Peter Ramsay posted on August 03, 2010 17:21
6818 views
Faith vs. Works – The Final Word
Heaven is a Gift - Not a Reward
“But don’t you believe that ‘works’ must have some role to play in a person’s salvation? A person’s performance must count for something in God’s sight. It can’t be a ‘free’ ride! That’s cheap thinking. If you want to use Abraham as an example – just look at his own personal contributions towards his salvation. As an adult male, he submitted to that excruciatingly painful procedure of circumcision long before there was any local anesthetic to deaden the pain. He complied with everything God wanted him to do. All of those things about Abraham’s personal performance must have counted for something in his being right with God.”
“For what does the Scripture say?
“Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
And to the one who does not work
but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is counted as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3,4,5
It seems somewhat logical that human effort must play a part. It seems reasonable to think that something so great as salvation and justification (right with God in every way) would be the reward of those who diligently worked to please God. People and their religions think that way today. Not surprisingly, the Jews in the Apostle Paul’s day thought that way too. Personal works and merit must count for something. In fact, many churches who claim to fly the Christian flag teach the same thing. The more good you do the better the chance you have of finding favor with God and being accepted by God. It sounds like a good plan. Better said: it sounds like a human plan!
What’s the final word in this age-old debate? Paul clears the deck of the debris of human reasoning by asking the question: “For what does the Scripture say?” The final authority on this all important matter is – not what the church says or teaches. The final authority is the Scriptures – the Word of God. What does the Bible say?
Long before Abraham submitted to the painful procedure of circumcision he was justified – made right and fully accepted by God. How did this happen? By simple faith in God, believing and resting on God’s Word – what God had promised He was also able to perform. The moment he believed God, God brought him into a right-standing with Himself. If Abraham had to work for such a standing it would have been a reward from God. But enjoying a right standing with God is not a reward – it’s a gift!
Justification comes via faith not works. That’s what the Bible teaches and that’s the bottom line.
Is it cheap or of little value because we don’t have to work for it? Absolutely not! There was nothing cheap about it. The cost was fully absorbed by God when He gave up His Son Jesus Christ to the death of the Cross.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
We have peace with God
Through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1
Don’t ever buy the human argument that a person’s works and deeds and behaviour contribute something to the process of them being saved or justified before God.
If you would like to be right with God, forget about your works or your efforts or your devotion or your faithfulness. The only way for you to be right with God is simply to let go of all your own reasonings and face the fact: “I am just a sinner who has nothing to offer God. On my own I am lost and helpless.” The moment you face that reality about yourself and turn to Christ for salvation – is the moment He saves you.
Do you have such a moment? It is referred to as the moment of conversion. Without it, you will never be fit for Heaven.
Heaven is a gift - not a reward!
Your works and your devotion and your faithfulness AFTER you receive Christ by faith, is totally acceptable to God – in fact, it is His expectation that once you are saved you will live a changed life for His pleasure. Ephesians 2:8,9,10
