4:9-10: In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
As mentioned earlier, the Bible is clear that the punishment that the law requires of sinners is death. God does not want anyone to be lost, He wants everyone to call on His name and be saved.
Ezekiel 33:11: Esek 33,11 ay unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
When I asked for forgiveness for my sins, Christ in his great love chose to take my punishment upon himself, so that I can be saved and be imputed to his righteousness.
As a father of four, I have several times found myself in situations where I have become angry because my children have done something they knew was wrong. My oldest son bought himself a car before he got his driver’s license. I kept the keys so he wouldn’t be tempted to «borrow» it. But one day while I was at work, the temptation became too great, and he took the keys and went for a drive with his mate.
This went wrong … … … horribly wrong.
They drove off the road and ended up between two trees close to a river. The car was a total wreck, but the two boys fortunately escaped with horror.
When I got home I knew nothing about this, but saw that the car was gone, and when I discovered it I was both angry and scared, and thought about what reactions I should take towards the “sinner”, and what punishment he should receive.
When my son came home I was still angry, but the first thing he said was: «Dad I did something I shouldn’t have done, I hope you can forgive me». Then he told me the whole story and I was left with a feeling that I should be happy and not angry, despite the fact that he had done something illegal. Both boys could have lost their lives or been confined to wheelchairs for the rest of their lives. The joy that my son was unharmed after this accident overshadowed my anger at his disobedience, and I realized that he had been punished enough for his disobedience. Because I love him, I couldn’t punish him after he asked for forgiveness.
I think that’s how Jesus sees it when we come to Him and ask for forgiveness for our sins. We know we should not have committed these sins, yet we sin, and in this sense we deserve all the punishment that the law requires. But because Jesus loves us, he takes the punishment we should have, he died for us, and has settled our debt, and the salvation he gives us is by grace … … … and by grace alone.
When I stood condemned, He took my place.
The Bible tells us through the law that we are sinners, but the law cannot help us. The law is only a mirror that tells us that we need help and sends us to Jesus – who is the only one who can help us.
Jesus is the source of grace. When we convert and repent of our sin, Jesus will forgive us and save us from the curse of the law … … … undeservedly … … … by grace alone.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast..
In the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary we find the following commentary on Ephesians chapter 2.
Verse 8.
By grace … through faith. It is grace on God’s part and faith on man’s part. Faith accepts the gift of God. It is through the act of entrusting ourselves to Him that we are saved, not that faith is the means of our salvation, but simply the channel (see Romans 4:3). For a definition of “grace” see Rom. 3:24. For a discussion of “faith” in relation to salvation see on Romans 4:3.
Not of yourselves. That is, the salvation is not effected by human effort.
Gift of God. Salvation is a free gift, without money or price (see Isaiah 55:1; John 4:14; 2 Corinthians 9:15; 1 John 5:11).
Verse 9.
Not of works. See Galatians 2:16; cf. Romans 4:4. Works are not a cause but an effect of salvation (see Romans 3:3 1).
This is one side of the story, but there is also another side. The other side implies what the following verses address.
Isaiah 58.1: Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Ezekiel 33.7: So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth and warn them from me.
Matthew 28,19-20: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age, (New International Version).
So back to the aforementioned key words which are typical «to do» words. What do we do when we…
… cry out?
… lift up our voice?
… shew Gods people their transgression?
… brings God’s warning to men?
… go and make disciples of all nations?
… baptize them?
… teach them?
We do works. Neither more nor less.
Faith and works.
James 2:14-18: What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Now it is not just this quote from James that emphasizes works. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 7, Jesus says something interesting in this connection, and in verses 21 to 23 we read: Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here there are obviously some who have done great and mighty works, as they have even cast out demons in the name of Jesus, but He does not acknowledge them. The reason is not that they have done works, but because they have not kept all of God’s ten commandments.
Paul says in Romans 2:13: For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
This verse raises a question: What does the doers of the law mean? The doers of the law are those who fulfil what the law imposes on us, and which is summarized in the double love commandment in Matthew 22:37-39 which says: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. If we really love God with all our heart, we also love our neighbour, and then we fulfil this commandment and we will do everything God asks us to do for our neighbour. Then we become the doers of the law.
In the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary we find the following commentary on James chapter 2.
