Dec 12 2007
god’s plan
Romans 3:23- “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
There is a separation between us and God…
Romans 6:23- “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We try all kinds of ways to reach God but they are never good enough on our own…
Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
Jesus bridged the gap for our separation from God by dying on a cross for our sins…
Romans 10:9-10- “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Romans 10:13-”Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If we ask Jesus to become the leader of our life, He will indwell us with His Holy Spirit and we will become new creations.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer:
(Prayer is talking to God)
God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If it does, I invite you to pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.
More questions? Click here.
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Romans Road – pretty smooth.
Gets pretty bumpy though when you get to Romans 10:9-10 and Romans 13. While Baptists consider these verses to mean that one must say a prayer to be eternally saved, this is an “out of context” application. I encourage you to do a complete study of Romans and pay special attention to Paul’s use of the words “righteousness”, “justification”, and “saved”. Remember, the context of a word determines the meaning of the word, not some intrinsic value placed upon it by contemporary usage. The short answer is that Paul does not mean “saved” in the sense of receiving eternal life. To say a prayer is required is adding to the gospel. Pay closer attention to the transition in Romans from Ch. 4 to Ch. 5.
Peace.
I hope I’m not “trolling” to your blog here. I’ve just been rummaging through your posts and thought this video would be of service to you.
It’s a thorough look at the implications and effects of what I would call “decisional regeneration.”
http://www.xanga.com/PhilosophyOfJoel/679451708/regeneration-v-the-idolatry-of-decisional-evangelism-paul-washer–the-deeper-conference-2008-breakout-session-which-was-hosted-by-living-waters–way-of-the-master–recommended.html
This post is in no way to question your salvation or to condemn your practice of evangelism. I praise God for your work in your community and the blogging community. Your website has been an encouragement.
I’d just like to here dialog from you on this matter. Iron sharpens iron. By God’s grace we’ll spur each other on to spread The Gospel with a careful discerning heart.
Thanks for your heart for the lost.
stephen k.
I do not mean to be too contentious here, but I suspect that Paul Washer is possessed by the spirit of the Antichrist.
The tricky part is, there is a grain of truth in what he is saying, but he is using it in a very insidious way. Even Satan will use scripture to suit his purposes.
Obviously, merely reading a “sinner’s prayer” would be insufficient to have any impact on your life. In the words of Batman from Batman Begins, “it’s not who I am underneath…but what I do that defines me.” If you have truly repented of doing something wrong, you will act in accordance with that. Getting rid of sin is a lifelong process, because every time you get rid of a problem, you have a new one to deal with. In other words, love is a verb. Loving others is something we do every day, we don’t just read a sinner’s prayer and then deliberately turn from God the next day.
Throughout Paul Washer’s sermons, he is always telling other people how they are going to Hell, how the Churches are wrong, and he repeats “listen to me” or “I know this is hard to hear, but listen to me.” He is a raving egomaniac. Worse than that, he judges others and whether they will go to heaven or hell by how they dress. Paul Washer does not know any more about virtue than the average wack-job cult leader.
The grain of truth in what he is saying is that, yes, saying you repent is not enough, you have to be truly good. But here’s the rub—-the judge of what true goodness is is God, and God alone, not Paul Washer. Paul Washer is instilling fear and doubt into people, and turning them away from their faith in their own salvation (which is only good insofar as getting people to sincerely accept Jesus and to try their best to follow him), but who does Paul Washer imply is the judge of who is saved? He seems to have a pretty good idea himself of who is going to Hell and who is going to heaven. I’d better not dress like Britney Spears, because Paul Washer says it is wrong.
Oh, wise Paul Washer, please tell me, what must I do to attain salvation? I do not care who Paul Washer thinks is saved. Paul Washer should be worried about whether he is saved, and I will worry about whether I am saved, and I do not care whether Paul Washer thinks I am saved or not. It is not his place to judge me, he is not God, though he seems to think he is.
Long story short–religion is not a science. Virtue is not verifiable by man. Whether or not you are a virtuous girl or whether you have deliberately turned away from God cannot be judged by man based on how the girl dresses (how we should dress is a judgment call), the answer is in the girl’s heart, and it is God alone who does the judging. Not Paul Washer.
P.S. Interestingly, this really scary website I found that says that MLK Jr. was a non-Christian, communist, (and a lot of other worse things), has a MORE moderate view than me about Paul Washer. Go figure. They merely say he is a false-prophet, teaches a false gospel, and is a hypocrite. (I may have exaggerated for effect when I said he was possessed by the Antichrist).
