SPECIAL TEACHING TEAM
THE SPECIAL TEAM IS NOW WRITING ARTICLES ON VARIOUS BIBLE TOPICS.
FAITH AND WORKS
An essay describing the beautiful harmony between Paul (Ephesians 2:8-10), Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46), and James (James 2: 14-26)
When one reads Ephesians 2:8-9, where Paul writes:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast,”
Then reads James 2: 24 where James writes: “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone,”
Then caps it all off with the judgment day scene painted by Jesus himself saying in Matthew 25: 34-36 to the saved:
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
And then finds Jesus saying to those on his left in Matthew 25:41-43:
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
One is led to ask the question: Is salvation by grace through faith without works as some interpret Paul or is one saved by what he does as Jesus and James seem to indicate? Does the Bible contradict itself or is there perfect harmony between these Scriptures. I believe that there is perfect harmony when one understands these Scriptures in the context of the first century when they were written.
DEFINING WORKS
Look closely at Ephesians 2: 8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast,”
What did Paul mean by the term works? Did he mean any kind of work such as feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, preaching the gospel and such like or did he mean specifically getting circumcised and keeping the Law of Moses. I believe that I can show conclusively that Paul used works to refer solely to getting circumcised and keeping the Law of Moses while James and Jesus used works to refer to works of compassion like feeding the hungry and visiting the sick.
In Greek as well as English, the same word can have different meanings depending on context. Take the English word “hand” for example. Hand can mean the thing you put a glove on or it can mean what you draw in a card game or it can be used to measure the height of a horse. A horse, for example, may be 15 hands high—a hand is approximately 4 inches.
The first key to understanding works in Ephesians 2: 8-9 is to see what Paul connected to the word-- not by works, so that no one can boast,” he connected works to “boasting.” Look what Paul said about boasting in
GALATIANS 6:13 Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh.
See it again in:
ROMANS: 3:27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
Our first clue is boasting. Paul was saying that one did not have to keep the Law of Moses and get circumcised in order to be saved. If we are right in this interpretation, other Scriptures should back it up and they do.
Many people quote this Ephesians 2:8-9 without really looking at what it says. Let us look more closely at exactly what it says and what it does not say: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast,”
Was “saved” in past, present or future tense? Answer: “have been saved,” past tense. Paul was speaking of the time these Ephesian disciples were born again. At that point the newly born Christian has done nothing to earn that. It was paid for 100% when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus took all their sins and they didn’t have to pay for any of them. On the other hand, the Bible does speak of salvation in future tense. For example:
1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Was Timothy a born again Christian when Paul wrote this letter to him? Of course he was. He was a minister. He was asked to appoint elders in God’s church. Then how could Paul speak of Timothy’s salvation in future tense--- you will save both yourself and your hearers? Paul was speaking of the time when Jesus says to him and to all saved Christians (the sheep),
Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Timothy was exhorted to watch his life and doctrine closely and to persevere in them and promised, if he did, the reward—salvation for himself and his hearers. But, someone objects, isn’t that “works” and didn’t Paul say “not by works?” Paul was speaking of works to boast about—circumcision and Law of Moses keeping. One did not have to do these to be born again. Paul in Ephesians was speaking of the first salvation, new birth, and in Timothy he is speaking about the second, future salvation of being invited into heaven.
We must understand Ephesians 2: 8-9 in the context of the first century when it was written. The church started in
Acts 15:1-35
1 Some men came down from Judea to
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up: “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16 ”‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’
18 that have been known for ages.
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in
Greetings.
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
30 The men were sent off and went down to
The central issue and the purpose of this meeting is clearly stated in verse 5:
Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
What was the issue before this august meeting? Must Gentiles be circumcised and required to keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved? Remember, they were saying in verse 1 “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” The issue is clearly before us. After much debate the conclusion was that, no, the Gentiles did not have to keep the Law of Moses and get circumcised. They then wrote a letter back to
How much authority did this letter have? 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: It came from the Holy Spirit and Apostles. This letter should have settled the question for ever: Do Gentiles have to keep the Law of Moses and get circumcised? “No,” is the answer provided by the Apostles and the Holy Spirit
Unfortunately, this letter did not settle the question. This heresy, that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses, spread all over the New Testament world as is evidenced in most of Paul’s letters.
