CONFUSED BY THE BIBLICAL TEACHING ON SALVATION?

Many are confused and for good reason. On the one hand, many verses teach that we are saved by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), apart from our efforts or works of the Law:

·       Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:27-28 ESV)

After this, Paul cites Abraham as the exemplar of this principle:

·       For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (Romans 4:3-5)

Paul’s message rejected the belief that we need to work for our salvation. Consequently, salvation couldn’t possibly be earned:

·       For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath…(Romans 4:13-15; 3:19-20)

However, in chapter 2, it seems that Paul contradicts himself by insisting that we need to be “doers of the law”:

·       We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things…He will render to each one according to his works…For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (Romans 2:2, 6, 13; 3:31)

And Paul is not alone in his insistence on obedience. James joins him in this same teaching:

·       But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)

Both James and Paul relate obedience to salvation:

·       You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)

To compound the problem, even though Jesus had insisted that we are saved by grace through faith (John 3:16; 5:25; 6:29; 8:24), He also affirmed that obedience was necessary:

·       “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matthew 5:20-22)

This paradox is serious. It lies at the very foundation of our faith and must be resolved. Without a reconciliation of these seemingly disparate verses, our foundation will be wobbly, and we will be shaky and insecure.

A Resolution of the Paradox

A real faith is a living and proactive faith. It is a faith that trusts Jesus enough to follow Him. It produces fruit. Jesus explained that if we are a good tree (born-again), we will produce the good fruit of obedience:

·       So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:17-20)

A good apple tree will produce good apples. It will not produce poisonous apples. The apples do not produce the apple tree. Likewise, our obedience (fruit) does not produce salvation (including a changed heart with a real faith). Instead, grace working through faith (like the good tree) will produce the fruit of obedience in season.

Where a true faith is present, so too will there be fruit:

·       What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?...So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14,17)

Obedience doesn’t save, but it is the inevitable fruit that follows a true faith. Let me illustrate. If I say that I trust my doctor and yet toss the pills he gave me to take, I prove that I don’t really trust him. A real trust obeys. Jesus taught that true disciples, who have a true faith, follow Him:

·       My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)

A sheep that refuses to follow is not truly a sheep of the Lord. Following doesn’t save us. Instead, it is the fruit of salvation and not root (cause).

Although obedience doesn’t save, it must accompany salvation, if there is a true faith. As a result of this, John warned:

·       And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3-4)

Obedience follows faith as heat and evaporation follow a sunny day, while salvation is the free gift of God.