Verse 14:
What doth it profit? Literally, “What the profit?” that is, as to eternal salvation. The apostle here turns to another aspect of the practical duties of “pure religion” (see on eh. 1:27). Presumably some church members (eh. 2:1-13) were excusing their deference to the rich on the basis of a perverted use of the law of love. Other church members (vs. 14-26) seemed to excuse themselves from their Christian duty of good works by appealing to their possession of “faith.”
Works. In chapters 1 and 2 the apostle has stressed the importance of Christian deeds. He now directly confronts those who neglect the duties of “pure religion” (cf. eh. 1:27) under the pretence of faith. Here, in common with the writings of Paul (see on Romans 2:6-10), the epistle of James stresses the necessity of both faith and works in a genuine Christian experience. Works become the conduct of a converted life — deeds that spring forth spontaneously because of the motivation of faith.
Can faith. Literally, “can the faith [that is, faith without works].” The Greek makes clear that James expects a negative answer: “No, of course not.” Faith that does not find expression in habitual good deeds will never save any man, but neither will good deeds without genuine faith (see on Romans 3:28).
Verse 15:
If. James cites a common situation that frequently tests the genuineness of a church member’s faith.
Verse 17:
Faith. Literally, “the faith,” that is, the “faith” without “works” of v. 14. Such a faith is merely an intellectual conviction that certain doctrines are true. The mind is convinced because of the overwhelming evidence from God’s Word, but the heart remains cold and unconverted.
Not works. As good wishes for the poor and needy can be shown to be genuine by works only, so faith cannot be proved genuine without works. Faith without the fruit of Christian works is faith in name only, without the living principle controlling the actions of the heart (cf. Romans 2:13; 1 Corinthians 13).
Dead. Like a corpse, faith without works may retain an outward resemblance to its living counterpart, but it is lifeless. As a dead vine bears no fruit, dead faith produces no consistent pattern of Christian deeds. Both are worthless.
Being alone. James is not comparing faith with works, but a genuine faith with a dead faith. The dead faith believes in God, but it will prove useless in that this mental conviction has not made Christian service a life habit. In addition to being worthless in this life, this dead faith cannot save its owner (see v. 14).
- James 3:13: Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
- Hebrew 6:10: For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
- Luke 3:11: He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
If we go to Matthew 25:31-46, we find the parable of the sheep and the goats, and we read in verses 35-40 the following about the sheep: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
A little curiosity about the sheep and the goats that can help us understand why these two animals have been used in this parable: According to the SDA Bible Commentary, Palestinian sheep were always white, while the goats were always black, and both the sheep and the goats were usually looked after by the same shepherd.
For the goats, it was not the same result. To them God said: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:.
At the risk of reading something into the text, we can assume that both the sheep and the goats considered themselves God’s people. But those who are called goats were rejected by God in judgment because they had not done the same as the sheep.
Question. Why were the goats rejected by Jesus?
We have already looked at the answer to this question, and we find it in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:21-23 where we find the following: Matt 7,21-23 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
In the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary we find the following commentary on Matthew 7.
Verse 21:
Not everyone … … but. The words “not” and “but” highlight the strong contrast between the mere talker and the actual doer of God’s will. Mere profession is worthless. He who pretends to know God and yet disobeys His commandments “is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4), irrespective of any appearance to the contrary.
He that doeth. That is, he who performs the will of God when he learns of it. Faith in God must accompany the doing, or the doing is only a form. It is true that “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17), but it is equally true that works unaccompanied by a sincere and living faith are also “dead” (Hebrew 11:6).
Verse 22:
Prophesied in thy name. The form of the question in Greek implies that those speaking expect a positive answer. They are saying, “Surely we have prophesied in thy name, have we not?” They would hardly claim before the great Judge of the universe to have done so if the claim was not, apparently, substantiated by the facts. This is the measure of their self-conceit and self-deception. It is as if they protest to the Judge that His decision is unfair, and that He cannot rightfully treat them as renegades. They have been preaching in His name, have they not? But they have forgotten that ostensible worship of God based on human tradition is vain.