The site is a little scary, but the scriptural arguments are definitely contrary to what Paul Washer has to say, so it may be informative for you, Stephen.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/paul_washer.htm
here is a quote which sums up what the guy is saying:
“Heretics like Paul Washer teach that sinners must repent FROM their sins in order to be saved; whereas the Bible teaches that we need only come as GUILTY sinners to Jesus for forgiveness. There’s a big difference between repentance “OF” one’s sins, versus “FROM” one’s sins. Romans 3:19 teaches that we simply need to realize that we are GUILTY sinners, under the condemnation of God’s Holy Law, and then turn to Jesus for forgiveness to be saved (Acts 16:31). “
Well,
I’m always amazed at how posts get turned in various directions. I don’t know much about Paul Washer but I did watch his “Shocking” message. I’m pretty sure it was my good friend & former roommate Dr. Rob Jackson who organized that youth convention in Montgomery. If Rob, booked Paul, then he has to be doctrinally sound. I wouldn’t say Paul was a heretic. I think he probably has the spiritual gift of “Prophecy.” He is a modern day prophet. Honestly, as I watched the sermon, I was brought to my knees in prayer.
On the other hand, it is by “Grace” that we are saved. My understanding of God is we are saved by grace but we work because we love Him. Some people go to extremes on both ends. Some emphasize too much grace and it becomes allowing people to sin without consequence. Those who emphasize “works” may as well be Mormons.
to Ben’s earlier post –
I went to look at that website you talked about and it made it seem as though Paul Washer had “brain-washed” kid into thinking that salvation comes only after: repentance belief AND fruit of the spirit.
If this is what Paul Washer was preaching, then YES he would be preaching a false gospel.
As many Paul Washer sermons I have listened to (though I have not listened to the one on that website) Paul has always defended a Biblical Gospel.
He is quick to point out that He believes that one is saved by grace alone (the common “reformed” perspective) BUT that the one who is save… will continue to grow in godliness… that is not to say that that godliness will always be blazingly obvious… God discerns the heart. So, simply if someone is converted by God He can go to heaven on the spot with no “works” to be seen other than the heart of repentance and the belief in God. Though Paul Washer does rightly warn us that if we do not see the Work of the Spirit in our lives then we have reason to worry. We should always be testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Don’t presume your conversion seek the assurance of salvation that generally comes through the outworking of your faith (aka works & fruit of the Spirit).
I still don’t see how Paul Washer preaches anything else than a true gospel presentation and a healthy, godly call to a life of holiness not a life of sinlessness which legalist say God requires.
We will not be sinless till the Lord completely sanctifies us in our ascent to heaven or upon the second coming of our Lord, Jesus.
The way people dress is not a salvific issue, I believe Paul mentions those people be cause their obviously not concerned with the God, His Law, or Christ.
I admit we do not know the hearts of these individuals and God may very well be working on them and we just cannot see the fruit of it.
We are not right in saying anyone will go to hell specifically, but we can rightly tell them the way of salvation and how to not present a stumbling block to our brethren (dressing inappropriately).
stephen k.
that sounds reasonable…
The only tricky part is when you say “don’t presume your conversion seek the assurance of salvation that generally comes through the outworking of your faith (aka works & fruit of the Spirit).”
I think having salvation is kind of like being married. The love is never supposed to go away… What if you are having a run of bad luck and go like a month with no fruits of the spirit?
I agree there are time when we can say cliche things like “God hides His face from us” or we’re “spiritually depressed.” I think we all go through those times. I am no stranger to them and I totally believe that there will be times in our lives that God allows His children to stray for a time only to bring them back for some varied purpose I don’t presume to know.
My main thrust is that if your a Christian you’ll eventually have visible fruit in your life (if you live long enough to show it); not that there won’t be “dry seasons”. If your a Christian you should be looking for it/striving with the Spirit to manifest the fruits of salvation in your life. (for one if your a Christian I believe God puts it in your heart to desire this).
So if you do have “dry seasons” they are a good time to reflect on your life and discern whether or not you have shown any fruit. Not that every-time we sin or have been bearing less “fruit” should we run screaming and shouting that we’ve “lost” our salvation. This is a perfect time to seek the counsel of other believers (thus the necessity of a community of believers), where they can help point out the fruit in your life, show you where you’ve erred and have been neglecting God’s will in your life, or to comfort you as there will be “dark night’s of the soul” for every believer.
I agree with you when you said, “I think having salvation is kind of like being married. The love is never supposed to go away…”
If God has brought you to repentance and you’ve been born again. Then you are the bride of Christ. We have been betrothed to the Savior and He will not fail in bringing us to Himself. Nothing we can do could mess up the work done on the Cross some 2 thousand yrs ago.
