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FAQ # 7
QUESTION 7
: The Bible said we are not saved by works, so how comes works are
need for saving faith?
Not exactly.
Here is what the Bible said, “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” (Tit 3:5). It said
the “works of righteousness” does not save us. Work of righteousness is
goodly deeds – alms, tithing, taking care of widows and other “good man”
deeds. In other words, works of righteousness are philanthropic deeds
we do on the surface. For instance, Acts 10 showed a man, Cornelius, who
did works of righteousness or as Peter puts it, “worketh righteousness.”
How did we know he did works of righteousness? Because it states that
he was, “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which
gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway” (Acts 10:2). Peter
being sent to him meant that although he was a “goodman” that worketh
righteousness and God liked it, it couldn’t save him. Then by Peter’s
coming, he got saved. How? “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy
Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44) and “And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48). In
other words, he believed and obeyed. By believing he received the Holy
Ghost and of course he must have obeyed Peter’s command to be baptized.
His belief led to works – accepting Peter (a poor fisher man) in his house,
hearing what he said, believing what he said and eventually obeying what
he said. This “works” is different from “works of righteousness,” where
the former pertains to results of faith (automatic), while the latter
pertains to philanthropy. We are saved by the former, not the latter.
Then they
are other scriptures that say we are not saved by the works of the Law,
and like good works, every Christian know that this cannot save us. One
verse noted, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law” (Gal 2:16); especially seeing that Christ ushered in a new way.
Other verses say the same thing, for example, Rom 9:32 and Gal 3:10. The
works of the law is basically doing certain aspects of the law that was
“written” by Moses from the days of Sinai. The law had its purposes and
benefits as it concerns being justified, and us, “But we know that the
law is good, if a man use it lawfully” (1 Tim 1:18). However, by Christ
ushering in a new way means that certain aspects of the old way is done
away with and all is fulfilled in the new, “A new covenant, he hath made
the first old” (Heb 8:13). Therefore the works of the law cannot make
anyone saved. Salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not
by following the letters of the law; “But to him that worketh not
[the law or righteousness to be save], but believeth on him that justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom 4:5). So then,
“works of the Law” and “works of righteousness” are identical, both in
nature and New Testament outcome; both cannot save today. Even works of
the Law, in certain aspects, can be considered philanthropic.
Then there
is Rom 9:11, “For the children being not yet born, neither having done
any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.” Works here was saying
Jacob didn’t become heir by his doing or anyone else, but simply because
God wanted to; even further, his works were lying, cheating and being
illusive like some of us. Not by our works or own effort are we saved
(i.e., trying to be) but simply because God choose to (John 6:44) and
in any case, if it was our works some of us wouldn’t be saved. But even
though God choose Jacob to be the heir, he still had “to do” to
get the birth right and blessings the outlined way, if not, he wouldn’t
have gotten it but rather Esau.
Then we
are left with two other verses that says it’s not by works, Eph 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”
and 2 Tim 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and
grace.”
The last
highlight phrase sums it up, “not according to our works.” That’s what
the scripture means when it says or alludes that we are not saved by works;
that is, not by our own efforts, we didn’t do anything to come to salvation,
we couldn’t find out with all our hearts what we must do to be saved.
That’s why the multitude on the day of Pentecost had to say, “What meaneth
this” (Acts 2:12)? That’s why the jailer had to ask Paul and Silas, “What
must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). That’s why a devout High Priest,
Cornelius, had to ask Jesus the same question by night, with Jesus beckoning
to him that he of all persons should know (John 3:10). But on all occasions
the answer was the same:- repentance, water baptism and baptism of the
Holy Ghost. This is not of our own efforts but resulted by our faith.
We believe then do. Here in lies two works. One, you work to be saved,
which cannot save you and two, works as a result of faith, which saves
you. One, you do, trying to achieve the impossible and two, you do, because
you believe the impossible. One, you say you believe you can cross the
Atlantic Sea so you start swimming: Or, two, you believe God who made
the Atlantic Sea so you obey his instruction to buy a boat. You buying
the boat, setting on the journey and reaching the other side are the results
of believing that you can cross the Atlantic Sea un-navigated with no
one and no supplies; which are the works of your faith. You didn’t try
to do it on your own but believed on him who can do all things. Hence
the term, “not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace.” By your belief on him who can do all things you obey
him. Hence we should simply obey the following command if we want to be
saved, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). This is not “works of righteousness,” “works
of the Law” or our own works. It is simply works of you believing, an
automatic result of your faith on the finished work (salvation): Not you
trying to finish the work (salvation) by “work of righteousness,” “works
of the Law” or your own works. By these three works we cannot be saved,
but by the “works” of you believing that salvation is already had, you
are saved.
Remember
we had said,
“Even
so faith, if it had not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). Works
here does not imply earning something by doing. However works are a product
of faith, faith is not a product of works.
It can’t
get any simpler than that. You believe for something you should see results
of that something; whether your actions, obedience and/or the something
believed for. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? can faith save him” (James 2:14)? In other
words, can saying I believe in Christ alone save me? No. Don’t you have
to get baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the baptism
of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:8, John 3:5)?
{Source: question only from
GNC}
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