Cast out devils. Presumably the most difficult of all miracles (see on Mark 1:23), and thus typical of all others that might be mentioned. When the Seventy returned from their first evangelistic expedition, it was the fact that “even the devils” were subject to them that seemed most significant to them (Luke 10:17). See Additional Note on Mark 1 .
Many wonderful works. Perhaps including even actual miracles performed as evidence purporting to demonstrate the presence of God with them and His approval of their teachings (see Revelation 13:13, 14:2 Thessalonians 2:9,10). It is evident from the Scriptures that the performance of miracles is not of itself conclusive evidence that divine power has been in operation. The greatest miracle of time and eternity is a life transformed according to the divine likeness. Those who profess to be prophets are to be tested by their lives (see on Matthew 7:16), and not by their professed miracles.
Verse 23:
I never knew you. Or, according to the form of the Greek verb, “I never recognized [or, “became acquainted with”] you.” This is evidence that their teachings and miracles had not been spoken and performed in harmony with the will of God, or by His power.
Depart from me. Compare chapter 25:41. Sin results in a final and complete separation from God.
Iniquity. Gr. anomia, “lawlessness,” or “lack of conformity with law.” The workers of iniquity are “lawless” because they have refused to conform their lives to the perfect pattern set forth in the law of the kingdom of heaven — and “sin is the transgression of the law [ anomia ] ” (1 John 3:4). On the Mount of Olives Christ said that in the last days “iniquity,” anomia, would abound (Matthew 24:12), and a few decades later Paul observed that the “mystery of iniquity [ anomia ] ” was already at work (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
The following is taken from The Create Controversy.
Anciently the Lord declared to one who spoke in his name, The house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me. Nevertheless he said, Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. To the servant of God at this time is the command addressed, Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins, (459.2). Ezekiel 3:7; 2:7; Isaiah 58:1
So far as his opportunities extend, everyone who has received the light of truth is under the same solemn and fearful responsibility as was the prophet of Israel, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying: Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul, (459.3). Ezekiel 33:7-9.
The desire for an easy religion, that requires no striving, no self-denial, no divorce from the follies of the world, has made the doctrine of faith, and faith only, a popular doctrine; but what saith the Word of God? Says the apostle James: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? … Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? … Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only, (472.1). James 2:14-24.
The testimony of the Word of God is against this ensnaring doctrine of faith without works. It is not faith that claims the favour of Heaven without complying with the conditions upon which mercy is to be granted. It is presumption; for genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures … // …. Let none deceive themselves with the belief that they can become holy while wilfully violating one of God’s requirements. The commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit and separates the soul from God. Sin is the transgression of the law” And whosoever sinneth [transgresseth the law] hath not seen him, neither known him, (472.2; 472.3) 1 John 3:4-6.
He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. Here is the test of every man’s profession, (472.3). 1 John 2:4-5.
Salvation out of works.
In the Judgment, the use made of every talent will be scrutinized. How have we employed the capital lent us of Heaven? Will the Lord at his coming receive his own with usury? Have we improved the powers intrusted us, in hand and heart and brain, to the glory of God and the blessing of the world? How have we used our time, our pen, our voice, our money, our influence? What have we done for Christ, in the person of the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, or the widow? (GC 487.2)
The hidden selfishness of men stands revealed in the books of Heaven. There is the record of unfulfilled duties to their fellowmen, of forgetfulness of the Saviour’s claims. There they will see how often were given to Satan the time, thought, and strength that belonged to Christ, (GC 487.3).
Matthew 7:17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
James 2:20-26: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Works are therefore an important part of the Christian life and are absolutely decisive for where we will spend eternity. The works cannot save me but are a fruit of salvation.
Summary:
There are two forms of salvation out there in the world. The one that God has ordained by grace, and the way that people try to save themselves through works of law.
There are also two forms of deeds. These are the works we do out of joy because the Lord has saved us by grace alone, and these are the works we try to do to save ourselves.
As we see, there is a red thread running through these verses and the quotes we have looked at, and these quotes make a clear distinction between real salvation and let’s call them real works, and the false salvation and works done to be saved. We have also seen that a faith without works is a dead faith. It is worthless. A living faith, on the other hand, will be followed by works as a fruit that springs from the experience of salvation and the conversion each individual person has gone through.
Links.
To SDA Bible Commentary:
To EGWwritings:https://egwwritings.org/