[razorbak]

Satan’s greatest lie may be that good works can help sinners escape the punishment of hell and merit the joy of heaven. This lie is used by all world religions to control people and hold them in legalistic bondage. It may be the most damning lie perpetrated on the human race because the saving grace of God is nullified by man’s worthless works (Rom. 11:6). Since grace, the unmerited favor of God, is the only means by which God saves sinners, anyone attempting to merit eternal life has instead earned death (Rom. 6:23). Only by God’s grace do we get what we don’t deserve—heaven. And only by His mercy do we avoid getting what we do deserve—hell.
The only work that can save sinners is the work of God. Jesus Christ finished the work that was impossible for finite man to do (Psalm 49:7-8). He paid the eternal debt for sin and lived the perfect life required for entrance into heaven. Christ died "for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God" (1 Pet. 3:18). By His death and resurrection He completed the work of man’s redemption. Thus for sinful man to believe his works can add to, co-mingle with, complement or surpass the perfect work of Christ is an insult to God’s holiness and justice.

Why then are we exhorted to be zealous for good works and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Titus 2:14; Phil. 2:12)? And why does James say that man is justified by works and not by faith alone (Jas. 2:24)? Let us search the Scriptures.

Three Elements of Salvation

First we must understand that there are three tenses in salvation. For believers in the Lord Jesus Christ salvation is past (justification), present (sanctification) and pending (glorification). This is why the Bible reveals that Christians have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved. All Christians have been saved (past tense) from the penalty of sin. Paul writes, "you have been saved through faith…not as a result of works" (Eph. 2:8). At the moment of faith, the sinner is justified and has a right standing before God that is permanent (Heb. 10:14). He cannot be condemned again (Rom. 8:1). After justification, believers begin working out their salvation with fear and trembling (sanctification) by doing the good works God has prepared for them (Eph. 2:10). Sanctification is an ongoing process whereby Jesus is manifested in Christians which saves them from the power of sin (2 Cor. 4:11). Paul wrote: "to us who are being saved, it [the message of the cross] is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). Glorification is still future and will not occur until Jesus saves believers from the presence of sin. The Bible reveals: "Christ…will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him" (Heb. 9:28).

Justification Is Not A Result of Works

Paul wrote: "The one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness (Rom. 4:5). In another passage we see "man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law (Rom. 3:28). Those who believe they can gain a right standing before God with their works and their own righteousness do not know God or His Gospel (Rom. 10:1-4). If they knew the righteousness of God they would know all their righteous works are like filthy rags in His sight (Isa. 64:6). They would know the only way to approach Him would be with empty hands of faith, bringing nothing except their sins. All human works prior to justifying faith are not acceptable to God because "without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Heb. 11:6). The Bible clearly states over and over again that works are unable to secure salvation. "By the works of the Law no flesh will be justified" (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16). Salvation is "not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness" (Titus 3:5). God saved us "not according to our works" (2 Tim. 1:9). Even works done in the name of Christ will not secure salvation (Mat. 7:22-23). Salvation is based entirely on God’s doing so "that no man should boast before God" (1 Cor. 1:29; Rom. 4:2).

Reconciling James and Paul

How does James appear to contradict Paul by saying: "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone" (Jas. 2:24). It is because Paul is dealing with the nature of justification and James is dealing with the nature of faith. James is asking professing Christians, who have not shown any evidence for their new life in Christ, to "show me your faith" (Jas. 2:18). But faith is invisible to man. It is an unseen relationship between man and God. Since faith can not be seen, the best way to prove one’s faith is to be "doers of the word and not merely hearers" (Jas. 1:22). Those who do the word of God will live a righteous life in obedience to God. That is why James said: "I will show you my faith by my works" (Jas. 2:18).

Faith alone justifies but faith that justifies is never alone. It gives evidence of its existence by righteous living. James is concerned for professing Christians who have dead faith which is idle, barren, and unfruitful (Jas 2:17). He is saying that dead faith does not justify and it is useless (Jas. 2:20). Only genuine faith is alive and bears fruit. James is saying that a man who claims to have a right relationship with God will live a life of good works. You cannot have faith without works, nor justification without sanctification.

The epistle of James reflects the teaching of Jesus who said that when you bear fruit you "prove to be My disciples" (Jn. 15:8). No fruit is an indication that you are separated from Christ. Jesus also taught that a tree is known by its fruit (Mt. 7:16-20). Just as works do not produce justification, the fruit does not bring the tree into existence. It only reveals the type of tree that it is.

Works Will Be Tested

Only some of the works done after justification are intrinsically good and acceptable to God. All the works of a Christian will be tested by fire. The good works, described by Paul, as gold, silver and precious stones, will survive the fire and result in rewards at the Bema seat. They are works done in faith, motivated by a love of God, in obedience to the will of God and for His glory. The worthless works are described as wood, hay and straw. They will be burned up, and the believer shall suffer the loss of rewards (1 Cor. 3:12-15).

Four Tests for Good Works

1) The timing of the works performed. They must be done after justification not before (Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:12; 1 Thes. 1:3).

2) The motivation for the works. They must be done in love and thanksgiving for being chosen and redeemed by God, not to merit salvation (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Thes. 5:18).