The sheep hear his voice and come at His call.
Praise God that we can’t mess that up. Thank Him for all the blessings of the Spirit that draws us close to the Savior and when we have strayed He had been with us all along bidding us only look up to Him who never left our side.
stephen k.
Love this!!!! The post I mean.
Scriptural Witnesses
Elder Russell M. Nelson
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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Russell M. Nelson, “Scriptural Witnesses,” Liahona, Nov 2007, 43–45
Scriptures of the Restoration do not compete with the Bible; they complement the Bible.
We express love and admiration for President Henry B. Eyring, Elder Quentin L. Cook, and Elder Walter F. González and pray for the Lord’s blessings to attend them in their new callings.
We extend heartfelt feelings of gratitude to each of you, brothers and sisters. Throughout the world, your examples of service and compassion are receiving a great deal of attention. At the same time, many people are wondering about this Church’s history and doctrines. Among those questioners are some who choose to cast aspersions at the Book of Mormon.1
Disregard for the Book of Mormon or for any other sacred scripture concerns me deeply. In addressing that concern, I have titled my remarks “Scriptural Witnesses.”
Definitions
I will define the term scriptural as pertaining to the Bible and the scriptures of the Restoration.2 Members of the Church “believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”3 Scriptures of the Restoration also include the Doctrine and Covenants as well as the Pearl of Great Price.
A dictionary defines the noun witness as an “attestation of a fact or event: [a] testimony.”4 The term witness bears special significance when applied to the word of God. In the Bible we read this important declaration: “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”5 This assures God’s children that divine doctrines are confirmed by more than one scriptural witness.
Scriptures Testify of Jesus Christ
The Bible and the Book of Mormon are both witnesses of Jesus Christ. They teach that He is the Son of God, that He lived an exemplary life, that He atoned for all mankind, that He died upon the cross and rose again as the resurrected Lord. They teach that He is the Savior of the world.
Scriptural witnesses authenticate each other. This concept was explained long ago when a prophet wrote that the Book of Mormon was “written for the intent that ye may believe [the Bible]; and if ye believe [the Bible] ye will believe [the Book of Mormon] also.”6 Each book refers to the other. Each book stands as evidence that God lives and speaks to His children by revelation to His prophets.7
Love for the Book of Mormon expands one’s love for the Bible and vice versa. Scriptures of the Restoration do not compete with the Bible; they complement the Bible. We are indebted to martyrs who gave their lives so that we could have the Bible. It establishes the everlasting nature of the gospel and of the plan of happiness. The Book of Mormon restores and underscores biblical doctrines such as tithing,8 the temple,9 the Sabbath day,10 and the priesthood.11
An angel proclaimed that the Book of Mormon12 shall establish the truth of the Bible.13 He also revealed that writings in the Bible available in our day are not as complete as they were when originally written by prophets and apostles.14 He declared that the Book of Mormon shall restore plain and precious things taken away from the Bible.15
A prophecy in the Book of Mormon warned that some people would object to the notion of additional scriptures. To those who think they “need no more Bible,”16 consider this God-given counsel:
“Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, … created all men, … and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
“… Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And … the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.”17
The scriptural story of Jesus Christ is indeed a two-hemisphere story.18 While Mary and Joseph in the East were making preparations for the holy child’s birth in Bethlehem,19 Nephi in the West was being taught by the premortal Messiah. To Nephi the Lord said, “Be of good cheer; … on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.”20
To doubters of that second witness—the Book of Mormon—the Lord issued a warning: “Because you have treated lightly the things you have received … [you] shall remain under … condemnation until [you] repent and remember … the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given … , [the Bible, and] … do according to that which I have written.”21
The Lord provided other scriptures of the Restoration22 and declared that those words will also be fulfilled.23 With these scriptural witnesses, false doctrines will be confounded.24 With these scriptural witnesses, doctrines of the Bible are not only reaffirmed but clarified.
Restoration Scriptures Clarify the Bible
How do scriptures of the Restoration clarify the Bible? Many examples exist. I will cite but a few, beginning with the Old Testament.
Isaiah wrote, “Thou shalt … speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.”25 Could any words be more descriptive of the Book of Mormon, coming as it did “out of the ground” to “whisper out of the dust” to people of our day?26
But Isaiah was not the only Old Testament prophet who foretold the Book of Mormon. Ezekiel wrote:
“Take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel … : then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel … :
“And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.”27
Today, Saints living in many nations of the earth gratefully hold the Bible (the stick of Judah) and the Book of Mormon (the stick of Ephraim) bound as one in their hands.
