djames thanks for seeing the light of my teaching, our response to God's grace is; 1 repent, 2, trust Christ alone 3. do works of repentance. all three are required for our salvation, obedience is not an option in God's plan of sal. these three requirements have always been God's req. for sal..
Don't distort what I said. I said that works are the evidence of salvation NOT the cause.
Abraham is the father of all who believe - i.e., follow his example. "Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness." Therefore, Abraham was righteous before God the moment he believed - after which he did works that evidenced his faith, but did nothing to add to his salvation.
"For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about,
but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But
to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness
apart from works: (Rom 4:2–6.)
It could not be any more clear than that.
If you believe that someone who believes is not saved until he does a work of rightesouness - then how many works must he do to be saved? Can anyone ever know they are saved?
If you are adding works to salvation, you are preaching another gospel - and since Paul wrote Romans 4:5, then his words to the Galatians in 1:9 also apply: "As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."
Jesus very precisely explained the only "work" involved in salvation is to believe: "Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “
This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28-29)
Paul makes it clear in Titus 3:3-7 that God saves us completely apart from works: "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Lest someone say that he's not talking about salvation coming through faith but only by a regenerating act of God first, Paul continues in verse 8: "This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that
those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men."
Paul couldn't be more clear that those who have believed God should be careful to maintain good works - as this is good and profitable (but does not add to one's salvation - because if it did, Paul would be contradicting himself in so many other places.)
In speaking of the election of Israel, Paul makes it clear that works and grace are antithetical and incompatible: "Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And
if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. (Rom 11:5–6).
If you add works to salvation you are denying that absolute finished work of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice. You are preaching the same gospel as the Pharisees who thought their works were the source of their righteousness - which is true of all who add works to salvation - and one who preaches this will do just as the Pharisees and make their disciples 10 times the sons of hell that they are.
To add works to salvation demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of both sin and salvation, of both grace and faith. (Repentance is just the other side of faith - we turn from ourselves to the Savior - so this is not contradictory.)
Again, this has nothing to do with works following genuine salvation - but works are a result of someone havng a new heart, of being a new creation, of being born again.
To make works a component of salvation is to drive people away from Christ and deceive them to the uttermost.
The biblical testimony is clear and it is understandable why so many separated from such teaching over the years.
And John MacArthur has ALWAYS taught this during his entire ministry - and he would condemn and separate, as well.
I hope and pray that even at this stage in life you will grasp the glorious gospel of salvation which is by grace alone, through faith alone - plus nothing.