Galatians 5:2-4 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
How serious was this heresy in the mind of God who inspired Paul to write this letter? A born again disciple can fall away from grace! If you Galatians go for circumcision, then Christ is of no value to you at all. If you let yourself be circumcised, now you are obligated to obey the whole law. Then, trying to be justified by law, you have fallen away from grace.
(from this point on I will use the NAS unless otherwise stated)
Much of the Galatians letter is taken up with this issue—do Gentiles have to get circumcised and keep the Law of Moses.
Galatians 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
GALATIANS 3:24-25 Therefore the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Galatians 6:12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ
Galatians 3:1-2 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
This heresy was so entrenched in
No only in
It spread to the church in Colosse:
Colossians 2:14-17 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
What was the “written code” which was cancelled? The Law of Moses was what was nailed to the cross. How do we know? He lists provisions of the Law of Moses which Judaism was attempting to bind on these Colossians— what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. Then Paul says what the Colossians should think about “these things,”---they are a shadow. When Christians are holding on to these provisions of the Law of Moses, they are holding on to a shadow and not the reality found in Christ.
This doctrine of forcing Christians to keep the Law and be circumcised spread to
PHILIPPIANS 3:2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision
The same doctrine spread to
TITUS 1:10-11 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
And, yes, it spread to
EPHESIANS 2:14-15 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
The two groups here were the Gentiles and Jewish Christians and the dividing wall was circumcision and the Law of Moses which Christ broke down and abolished in his flesh. Sounds like what Paul wrote to the Colossians, he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Now observe how many times the phrase “works of the Law” is used in the New Testament:
Galatians 2:16 Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law; since by the works* of the law shall no flesh be justified.
In just this one verse it is used three times! This might lead one to the conclusion that Paul meant “Works of the Law of Moses” in Ephesians 2: 8-9.
BIBLE VERSIONS IN MY LIBRARY WHICH TRANSLATE ERGON AS “WORKS” RATHER THAN “OBSERVING:”
1.THE KING JAMES,
2.DARBY TRANSLATION
3.REVISED STANDARD, 4. THE MESSAGE
5.NEW AMERICAN STANDARD, 6.WEBSTER BIBLE
7.THE CATHOLIC VERSION,
8.THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN ENGLISH,
9.YOUNGS LITERAL TRANSLATION,
10.WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE,
11.BIBLE IN BASIC ENGLISH
Perhaps the NIV translators did not want their readers to associate works in Ephesians 2: 8-9 with “works of the Law of Moses.”
Other Scriptures which refer to the “works” of the Law of Moses:
Galatians 3:2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
Galatians 3:10 for as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law to proclaim them.”
Let us summarize what we’ve learned so far. Look closely at Ephesians 2: 8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast,”
Paul was speaking of the new birth that these Ephesians had received: you have been saved, past tense, not future tense. At the point of the new birth, one has done nothing to earn that, therefore it is by grace and through faith. Next, not by works, in the context of the first century, as shown above, Paul was speaking of the Law of Moses. One did not have to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. To further support this interpretation, Paul added, “not by works, so that no one can boast.”
GALATIANS 6:13 Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh.
Okay, it is time to bring in another verse. So far we have looked closely at Ephesians 2: 8-9, but what about verse 10? (NAS)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Notice that verse 10 says we are created in Christ Jesus for good works. These good works would have nothing to do with keeping the Law of Moses or getting circumcised and would come after we have been born again. They would include the kinds of works Jesus and James told about. They would include all that God expects of his children. They would include evangelism and compassion.
Look again at Jesus’ description of judgment day where these very works come up:
Matthew 25: 34-36:
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
And Matthew 25: 41-43:
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
This has to do with salvation in the future tense. Feed the hungry, visit the sick, show hospitality to the stranger, etc. and you will be welcomed into the kingdom. Show no compassion, fail to feed the hungry, fail to clothe the naked, do not visit those in prison and you will be sent to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. This is not the works Paul wrote about in Ephesians 2: 8-9, but is exactly the works Paul wrote about in verse 10. In short, the misunderstanding comes about by confusing the new birth with the future salvation spoke about by Jesus in Matthew 25 and in confusing the works of the Law of Moses and circumcision, which Christians do not have to do with works all Christians are expected to do and will be sent to hell if they refuse as specified by Jesus in Matthew 25 above.
