Elements of Salvation: Works

Part 3 of 3 in a series

By: M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

98005

1/18/97 - Rapid City, SD

 

I.  Introduction.

A.     We continue today with the last part of our series on the elements of salvation.  I hope that you have enjoyed the series.

1.       Remember two weeks ago we talked about God's part of salvation: grace.

a.    1 Cor. 1:21 - Man can't save himself.

b.    Jhn. 3:16 - Christ died for man on the cross so that salvation would be possible.

c.     Tit. 2:11 - grace has been extended to all men through Christ.

2.       Last week we talked about the foundation of our Christian lives - faith.

a.    Heb. 11:6 - w/o faith it is impossible to please Him.

b.    Mk. 16:16 - He that believeth not shall be damned.

3.  Both of these elements are necessary for salvation.  But they are not the only things that cause one to be saved.  Today we enter into the last element WORKS.  These three working together bring forth salvation.

B.    Works are a necessity when it comes to salvation.

1.     Contrary to denomination teaching that works aren't necessary for salvation.  Some denominations teach that those who believe works necessary are lost because they teach false doctrine.

2.     Often cite Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 11:6 as proof of their argument.

a.     Conclude that these passages teach that no works of any kind are involved in the salvation of man.

b.     Argue that if salvation by grace that it can't be of works.

3.     BUT… James teaches that there are some works by which men are saved.

a.    Js. 2:24-26

b.    Faith w/o works = dead faith.

c.     Works that James talking about are works of faith.

4.     Are works important?  Eccl. 12:13-14 - judged by our works.  Obviously works important/necessary in order to be pleasing to God.

C.    So is there a contradiction of Scripture?  (Eph. 2:8-9 vs. Js. 2:24)  Does James go against what the apostle Paul said?

1.      Remember the Bible is truth.  It is from God.  I.e., it doesn't contradict itself.

2.      Why in one place would God tell us that works are not necessary but in another place dictate that they are?

3.      Certainly we would all agree that God will not/does not/ has not contradicted himself.

4.      The problem lies with man & doctrines of man…

D.    Lets open up the Scriptures, look at them objectively, and draw conclusions based ONLY on what the Bible says.

1.    we will be judged by the Scriptures ONLY on judgment

2.    Important that we take Bible & Bible only!

 

II.  Works that Will Not Save Man.

A.    Works of the Law of Moses - Rom. 3:27-28

1.        Even if one could have kept every law, by-law, precept, injunction, of the OT law he would NOT have been able to be saved because of the debt of sin is too great!

2.        Mankind is justified by obedience to the gospel!

3.        Gal. 2:16 - the works of the Old law are useless.  Christ's death was necessary for salvation to be obtained.

4.        Heb. 6:1; 9:14 - works of law of Moses are now dead.  Because we are now under the law of Christ.

B.    Works of Man's Righteousness - Eph. 2:9; Tit. 3:5

1.     If saved by man's righteousness - man could live good, moral life & be saved w/o coming to Christ.  He'd have chance to boast!

2.     No plan whatsoever that man could devise on his own in order to save himself.  Never saved by works alone!

3.     Tit. 3:5 - not saved by works of righteousness that we have done.

C.   Works of the Flesh/Works of the Devil - Gal. 5:19-21

1.    Gal. 5:19-21 - listed very plainly.

2.    V. 21 - those who practice such will be lost!  They will not inherit the kingdom of God.

D.   Mankind cannot possibly hope to be saved by these!

 

III.  What about Rom. 11:6?  Eph. 2:9?

A.    Many love to immediately go to these Scriptures in order to prove that works aren't necessary b/c we saved by faith only….

1.    Rom. 11:6

a.     Paul not teaching that works are not required.  B/c we know he taught obedience to the gospel, baptism, etc.

b.     Rom. 1:5; 16:26; 6:3-5, 13; 12:6-21

c.     He is teaching that salvation comes ultimately by God's grace - not of works by man's invention.

2.    Salvation a gift from God.  Gift can be either conditional or unconditional.  Throughout Scriptures - salvation is conditional!

a.       God (the giver) gives to man (the receiver) his gift (salvation) conditional upon man's obedience to God's will.

3.    For example: Father promises son truck upon his working for him to plant crop.

a.     No one can earn enough to buy outright truck on just a few weeks pay.  So the truck would be considered a gift.

b.     Likewise, lifetime of service could not merit eternal life - therefore salvation is truly a gift!

B.    Eph. 2:9 - Works improvised by man aren't enough to save.

1.    These are works of man's on devising he could boast of.

2.    If Baptism were of man's own devising - it wouldn't have power to save.  BUT According to 1 Pet. 3:21 - we find it is a work of God - commanded of man by God in order for salvation to be obtained!

3.    Eph. 2:9 not talking about the works of God - b/c read v. 10

4.    To believe as majority of religious world is to cause Paul to contradict himself in v. 10

 

IV.  Works that play a role in man's salvation.

A.    Those who teach salvation is obtained without any kind of works have a problem!  If not saved by any kind of works then we can't be saved by faith - as they teach!  What does the Bible say?

