Grace + Works is Dead

[jimmyjimmy]

We all know that faith without works is dead, but judging by many posts I've seen in this forum, it's clear many don't realize that grace + works is dead as well. Adding any works to grace ca. It can't save.

"Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due." (Romans 4:4)

"And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:6)

I would like to explore some of the ways in which people add works to grace, and what happens to them and their theology as a result because in spite of the clear teaching on this subject, it's often ignored.

Something is always lost when we try to add to grace. How have you seen people misunderstand or ignore this concept?

 

[High Fidelity]

I'm not sure I understand.

Grace through faith is saving. Works, in my opinion, are a result of faith and aren't a means of levying favour with God and would be irrelevant in the equation, but I can't see how works would cancel out grace unless your argument is that works are done selfishly and not selflessly and thus negating extension of grace?

Forgive me... I'm yet to take my morning coffee!

 

[Soyeong]

We all know that faith without works is dead, but judging by many posts I've seen in this forum, it's clear many don't realize that grace + works is dead as well. It can't save.

I would like to explore some of the ways in which people add works to grace, and what happens to them and their theology as a result.

Something is always lost when we try to add to grace. Have you seen a misunderstanding of this concept?

Justification is by grace, but so is our sanctification. Grace is the divine influence on our hearts and its reflection in our lives. It is by grace through faith that we are able to do good works (Ephesians 2:8-10) and the grace that we have received brings about the faith of obedience (Romans 1:5). Grace is not an exemption from doing good works, but the way in which good works are done. Adding good works to grace would be saying that you need to do them in order to become justified, but I haven't seen anyone in this forum suggesting that. The law was not given to provide a means of justification through our own efforts, but was given make us aware of our sin and to instruct how to by faith do good works and avoid sin.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I'm not sure I understand.

Grace through faith is saving. Works, in my opinion, are a result of faith and aren't a means of levying favour with God and would be irrelevant in the equation, but I can't see how works would cancel out grace unless your argument is that works are done selfishly and not selflessly and thus negating extension of grace?

Forgive me... I'm yet to take my morning coffee!

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I was referring to God's saving us by the grace He gives rather than by works we accomplish.

 

[High Fidelity]

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I was referring to God's saving us by the grace He gives rather than by works we accomplish.

Ahh, absolutely. I agree.

I've always considered it somewhat disingenuous for works(in pursuit of a reward) to be considered righteous.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

We all know that faith without works is dead, but judging by many posts I've seen in this forum, it's clear many don't realize that grace + works is dead as well. Adding any works to grace ca. It can't save.

"Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due." (Romans 4:4)

"And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:6)

I would like to explore some of the ways in which people add works to grace, and what happens to them and their theology as a result because in spite of the clear teaching on this subject, it's often ignored.

Something is always lost when we try to add to grace. How have you seen people misunderstand or ignore this concept?

Of course we are not saved by man directed works. We are saved by God's grace and by the washing of the regeneration of the Holy Ghost (TItus 3:5). We are saved by abiding in Jesus Christ who is the source of a person's eternal life (1 John 5:12). So if a person abides in Christ, then the work of Christ (God) will be evident in their life (As a natural result). No works of God means God does not live in a person and a person cannot be saved without God living within them.

As for Romans 4, this is obvious that Paul is talking about the works of the Law of Moses and in coming to the faith. For in that chapter Paul talks about circumcision (Which is a part of the Old Covenant Law and not the New Covenant Commands).

As for Romans 11, these words were spoken to Israel who had a Man Directed Plan of Salvation. This does not mean God is against allowing His good work to flow thru a believer. Good works are merely the result of salvation; And Paul says we are to prove whether or not Christ is in us or not unless we are reprobrate. The only way to prove that Christ is in us if we have the good fruit in our lives to prove it.

Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 7 that the person who does not do what Jesus says is like a fool who built his house upon the sand whereby a storm came and destroyed it greatly.


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