I’m a slow learner who is a little confused. Maybe someone can set me straight
I’ve been told that if I keep the First Testament Commands, I am trying to earn forgiveness by works. This, it is claimed, abolishes the Grace of Christ. So apparently, these are forbidden works:
To sanctify the Sabbath - Ex. 20:8
To love God - Deut. 6:5
To hallow God's name - Lev. 22:32
To honor father and mother -Ex. 20:12
To return lost property - Deut. 22:1
To build a Sanctuary - Ex. 25:8
To pray to God - Ex. 23:25; Deut. 6:13
To rebuke the sinner -Lev. 19:17
To leave the gleanings for the poor -Lev. 19:9
To give charity according to one's means -Deut. 15:11
To ensure that scales and weights are correct -Lev. 19:36
To pay wages at the time due -Deut. 24:15
If this is true, then why don’t these commands also abolish grace? Are they not works?
Bring in the Poor - Luke 14:12-14
Render to Caesar - Matthew 22:19-21
Love Your Neighbor - Matthew 22:39
Celebrate the Lord’s Supper - Matthew 26:26-27
Feed My Sheep - John 21:15-16
Baptize My Disciples - Matthew 28:19
Honor Marriage - Matthew 19:6
Do Not Despise Little Ones - Matthew 18:10
Do Unto Others - Matthew 7:12
Keep Your Word - Matthew 5:37
Repent - Matthew 4:17
Follow Me - Matthew 4:19
What you mentioned is works of love which always have to be obeyed and required.
When it is saying not saved by works it is not speaking of works of love but physical works like the Old Testament physical laws or anything else we try to do not rooted primarily in love of people.
Love is the fulfilling of the law so we have to have works of love to fulfill the law.
Fall short on those works and there is no salvation.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Love is the fulfilling of the law which include the commandments that have to do with not offending people.
How can a person think doing them is works and not necessary when they are necessary for salvation.
Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Jesus told the rich man to keep the commandments that have to do not offending people which is love to inherit eternal life.
And sell all he had and give to the poor for that is love.
Which the love of money is the root of all evil for it neglects the poor and needy.
Millions of people claiming Christianity violate that which if a person teaches godliness is gain withdraw from them.
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Paul said we do not void out the law but we live up to it.
Which the law is spiritual, holy, just, and good, which are the moral laws, laws of love that must be obeyed.
You cannot call them works like they are not important and not necessary when they have to do with salvation the same as confessing Christ.
2Ti 3:4 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
They are a requirement which not all obey.
Charity, love in action, works, is greater than faith.
And faith works by love.
John said do not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed, works, and in truth.
Love is only valid in works.
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
We are justified by works and not by faith alone.
Some people will say faith produces works but works produces faith.
No works then no faith.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Paul said he could have all faith so he could remove mountains but if he did not have charity, works he is nothing saying the same thing as James.
We are not saved by works but by faith when we first come to Christ for that is all we can do.
But after we are saved we have to have works of love for faith to be valid.