B.    Works of God - Jhn. 6:28-29 - faith is a work!!!!

1.    Can one be saved w/o believing on Christ?

a.    Even denominational preachers say that one must have faith in order to be saved.  They are being inconsistent in their teaching!

2.    Faith/belief is a work of God.  Man cannot be saved w/o this work!

3.    Those who want to rule out all works being necessary for salvation have ruled out faith in Christ as being essential!

C.   Works of God's righteousness

1.    Acts 10:35 - every nation that fears Him & works righteousness is accepted with Him.

2.    Notice:  Peter makes an important statement - man cannot be saved w/o working righteousness.

3.    How does one work righteousness?  By following or by being obedient to God's commandments

4.    Psa. 119:172 - God's commandments are righteous!

D.   Good Works

1.    Tit. 3:8-14 - twice told Titus about necessity of good works.

2.    2 Cor. 9:8 - abound in every good work.

3.    Tit. 3:1 - ready for every good work.

4.    Heb. 10:24 - provoke/consider one another to love & good works.

5.    In all above references they (works) are necessary in order to be pleasing to God!

a.     Christians must be ready to serve God!  That involves doing something on our part!

E.    Works of Faith.

1.    Js. 2:14, 16-17 - a dead faith is the one w/o the works of faith.

2.    Abraham justified by works - his obedience - to God when God ordered Isaac to be offered as sacrifice.  (2:20-23)

a.    v. 23 - when Abraham believed God - he OBEYED God!

b.    V. 24 - what kind of works justify?  Works of faith!

3.    Other passages mentioning works of faith

a.    1 Thess. 1:3

b.    Gal. 5:6

 

V.  Examples of Works of Faith

A.     In every instance where man is approved of by God, it is only when man is willing to perform to works of faith OR obey God

1.    Heb. 5:8-9 - God saves whom?  The obedient!

2.    Mt. 7:21-23 - God never saves the disobedient!

3.    Direct you now to Heb. 11 - where we spent some time in last week's lesson.

B.     Heb. 11:7 - Noah - Noah's moving & preparing was a work of faith.

1.    Rom. 10:17 - faith comes by hearing.

2.    Noah did nothing in which he could boast when he obeyed God.  God expected Him to obey Him.  He expects us to obey Him.

C.    Heb. 11:8 - Abraham - Abraham's obeying & going out to where God would tell him was a work of faith.

1.     Abraham - nothing to boast of because God expected him to obey in order to reap promises.

D.    Heb. 11:29 - Israel's passing through Red Sea a work of faith.

1.         Israel did nothing in order to justify saying they saved themselves w/o the grace of God.

E.     Joshua/Israel - encircling walls of Jericho = work of faith.

1.    Faith did not give them anything of which to boast.

F.     Naaman - 2 Kings. 5:14 - dipped into Jordan 7 times - work of faith.

1.     Work of faith - He couldn't cure himself w/o help of God.

G.    Men today - Mk. 16:16

1.     When man baptized today -he performs a work of faith.  Man cannot say he improvised the act of baptism.

2.     His faith has led him to obedience of God's Word.

a.    Faith + Obedience = Salvation.

3.     When someone baptized he is taking advantage of the grace of God that has been extended to him.

 

VI.  Is Baptism a Work?

A.     Some object to baptism b/c they claim it is a work.  (Run to Eph. 2:9; Tit. 3:5)  Because they claim baptism a work believe man doesn't have to be baptized in order to be saved.

B.    Fail to see every passage they quote that shows man is not saved by works does not pertain to the works of faith.

C.    Baptism is a work of faith.

1.    Jesus commands - Mk. 16:15-16

2.    Apostles preached baptism - Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21

3.    Men in 1st century submitted to baptism - Acts 8:12-13; 8:26-30; 9:18; 10:47-48

 

VII.  An Example of Grace, Faith, and Works Resulting in Salvation.

A.    Ephesian brethren saved by grace - Eph. 2:8-9

1.    Eph. 1:13 - heard the word of truth - the gospel of salvation

2.    1:13 - after hearing they believed.

B.    Acts 19:18 - they confessed that Jesus was the Christ

C.   Acts 19:19 - repentance is shown by their burning the books of magic.

D.   Acts 19:5 - baptized into Christ

E.    Eph. 2:5, 8 - Paul affirms that they were saved!

1.    When they heard the truth of the gospel, believed it, confessed their sins, and were baptized into Christ Paul says they were saved by grace!

2.    Have you been saved in this manner?

 

VIII.  Conclusion.

A.     Saved by Grace only?  Name the Scripture.  Saved by Faith only?  Name the Scripture.  Saved by Works only?  Name the scripture.  Saved by all three working together = the teaching of the Bible.

B.     Have you come to Christ to be saved in this way?  If not, then why not?

C.    Do so today.

D.    I N V I T A T I O N