If works are required for salvation then how can it be by faith alone?

That’s a good question, and one that I have personally struggled with. The way to answer it is by looking at two absolute truths found in scripture.

1.    Salvation is by faith alone and as a result God receives all the glory and credit. No credit belongs to us.

a.       This reality is made perfectly clear by Romans 4:8-1

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 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 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, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

-          Notice that Paul is explicitly talking about the means of salvation. In other words he is answering this question, “How do I receive salvation? What are the means through which the gift of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross is applied to me?”  

-          This truth is stated so clearly that it cannot be twisted to mean anything other than this.  

2.     Only transformed people who do good participate in the resurrection of life. This transformation is much like the transformation seen when a tree bears fruit.

a.       John 15:1-6

                           

                                   i.      I Am the True Vine “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (John 15:1-6 ESV)

b.      John 5:28-29

                                                              i.      Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29 ESV)

1.      Notice that the people who were participating in the resurrection were described as doing good. Jesus was describing the transformation of the redeemed.

How do these two truths come together?

      Get ready…         

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:16-18 ESV)

-          This verse gives a strong stipulation: “If anyone is in Christ” This unity with the God of the Universe (revealed the beautiful face of Christ) results in transformation.

-          Paul then clarifies that “All this is from God” Both the unity with Christ and the transformation that comes from the unity…. It is all from God.

Ok so let’s recap for a second:

·         We are saved by faith

·         Only transformed people share in the resurrection

·         Transformation is one hundred percent affirmed for those who are in Christ.

Now the beautiful picture of salvation in its full perspective:

“For we are His WORKmanship created IN Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them” Eph 2:10

This verse so elegantly describes God’s beautiful work of salvation. Salvation is not simply the extant of a clean slate. It is the incredible power of God in creating a new person. This new person is created IN CHIRST! This is the very same language used to describe Paul’s stipulation for supernatural transformation; “if anyone is in Christ.” We are all the result of God’s work. That is why we are called his workmanship. It is His power that redeemed us and it is his power that transforms us!!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?!

Well it means that “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and not of your own selves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph 2:8-9

God’s grace for salvation extends far beyond a free ticket to pie in the sky, it extends to sharing in the joy that comes from saying

            “I was once a human being marred by the stench of death and sin, but Now BECAUSE OF JESUS I am new. I get to say that I am a son of God, I share in the mystery of the Gospel; that is “Christ in you the hope of glory”(Col 1:27)  and I share in his blessed inheritance (Romans 8:17). My life is being transformed into a life of good works by the power of God so that at the end of my life God will receive glory for what he created.”

-          When we have a fuller view of salvation we understand God’s grace even more. Salvation is not a single event marked in one’s life. It is a continuation of God’s empowering grace that results in a transformed life. Just as we begun our salvation in faith we continue to receive His empowering grace through faith. This is explicitly demonstrated in Galatians 3:1-5

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?{ Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith}—just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:1-9 ESV)”

Hoped this helped!

Good Friday

The strong smell of wood chippings fills the air, as the carpenter hammers a chisel into wood. With sweat on his brow and calluses on his hand the carpenter pours everything he has into this creation. He finds himself lost in the intricacies of design, and the smell of wood finish. He is completely at ease as he only hears the voice of his father echo in his mind;

Son, go and build me a throne

Build it to last

Build it strong

Build it so heaven and earth may sing its song.

As time draws near the weight of the throne begins to take its toll on the carpenter. With blood pouring through his sweat he asks his father to pardon this last finishing touch. Once again he hears,

Son, go and build me a throne

Build it to last

Build it strong

Build it so heaven and earth may sing its song.

The Carpenter does not hesitate, with the ground beneath his feat the sky above he steps forth. He understands the cost, and he understands the reward. His eyes fixed in love and His eyes fixed on his father he applies the finishing touch. He knows what he is building;

He’s building a throne

He’s building it to last

And he’s building it strong

He’s building it so that all under heaven and earth may sing its redemption song.

The Carpenter has now become the brush. Soaked in his own blood he applies the finishing touch. With his last breath he says

It is finished.

In that moment the father forsook the son.

Abandoned and left to the depths of descent.

The Son fell

The world gazed in fear and perplexity

As the prince of darkness reveled in glee and delight

But

The darkness forgot the covenant made with the day and the night

And with the beat of the dawn the Father turned his gaze back to the Son

With a passion and love so fierce he ripped back the veil of darkness and like with the rising sun, he lifted his son’s marred broken body from the ground.

With a loud voice the father spoke

This is my Son!

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords

The lamb you slew has now become a lion
From Judah he will roar over all the nations

His kingdom will never end.