Where did all this misunderstanding start? It started with Martin Luther who translated the Bible into German. He added the word “alone” to Romans 3:28:
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith (alone) apart from works of the Law.
The word “alone” is not in the original manuscripts of the Bible. Luther knew this and said, “I know very well that the word “alone” is not in the original Greek or Latin text. Luther’s explanation: “I will have it so and I order it to be so, and my will is reason enough.”
How does this attitude and action of adding to the Scriptures square with God?
Deuternomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. NIV
Luther violated all three of these Scriptures which were put there by God to prevent the very thing Luther did. If every man could, at his own will, add whatever he liked to the Scriptures, we’d have Scriptures so corrupted that no one would know what God’s original intent was.
To further understand Luther, look at some of his statements. You don’t have to be good and keep Jesus’ commandments in order to go to heaven. If you had to be keep God’s commands in order to be saved, in Luther’s mind that would be equal to works. Luther’s letter to Melanchthon:
“It is enough that by the riches of God’s glory we have come to know the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. No sin will separate us from the Lamb, even though we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day. Do you think that the purchase price that was paid for the redemption of our sins by so great a Lamb is too small? Pray boldly—you too are a mighty sinner.”
Commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day and that sin will not separate one from the Lamb? It is Luther vs. God. Here is how God sees it:
Revelation 21:8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
In the same letter Luther said, “Be a sinner and sin boldly.” Contrast this attitude toward sin with what Jesus taught:
Matthew 5:29 If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
(Lutheran scholars later took the word only out of their Bible in Romans 3:28, but too late. The false doctrine had been planted and it stuck and is still with us.)
Now, back to the theology of salvation by faith only which states that there is absolutely nothing you can do to affect your own salvation beyond believing or faith. That this statement is absolutely false I will now demonstrate with the prayer Jesus gave to his disciples:
MATTHEW 6: 9-13…”‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, …forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. NIV
Does one necessarily have to forgive his debtors in order to be forgiven by God? Jesus made an additional comment on this specific part of the prayer:
Matthew 6: 14-15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. NIV
So, the statement that there is absolutely nothing you can do beyond believing in Jesus to affect your salvation is absolutely false. If you hold a grudge and refuse to forgive others, your Father will refuse to forgive you.
FAITH ALONE CONTRADICTS MANY OF JESUS’ PARABLES
Who would ever think that men would argue for an interpretation of works in Ephesians 2: 8-9 that would directly contradict so many of Jesus’ parables? First, consider the parable of the vine and the branches in John 15:1-8. Jesus is the vine, his Father is the gardener and we are the branches. We, the branches, enter the vine, Jesus, at the point of the new birth. He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit. Then these branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. That sounds like hell to me. It sounds like Jesus expects us to bear fruit for him.
me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even
more fruitful.
6 if anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. NIV
Next, consider the parable of the unfruitful fig tree.
Luke 13:6-9 Then he told this parable: “a man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘for three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ”‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” NIV
What is Jesus teaching here if not that he expects something from us once we are saved? This fig tree had four years to produce fruit. If, after that time, it had produced no fruit, the orders were to cut it down!
Consider the parable of the talents. There were three men. One received five talents and used that five to gain five more. One received two talents and used these to gain two more. The one talent took his talent and buried it thus gaining nothing for his Lord. When the third man was called to give account, here is what happened:
Matthew 25:25-30 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. ”‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
NIV
What did Jesus call this third man? He called him wicked, lazy and worthless indicating that this man should have been the opposite of these three labels. What was the third man’s sentence? Here it is: throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. That doesn’t sound like heaven to me. It sounds like the sentences given to the unfruitful branches and the unfruitful fig tree.
We could go on with the parable of the ten virgins. Five were foolish and made no preparations and were shut out. We could consider the Parable of the unmerciful servant and on and on, but you get the point. Jesus doesn’t want churches filled with dead wood. He expects us to be busy in his kingdom, doing good works and glorifying him and, if we don’t, we can't expect a good outcome on judgment day.
CONCLUSION
The statement is often made that salvation is by grace through faith that works has nothing to do with one's salvation. This statement is absolutely true if one is speaking of the new birth. When lifted from the waters of baptism at the new birth, it is 100% paid for by Jesus when he died on the cross. Man did nothing to earn that. But if one is speaking of being invited into heaven at judgment day, the this statememnt is absolutely false: 1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Written by Leroy Walters