What about the New Testament? The Book of Mormon also stands as a scriptural witness to its teachings. Examples include the miraculous birth of the babe in Bethlehem,28 His Sermon on the Mount,29 and the intense suffering of the Savior.30 The doctrine of the Resurrection is mentioned more frequently in the Book of Mormon than in the Bible.31
The need for the Holy Ghost was mentioned by Paul. He asked, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost … ? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”32 That doctrine is clarified by another scriptural witness, conveyed through the Lord’s prophet of the Restoration. He taught us to “believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.”33 That precious and powerful gift is again available to children of God.
Paul referred to the three degrees of postmortal glory when he taught that “there is one glory of the sun, … another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars.”34 That glimpse into postmortal glory has been clarified by another scriptural witness. The Lord revealed that “the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one.
“And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one.
“And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one.”35
The highest of these kingdoms, the celestial, is reserved for those who obey the law of that kingdom:
“They who are not sanctified through the law … of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom.
“For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.”36
These three degrees of glory relate to postmortal life. They relate to the immortality of the human soul. That gift of immortality became a reality because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.37 This important word—atonement—in any of its forms, is mentioned only once in the King James Version of the New Testament!38 In the Book of Mormon, it appears 39 times!39
John, writing in the New Testament’s book of Revelation, foresaw “another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”40 One specific angel held keys of responsibility for the Book of Mormon.41 That was the angel Moroni! These examples are but a few of many biblical doctrines that are clarified by scriptures of the Restoration.42
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Willingly we share scriptures of the Restoration with people across the world. The Book of Mormon records the personal ministry of the resurrected Lord to people of ancient America. Ponder these everlasting truths that He proclaimed:
“Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. …
“… The scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled. …
“I am the light and the life of the world.”
The Savior continued:
“Whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost. …
“… I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
“Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. … I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me … and be saved.”43
Those declarations of the Lord summarize who He really is and who He really wants us to be. He wants us to come unto Him and, in due course, be embraced gloriously in His loving arms.
I express my profound gratitude for scriptural witnesses. I have seen the mighty change that comes to people who apply the Lord’s teachings in their lives. Such transformation leads to the blessing of eternal life.44
I know that God lives. Jesus is the Christ. His gospel has been restored in these latter days. President Gordon B. Hinckley is His prophet at this time. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
1. The full title is the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
2. The Restoration was foreseen by Peter (see Acts 3:19–21), John (see Revelation 14:6–8), and Paul (see Ephesians 1:10). The Prophet Joseph Smith was instructed that, in this last dispensation, there is to be a “restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began” (D&C 27:6).
3. Articles of Faith 1:8.
4. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed. (2003), “witness,” 1439.
5. 2 Corinthians 13:1. Similar statements appear in Matthew 18:16 and Ether 5:4.
6. Mormon 7:9.
7. To the prophet of this present dispensation, the Lord declared, “This generation shall have my word through you” (D&C 5:10).
8. See Alma 13:15; 3 Nephi 24:8–10.
9. See 2 Nephi 5:16; Jacob 1:17; 2:2, 11; Mosiah 2:5–7.
10. See Mosiah 13:16–19; 18:23.
11. See 2 Nephi 6:2; Mosiah 18:18; Alma 6:1; 13:1–3, 6–11; 3 Nephi 18:5; Moroni 3:1–4.
12. The Book of Mormon is to “make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved” (1 Nephi 13:40).
13. See 1 Nephi 13:40.
14. See 1 Nephi 13:28–29.
15. See 1 Nephi 13:40.
16. 2 Nephi 29:6.
17. 2 Nephi 29:7–8.
18. Because He is Creator of “worlds without number” (Moses 1:33), additional scriptures from other locations are a distinct possibility.
19. See Luke 2:4–6.
20. 3 Nephi 1:13.
21. D&C 84:54, 57.
22. See D&C 135:3.
23. See Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:31–35.
24. See 2 Nephi 3:12; Ezra Taft Benson, “A New Witness for Christ,” Ensign, Nov. 1984, 8.
25. Isaiah 29:4.
26. Isaiah foresaw that God would do “a marvellous work and a wonder” in the latter days (Isaiah 29:14). Those words of Isaiah echoed in the ears of inhabitants of ancient America: “The Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men” (2 Nephi 25:17). That marvelous work would include the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the gospel. Isaiah was quoted frequently in the Book of Mormon. A study of those quotations may be tedious, but it is not repetitious. Of 433 verses of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, 234 differ from their biblical counterparts.