Listen to Him!      

With that, the Carpenter now a King stood up. Clothed in the glory of a thousand suns he looked to the far corners of the earth and saw the multitudes of people harassed like sheep without a shepherd. He looked to his own and said 

Go and build my church

Build it to last

Build it strong

Build it so heaven and earth may sing its song.







This story was inspired by a song I wrote six months ago. Recently God has been revealing how the Gospel is about a King and His kingdom. My salvation and hope is found in the lordship of Jesus, and the redemption of every living creature flows from the throne of Christ. This analogy and song stems from that truth.

Wood chippings mixed with blood and sweat fall to the floor

Opposition cannot resist the forward motion set in store

The Carpenter diligently awaits the completion his creation

A throne decorated with the inscription of dominion

For the once and future King 

A king and his kingdom seated upon the throne of a carpenter

Made to remain and sustain the deterioration of all things

The carpenter hidden in obscurity

a king revealed in royalty

Made equal through sovereignty

sovereignty of a throne   

now that throne you see is greater than any ferocity

Greater than any satisfaction, and more than you can imagine

Filled with compassion for all the passion of dissatisfaction   

in a world that is a fraction of what it will be 

The love of the carpenter poured into the adornment

The abdication of self to that which is sown

 So in all creation the sons and daughters of the king may be known

Known

To first hear and see before being seen and heard

To seeing the light before being the light

And to know love before showing love

a way

set in stone

A better way that man has ever known

Carved by a mason, the carpenter in a different form

The song is available on Noisetrade 

Fragments of God

Clips, images torn

sounds of a broken horn

floating in my brain

they try in vain

to take human form 

a fragmented father

a forgotten god

erected for worship

an idol in the place of God

I speak to it, I give thanks to it

I even give my 10 percent to it

But like the idols of Baal

My prayer is to no avail

time after time I fail

and I’m left wondering if this lifeless idol even cares

But a lifeless god is safer than a living god right?

A lifeless god, I can control

I am free to be who I want to be

Free from the eyes of the divine always watching me

Free from a voice commanding me

Free from a presence that is surrounding me

I am free…right?

You see I sit in these pews

Get on my knees

Close my eyes and wish to see

This lifeless idol speak to me

To look at me

to comfort me

to fight for me

and die for me  

I squint harder try harder

But this darkness can’t get darker

I open my eyes and see a man

Standing in white with eyes of fire

He looks at me and says to me

Son I’ve sought for you

I’ve fought for you

And died for you

Open your eyes

And turn your ears

To the living God

Who casts your fears

Take my hand and follow me

And I will set you free. 

A Nazi's Pardon

I recently read an interview of a catholic priest. In it, the interviewer tries to stump the priest with this question: 

“So if a Nazi killed a Jew, a good Jew, practicing Jew, the Jew goes to hell, but the Nazi still has a chance to get to heaven?”

This question inspired me to give a response:

A Jew and a Nazi stand before Jesus. Jesus’ arms are stretched out with blood stained holes in his hands and scars on his back from the brutal floggings he received from the Roman soldiers. He looks upon both men with such compassion; looking beyond the atrocious sin both had committed in their lifetime. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords says as he thrusts his pierced hands before their eyes, “do you see these scars, these were not inflicted by the will of men, but my will alone, and that of my father. I stood before the ax, the cross, and the electric chair that was prepared for you, and I willingly bore your punishment. You see I was there when your cells and sinews were knitted together in your mother’s womb, I was there at the creation of the world. I knew the steps you would take, I knew the choices you would make, I knew the cost that would come in creating you, but I loved you so much that I paid it. The scars bore, the shame felt, were for you….” The Nazi overcome with the guilt of all the atrocities committed in his life, fell down at the feet of Jesus and wept. Jesus knelt down and with his arm on the Nazi’s shoulder and said, “son your sins are forgiven.” The Jew, filled with disgust for Jesus’ pardon of the Nazi, said to himself “I lived a good life, never harmed anyone, I followed the law, how is it that this man who committed such evil escaped the punishment he deserves!” Jesus turned to the Jew and said, “Son, you self righteous indignation has condemned you, in your heart you have rejected me”

I would ask the interviewer, “Which of these men should be granted eternal life with Jesus?  

The man who rejected Jesus' love and forgiveness?

Or

The man who received Jesus' love and forgiveness?  

Neither are no longer identified by their works, but instead their acceptance or rejection of Jesus.  

Salvation is not obtained by what we do, but by what Christ did, and that alone. The world has this perspective that Christianity is so exclusive, but in reality the world is exclusive in its rejection of Christ.”