Page 104 - TH200 Abundant Life A4 Final

Abundant Life in the Son: A Study of Salvation

Jewish Christian teachers claimed that sinners were saved by faith
plus the observance of the Law. Since that time this mistaken idea has
grown in some areas of the Christian church. It has taken the form of
self-punishment, the making of sacred pilgrimages, the performance of
religious rites, and the payment of money to receive pardon for sins. In
heathen religions, too, people seek to please their gods by the works of
their hands. The reason they give for these efforts to become worthy is
as follows: “God is not gracious and people are not righteous; therefore,
people must become righteous so that God will be gracious.”

Martin Luther was troubled with this mistaken idea; therefore,
he tried by self-denial to work out his own salvation. His cry, “Oh,
Luther, when will you become pious enough so that you will find God
gracious?” represents the heart cry of millions. Then at last he found
the truth that is the basis of the gospel. God is gracious and therefore
He wills to make people righteous. Justification, therefore, does not
come by the works of the Law or by any other human works: “He
saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of
his mercy” (Titus 3:5).

Scriptures say that we are not justified by works, and they condemn
the attempt to be justified through works. This is the clear teaching of
the apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians. For example, Paul said that
“if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing”
(2:21). He added in 3:1–3 that it is foolish to try to be justified by the
works of the Law. In 3:10, he said that those who attempt to be justified
by keeping the Law live under a curse. Moreover, the person who thinks
that he or she can be put right with God simply by obeying the Law
has cut him or herself off from Christ (5:4). Paul said that anyone who
attempts to preach any other gospel than that of justification by faith is
eternally condemned (1:8–9).

Although Paul clearly taught against justification by works, some might
wonder whether James taught that justification comes by works and not
by faith alone. To help resolve this issue, read carefully James 2:18–26.

Notice that James does not condemn saving faith. It is an inactive and
purely intellectual faith that he speaks against. James declared that
inactive faith cannot justify; therefore, he insisted on active faith—that

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