27. Ezekiel 37:16–17.
28. See 1 Nephi 11:13–20; Alma 7:10.
29. See 3 Nephi 12–14.
30. See Mosiah 3:7. A firsthand account of His suffering was given to His latter-day prophet (see D&C 19:16–19).
31. The word resurrection appears in 40 verses of the King James Version of the Bible; it appears in 56 verses in the Book of Mormon. See also Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon (1997), 238–41.
32. Acts 19:2. See Acts 2:38 for the teaching of Peter regarding the need for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
33. History of the Church, 5:499.
34. 1 Corinthians 15:41.
35. D&C 76:96–98; see also 131:1.
36. D&C 88:21–22.
37. See Mosiah 16:10; Alma 42:23; Mormon 6:21.
38. See Romans 5:11.
39. Atonement: 28 times; atone or atoning: 8 times; atoneth: 3 times. In several verses, the word atonement appears more than once (see 2 Nephi 9:7; Alma 34:9; 42:23).
40. Revelation 14:6.
41. See D&C 27:5; 128:20.
42. The New Testament refers to “other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16). That doctrine is clarified in the Book of Mormon. It bears record of the resurrected Lord speaking to people of ancient America. There the Lord said, “Ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (3 Nephi 15:21).
A limited account of Paul’s knowledge of baptism for the dead appears in the New Testament (see 1 Corinthians 15:29). Only in scriptures of the Restoration is that divine doctrine clarified (see D&C 124:29–30, 41; 128:1, 11–12, 16–18; 138:47–48).
43. 3 Nephi 9:15–16, 18, 20–22.
44. See 3 Nephi 9:14; D&C 30:8.
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Hi Kevin
Welcome back Bill!
Kevin: im curious about your comment regarding saved by grace, and works is meaningless.
James 2:26
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Matthew 16:27
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Matthew 5:21
21 Not every one 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.
It seems to me that without grace, there is no hope; but without DOING the will of the Lord, there is no hope, either. Faith + Works allows Grace to be accomplished.
Thoughts?
Grace first, then faith, then works. That is pretty much God’s order since the beginning of time. Pretty simple.
Grace- provided by Christ- unmerited favor
Faith- we place in Christ- the starting point before any of our works count (as Christ said- REPENT- it doesn’t really matter to him if you place faith in Him as repentance OF or FROM sin- “just do it”, my Nike friends)
Works- we do through/for Christ- after our salvation, are rewarded for in heaven (though some like the ‘righteous’ man got his on earth for what he thought was his righteous work of a prayer…)
If you get them out of order you certainly can get down a bad path (and even worse for you eternally if you lead others down that path).
Personal opinion: the order you placed for “faith” and “works” can be easily interchanged. Example: I may not believe (faith) that I will lose weight by eliminating soda from my diet. However, I can go ahead and eliminate soda (works) and maybe I will, in fact, lose weight. You can do good works without necessarily having a solid faith.
Either way, the Grace part is still first. Can’t overcome that one in any way. No one can ever work his way to heaven without grace, but I still contend that works are essential to get to heaven. Jesus would not mean to say “I did it for you, come join me in heaven, no matter how bad you are and how little you believed and followed me.”
If works is a factor, everyone will go to hell, because nobody can do good enough. All have sinned and fell short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23). This is not to propose that Christianity should be used as a license to sin, what I’m trying to say, is that before anyone tries to put so much emphasis on works as a factor, do remember that without Christ, our personal endeavors towards righteousness is futile. In Galatians 2:21, Paul said: “: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”. Apostle Paul rebuked the Galatians when they started to place legalism into the equation of salvation. In Galatians 3:10 he said: “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Paul continues in 3:11-14 saying, “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, ‘The man who does these things will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit”.
Salvation is attained by faith in Jesus Christ alone (John 3:16). True faith, however, will result into good works. But these works do not come out as a result of our own endeavor. It results as a fruit of the Spirit which resides in us when we invite Jesus Christ into our lives (Galatians 5:22).
In my own opinion therefore, we should be very careful when discussing about works. I am not saying that it shouldn’t be discussed. What I’m saying is that we should be very careful not to present it as if it is a factor to the attainment of salvation. Otherwise, it will send a lot of people into doubting their own faith.
True faith, however, will result into good works.
That is the key. I agree that no one can “work” their way into heaven, exaltation, whatever term you want to use. However, by the same reasoning, one cannot blow off works and service by saying “i have faith” and choose to sin instead.
Sin will happen; none of us are perfect. We must however TRY.