Does Grace Exclude All Works? The author states: "Grace, simply put, is a free gift. The central problem most have is determining the relation between 'grace' and 'works.' But that is easily solved when we add the word 'reward' to our vocabulary. One is rewarded for an act. Salvation is not a reward. [Jesus said: great is your reward in heaven (Matt 5:12; 16:27; Col. 3:24; II John 1:8) DHN] Since there is no act mankind can do to be reconciled with God, then mankind must rely upon grace. Grace is what has to be given to us because there are no good works from mankind concerning salvation.
Paul wrote the Ephesian Church and said, 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.' He also wrote the Roman Church and said, 'Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.' It is quite simple. Either salvation is by grace or not at all."
Grace is God's unmerited favor extended to man. The word "works" does not always mean the same thing. There are works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21). There are works of the devil (I John 3:8). There are works of the law of Moses (Rom. 3; Gal. 2). There are works which permit a man to boast of and glory in such as Ephesians 2:8-9 as the author quoted above and in Romans 4. There are also works which justify (James 2:17-26). This is justification before God and not before men. There are works of righteousness which one must do to obtain God's approval: "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:35).
God did not eliminate all works but instead, Jesus said: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:29). He labeled faith or belief as a work. The word "of" God means God is the source of it. It is not manufactured by men. It is a work commanded by and approved of God. To demand faith or belief and eliminate all works is inconsistent with the teaching of the Bible. If all works are eliminated, then faith or belief must go!
The Bible teaches that we are saved by works: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24-26). And it teaches that we are not saved by works: "Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph.2:9). Obviously, these are two kinds of works. One is included and one is excluded. The works that are included are the works of obedience and righteousness that justifies (Gal. 5:6; James 2:24; Acts 10:35). The works that are excluded are the works of merit and the works of the law (Eph. 2:9; Rom. 4).
The scope of God's grace is universal. It "hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). The phrase "to all men" means that God invites all to be saved. Yet the scriptures when harmonized, show that not "all men" will be saved, but only those who "obey" him (Heb. 5:8-9; Mark 16:15-16; II Thes. 1:7-9).
Salvation by grace excludes work of boasting. Since belief, repentance, confession, and baptism are all works of the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26), and yet they are not works of merit which result in boasting (Luke 17:10), it follows that they are necessary in order for the sinner to be saved by grace. Faith is as much a work as baptism (John 6:28-29). Eph. 2:8-9 teaches that everything God does for us is an act of His grace. Everything which we do in obeying Him is an act of faith. The Ephesians had been saved "by grace through faith."
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Per 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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