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!