Works and Salvation

 

We are taught that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Yet there are all these other things we are told we are to do to live the Christian life. Do I have to do all this stuff do keep my salvation? If not then why do I have to do all this? What does God say about all of this?

 

Requirements for Salvation

What God says:

 

·       Salvation is received by believing on Jesus Christ.

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

(Acts 16:30-31)

 

·       Salvation is not by anything I do, for if I commit one sin I am guilty of all.

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

(James 2:8-10)

 

 

·       Salvation is a Free Gift from God, which makes us His workmanship unto good works.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

(Ephesians 2:1-10)

 

·       Salvation is a free gift by God’s grace otherwise men would boast of how they achieved their salvation. Seeing that salvation is free where do works fit in?

 

 

 

The Place of Works

What God says:

 

·       Because I am saved I do these things, for I have been created in Christ to do good works.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

(Ephesians 2:10)

 

·        I show my salvation to others by my works, without them my faith is dead.

“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. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

(James 2:17-20)

 

·       Does that mean if I do not do all these things I lose my salvation? No, As we see in John 6:37 that there is no way we can be cast out, that is lose our salvation.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

(John 6:37)

 

·       Simply put we do these works because of our salvation and because we love Christ for the great price He paid to save us. If we love Christ we will…

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

(John 14:15)

 

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

(John 14:23)

 

·        It has been rightly said by one man: “The chief end of man [the reason for man’s very existence] is to glorify God”

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

(1 Corinthians 10:31)

 

Altogether

We cannot earn salvation; however after we are saved we are made to glorify God through our works because we love God for what He has done for us. Can people see that we love God? Do others see us glorifying God?