FRiend, the Bible teaches ALL SIN IS MORTAL. One sin is sufficient to damn a man to hell.
The hub of this debate over the gospel of Rome and the Christian gospel is the simple word “alone.”
Scripture teaches that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Rome attempts to add works in to the equation, thereby nullifying grace.
“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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6)
We are saved “unto 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)
The Bible likens the very best works of men to filthy rags. When a man offers his filthy works to God in exchange for a pardon for sin we know he does not recognize the awesome holiness of God or the extent of his own crimes against God. God’s honor is at stake. If God did not deal with sin harshly he would cease to be God because it would be a violation of His very nature. It’s fashionable to focus on the love of God, and rightly so. What isn’t so fashionable is to also hold the wrath of God in view, but His wrath is as much a part of His holy character as His love.
Either sinners will pay for their sin or their sin will be charged in full to the account of Christ Jesus. That’s what imputation is all about. King David came to understand that his sins would be not be charged to his account, instead they would be charged (imputed) to the account of Christ. David wrote, “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity.” In order to enter heaven God requires spotless perfection. The one and only way for a sinner to attain that kind of perfection is through the imputation of Christ’s perfect righteousness to the account of the sinner.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Works will never allow a sinner to traverse that gulf between fallen humanity and the holy God of the universe for the wages of sin is death. When a man understands that every single aspect of his being has been tainted by sin he begins to understand the seriousness of his problem and the futility of his pitiful works. He begins to realize how ridiculous it is to attempt to add to Christ’s finished work at the cross. He begins to understand that he doesn’t want his just due (his wages), he wants, indeed he must have, an ocean of GRACE.
In Romans 4 the Apostle Paul explained that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. He went on to explain that Christians are justified in the exact same manner.
“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Now skip forward to the end of that chapter and read where Paul said this wasn’t just true for Abraham.
23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
The Bible also tells us “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.” (Rom 10:4)
Please understand that Christ (the cross of Christ) is the end of the law “for righteousness.” As Paul made clear in Romans 4, righteousness is by faith, by believing God. Righteousness does NOT come through the keeping of the Law. Paul said in Galatians that the law serves as a school master to lead us to Christ. (Gal 3:24)
No one but Jesus has ever kept the law perfectly. The law condemns the best of us and Grace saves the worst of us. The law serves a purpose and that is to bring us to an end of ourselves so that we will realize our need for a Savior.
“For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” (Roman 5:13)
We are no longer under law but grace. The above verse refers to believers. To know if you are under grace just look at what it means to fall from grace...
“You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” (Galations 5:4)
When you try to be justified by anything other than Christ’s finished work of the cross you have fallen from grace. To be under Grace is to have your faith completely in the righteousness that only comes from faith in the cross apart from works.
Galatians 3:1-29 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
So true! The very thing EVERY religion teaches their followers is what they must do in order to achieve the reward. It doesn't matter if that is paradise, nirvana, heaven or happy hunting grounds, man MUST make himself worthy to deserve it. Those who insist that their works and deeds are what merit them heaven are in truth falling from the grace of God, they are rejecting God's grace and trying to submit their righteousness instead. That is why Christianity is opposite from every other religion out there. It's not what we must do to bind ourselves back to God but what HE has done to bind us back to Himself. That is the true GOOD NEWS!