- Jul 22, 2014
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Rom 4:1-8;
Romans 4:4, and Works of Earning Money vs. Works of Responsibility in Owning a Free Gift.
To him that works his reward is not of grace but it is of debt as if it was some kind of obligation like at a job whereby he works so as to earn money.
"Now to a laborer, his wages are not counted as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation (something owed to him)." (Romans 4:4) (AMPC).
So yes. I agree. Works Alone or trading dollars for hours like at a job involving salvation is wrong. Muslims are wrong because they have no grace or rest ever. It is purely a works based system of salvation in the Muslim religion and no grace or mercy (like with Christ) if they mess up. Their good deeds have to outweigh their bad deeds.
But this is not the same thing as "Works of Responsibility in Owning a Free Gift."
I believe God's grace is a free gift as Scripture says (Ephesians 2:8). Gifts are received, and then we do works of responsibility to take care of those gifts.
Let me give you an example:
If Rick received a car as a free gift from his dad, does that mean he can run red lights, drive drunk, and hit pedestrians? No. If he were to do that, he would not have his gift for very long. Now, was his car any less a free gift because he had to do works of responsibility in possessing his free gift? No. Did Rick have to work at a job and get a loan to buy this car? No. It was a free gift from his dad.
So working like at a job (trading dollars for hours) is not the same as doing "Works of responsibility in owning a free gift." Paul is not talking about responsibility in possessing Jesus Christ (Who is our gift). Paul is talking about trying to earn your salvation by a system of "Works Salvationism Alone" that did not include God's grace at all.
Side Note:
Also, Paul mentions in Romans 4:9-12 about the order of belief and circumcision involving Abraham. Paul's point here was to fight against "Circumcision Salvationism" (Which is the context you are ignoring). You want Paul's words to be about "ALL Law" (Including the commands of Jesus, and His followers), but Paul is actually fighting against the idea of men who thought they had to first be circumcised in order to be saved (See Romans 3:1, Galatians 2:3, Galatians 5:2, Acts of the Apostles 15:1, Acts of the Apostles 15:5, Acts of the Apostles 15:24).
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