3) The power in which the works are accomplished. They must be accomplished through faith in God’s power, not through the power of man’s flesh (John 15:5; Rom. 15:13, Phil 2:12; Col. 1:29; 2 Thes. 1:11; Heb. 11:6).

4) The glory the works produce. They must glorify God not man (Acts 4:21; Mat. 5:16; John 15:8; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:23; 1 Pet. 2:12).

Worthless works will fail all or some of these tests. They include all works done before justification, as well as works done after justification that either seek to earn God’s favor or man’s glory. An example is the rebuke by Jesus of the scribes and Pharisees: "they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments (Mat. 23:5). Paul wrote of those who "profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed (Titus 1:16).

Roman Catholic Justification

Roman Catholic teaching on justification places more emphasis on works, sacraments and obeying the law than on personal faith. In fact, Catholics are condemned if they believe they are justified by faith alone. Canon 9 of the Council of Trent states: "If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification...let him be anathema." The Catholic Church teaches that the grace of justification comes, not through faith but through the sacraments, beginning with baptism. From paragraph 1992 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read: "Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy." Paragraph 2027 teaches Catholics that they can merit the unmerited favor of God: "Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church opposes God’s Word by teaching justification:

1) is not by faith, but is obtained without personal faith through baptism (1992)

2) is not entirely the work of God, but a cooperative work between God and man (1993)

3) is not permanent, but can be lost by sin and regained through sacraments (1446)

4) is not different from sanctification, but includes it (2019)

5) is not a legal declaration by God, but conforms us to the righteousness of God (2020)

In conclusion, no one can be saved by trying to merit God’s favor. His word reveals that we are justified by grace—the unmerited and undeserved gift of God (Rom. 3:24). This gift can only be received when one forsakes all efforts to save him or her self and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). The grace that brings us salvation instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-12). Thus, the life of a justified person produces evidence that reflects the divine nature that has been imparted. In this way God alone is worthy of all honor, glory and praise.

[TheCrusader]

"In conclusion, no one can be saved by trying to merit God’s favor."

That was the most roundabout way I've ever read to make this simple point. However, the Catholic teaching of "faith and works" by no means implies or presumes that people can find salvation by doing good deeds, or without the grace of God. This is the twisting of words and doctrine perpetrated by Protestants and Fundamentalists, (heretics all), that insidiously attempts to present Catholic doctrine as something other than it is. They set up the straw-man of "works", then attack the straw man as though it were Catholic doctrine. If the Catholic Church taught that good works saves a soul, then there would be no need for priests, the Sacraments, or to teach about Jesus Christ, the Bible, or the gospel. The Church would simply become like the Salvation Army and do good deeds and buy a ticket to Heaven. But such teaching is not the case, and never was.

Taking all of those Scriptural verses alone and trying to make a case from each of them is called "Fundamentalism", which is the greatest Protestant apostasy of the last four centuries. Scripture must be taken in its entirely, the whole picture, or else you present an illusion, (as Satan attempted to do with Jesus when he tempted Him in the desert with Bible verses). Any text without a context is always a pretext.

To truly understand the Bible, particularly the New Testament, one must look not only at the text, but at how the early Church Fathers, Saints and Bishops, (who were taught by the Apostles and the disciples of the Apostles), understood and wrote about the Bible. This is called TRADITION, as Saint Paul said we must follow in 2 Thess. 2:15 and 2 Thess. 3:6).

Saint Paul tells us clearly that we must put our Christian faith and gifts into practice, and that we have a role in our own salvation:

"Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (I Timothy 4: 15-16).

In 2 Peter we read on two occasions that self interpreting the Bible is dangerous to our souls, and we are warned against this practice. (2 Peter 1:20 / 2 Peter 3:16).

Yours is a doctrine of pride and disobedience, for the Bible demands that we act on our faith and that we do certain things that display our faith and our obedience to Christ's doctrines. Hear what Saint Paul says:

"---inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might" (2 Thess. 1: 8-9)

Again, Paul tells us that our faith and our souls can be lost if we do not remain vigilent:

"For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised". (Hebrews 10:36)

Listen to what Mark writes about your diluted theology in his gospel:

""Well did Isiah prophesy of you hyppocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me'. (Mark 7:6) Nothing could be stated more clearly that being a true Christian entails doing and action, and not just some artificial profession of faith.

Though the Bible is great for teaching and quoting, it alone does not open the eyes of the believer. In fact, the Bible itself reveals this to us when Jesus was walking the road to Emmaus with the two believers. Jesus "opened the scriptures" to them, yet they still did not recognize Him. It was only when Jesus gave them the Eucharist, (when He broke the bread and blessed it, and gave them to eat), that "their eyes were opened". (Luke 24: 32-35)

But Protestants and Fundamentalists, unfortunately, do not eat the Eucharist as Jesus revealed this life-giving Sacrament in John 6:56. This is the reason for their spiritual blindness. The first Protestants just could not accept that they were truly eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking His blood, so they "departed from Jesus, and walked with him no more". (Jonh 6:66)

"He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever." This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Caperna-um. Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.