Total Life Insight For Decisionmaking For a Quality Life

Now let us examine the relationship between salvation and law with respects to works.

In Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus gives the greatest commandments. In summary he says it is all about love for God, love for self, and love for others.

So then it is reasonable to say that all works is a matter of the law.

Except when noted, I however, herein use the word works to refer to works specifically documented in written form in the Holy Bible.

For these are the type of works that have been and are controversial in the faith world.

The issue before us is to what extent, if any, the role of works has in God’s determination of our salvation.

The scripture in Ephesians 2:8-10 provides a foundational framework for answering this question. These scriptures say the following.

For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Now the part that says for by grace are you saved through faith provides the basis for our salvation.

The part that says not of works but is a gift tells us that salvation does not come through our works. Rather, it comes as a free gift through our faith.

As a matter of fact, Paul in Romans 3 addresses salvation through faith, the insufficiency of works yet the importance of works. In Romans 3 he also addresses the inappropriateness of boasting in works.

Let us observe that for our purposes here salvation and righteousness are functionally the same.

Let us observe that to be justified is to be declared or considered righteous by God.

Let us observe what the Holy Spirit through Paul says in Romans 3:19-26.

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Again, the part that says not of works less any of us should be able to boast tells us that the foundation of our salvation is not work but it is faith.

Paul speaks the same principle, the same concept in Romans 3:27-31 where he speaks on the inappropriateness of boasting, the inclusive opportunity for all regardless of nationality or race, and the insufficiency yet importance of works. These scriptures say the following.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

In other words, works give us no right to boast.

The fact that we are saved by faith and not works excludes any kind of boasting and justifiably so.

For we are not justified in any kind of boasting because of works, our works are insufficient to boast.

But the law of faith provides the foundation for our salvation. We are justified by faith apart from the works of the law. For salvation is a gift. Not something we earn. It is a gift. It’s like someone provides you with a gift. It’s not something you earned. If it was something you earned, then it would not be a gift. It would be payment.

But Jesus paid our price on our behalf by his sacrificial death on the cross. He redeemed us from the hands of the enemy Satan by paying the price for us. Observe that the scriptures in Galatians 3:10-14 say the following.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them
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But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

So we can see how Christ has paid the price for us.

Now we might receive rewards such as promotion and perhaps even greater pay for even our natural work here on earth. But that’s not a gift.

Salvation doesn’t work that way. Salvation is a gift.

That’s because we cannot work good enough according to God’s standard of righteousness to earn salvation. We can’t do it according to God’s standard under Christ.

Well at least I don’t know of any except Christ who have lived a perfect sinless holy life which is God’s standard. For he says in Matthew 5:48 and in 1 Peter 1:16-17 where we have …

Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

(Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy.

And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Now we must keep in mind that our faith involves labor in the sense that our faith must produce good works.

Jesus speaks to that in John 14:15 where he speaks of us obeying the commandments of God if we love him. Jesus also speaks of that in Matthew 5:16 where he talks about his disciples letting their light shine by doing good works that glorifies the Father.

Paul speaks of that in 2 Corinthians 5:6-11 where we find the following.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

So again, numerous scriptures attest to the importance of doing good work s even though good works do not form the basis for our salvation. Indeed, all humans including Christians shall be judged for what we have done while in this flesh as 2 Corinthians 5:10 says.

Now people have their view of what that scripture means. But for me whatever it means I want to be judged for doing good and not evil, for striving against sin in the words of Hebrews 12:4, for not being satisfied in surrendering to sin.

In Ezekiel 18:20 God says the soul that sinneth shall die. And Romans 6:23 and Romans 7:24-25 says the following.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Now for me it does not make sense that I can go around living a lawless life and that will be okay with God. So to me a holy attitude toward sin is very important and attitude contributes much to our actions.

I thank God that when I fall short I have an advocate in Jesus Christ and an opportunity to go before the throne of grace confessing my sins with godly sorrow in the spirit of repentance. For 1 John 1:8-9 says the following.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Now we know that even under Moses righteousness was by the law. But the law included sacrifice.

These sacrifices mostly if not totally involved the participation of a priest. So it was not totally the individual doings. The individual participated but so did the priest.

The priest did so as a representative of God on the people’s behalf. This is because our works are insufficient.

They were insufficient then and they are insufficient now.

Such sacrifices pointed to the Messiah who was to later come. The Messiah came in the form of Jesus Christ.

For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son; that is, God sacrificed his only begotten son.

Having said that, we must understand the Bible goes on to say in Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

And so it’s not like the law is just disbanded, casted aside.

Though our work is insufficient, we are to still work.

We are to still be obedient unto good works.

Works do not form the foundation for our salvation. Yet, works are an outcome of our salvation.

Romans 3:31 says Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. In other words, the law still has a role in our lives.

Jesus speaks to this in Matthew Chapter 5. He says of his disciple and to his disciple (Matthew 5:13-16) with respect to them as the salt of the earth and light of the world.

And so we still have good works to do, and this includes aspects of the law under Moses.

I emphasize that we should keep in mind that some of the law of Moses is included in the law of Christ, but not all of the law of Moses is included in the law of Christ.

So good works that we are to do under Christ does not include everything having to do with the law of Moses.

Let us consider the issue of whether some of the law of Moses yet applies. The fact that some of the law yet applies is illustrated by Ephesians 6:2 and Exodus 20:12 which say the following.

(Ephesians 6:2) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

(Exodus 20:12) Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

So we see that in Ephesians 6:2 Paul clearly quotes from one of the Ten Commandments about honoring parents as given in Exodus 20:12. So that particular law given under Moses clearly applies to all Christians even today.

There are some things in the law of Moses that no longer apply under the law of Christ in that they have been fulfilled, changed, or voided/deleted or made obsolete.

The laws concerning the sacrifices have been fulfilled.

If we can show in scripture that at least one law has been changed from what it was under Moses then it would be right to say the law has changed.

Now to say the law has changed does not mean every law has changed and it certainly does not mean every law is done away with.

It simply mean the changed part is done away with.

The fact that the law has changed is explicitly stated in Hebrews 7:12 where it says: For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

This change has to do with Jesus from the tribe of Judah now being our High Priest whereas before Christ, the law said the High Priest must be from the tribe of Levi. For Hebrews 4:14-16 says the following.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

So then, we have at least one example where the Bible says the law has changed. It is therefore righteous and proper and truth to say the law has changed.

And some additional law has been added, brought in under Christ.

One thing added is given in John 13:34-35. There Jesus says:

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

Now we were always commanded to love our neighbors. But Christ adds the words as I have loved you. That’s a new commandment.

A further issue is the disagreement that people have over what part of the law of Moses yet applies.

There are six major areas in which there is disagreement over which laws of Moses no longer apply and if they apply to what extent do they still apply.

These areas are: