This is Part 2 of a 2 Part Post:
Now, what if a man does absolutely no work whatsoever at all, but believes on Jesus! Would you say that man is not saved? What did Apostle Paul write by inspiration of The Holy Ghost in Romans 4:5? Let's take a look at that verse to see if it is a prime example of salvation that is solely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ;
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Oh, I will say that good works are important, and that by doing good works, there will be rewards at the Judgement Seat of Jesus Christ, but they have absolutely nothing to do with mankind's salvation.
1Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Have you ever really given much thought about the types of works that will be burned up in contrast to the works that will not be burned up? Do you see what whatever the works are; they have absolutely no bearing as the very means for salvation?
Now, here is a great example of a good work; Do you suppose that Apostle Paul will receive a reward for his work? Sure he will! But know that his salvation was already secure from the time that Jesus saved him in Acts 8-9
1Cor 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Furthermore, Apostle Paul continually encouraged good works for the Brethren, in each passage; And it is worthy to mention that these are works that will not be burned up.
1Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1Cor 16:10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
2Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
There are a multitude of other verses and passages of scripture relating to the important subject of good works, but now, let's examine a few more passages to hammer the nails into the coffin of the false teaching and notion of keeping good works as means for salvation:
The first example I want to use for someone that had gotten involved in terrible sin is found in 1Corithians 5. Let's take a look to see 1. The extent of the sin; 2. What instruction Apostle Paul gave concerning what to do with the individual; 3. What was said about the state of the individual's salvation and was salvation lost? (Read the full context for the chastisement given to the Church there that was condoning the sin, and be blessed by the godly counsel that Apostle Paul gave!)
1Cor 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
1Cor 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Cor 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Cor 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
As ingregious as the incestual sin was, and with the severity of the necessary punishment, did the man lose his salvation? Absolutely not! Those are works that will be burned up, yet his soul shall be saved, as if by fire! I don't know about you, but I rejoice in the precious tender mercies of The Lord!!
There are other passages that come to mind, such as when Lot was caused to become drunk by his daughters, who had molested him. Then there was the situation with Samson, who had gotten drunk, and as a consequence, had his hair cut off and his eyes plucked out. These are two that are mentioned in the "Faith Chapter" of Hebrews 11. Oh, and then there was King David who had committed adultery with another man's wife, and even sent the man away to be killed on the battle front, and yet, King David is said, by God, to be a man after his own heart. We can go on and on, but the point is Jesus Christ came to save SINNERS and redeem them by His POWER, by His Blood, by fulfilling the law in just one word: "love". We have yet to get into those passages. It all comes down to Jesus saving sinners, and their being saved solely by grace through faith in him!
1Cor 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
P.S. If you read the preceding chapters of Romans 6, along with the subsequent chapters, you would discover that the full context is also on this very issue. Try starting with reading the rest of chapter 6, then go back to read chapter 5, then read chapter 7 to get the point.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus said; "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36