Grace, Faith, and Grace, Faith, and WorksWorks

in Man’s in Man’s JustificationJustification

Grace, Faith, and Grace, Faith, and WorksWorks

in Man’s in Man’s JustificationJustificationLet’s define Let’s define justificationjustification, ,

gracegrace, , faithfaith, and , and worksworks..

Tony E. Denton, 9/06.ASiteForTheLord.com

From From Thayer’s Greek-English Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament:Lexicon of the New Testament:From From Thayer’s Greek-English Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament:Lexicon of the New Testament:

• Justification:Justification: to be made righteousto be made righteous

• Grace:Grace: kindness bestowed on one kindness bestowed on one who doesn’t deserve itwho doesn’t deserve it

• Faith:Faith: conviction of the truth of any-conviction of the truth of any-thing; a beliefthing; a belief

• Works:Works: things done things done (usually with re-(usually with re-ference to work accomplished for ference to work accomplished for someone,someone, placing him in debt to the placing him in debt to the one who did the workone who did the work))

The New TestamentThe New Testament::The New TestamentThe New Testament::

• Titus 3:7Titus 3:7:: justifiedjustified by by gracegrace

• Romans 3:28Romans 3:28:: justified by justified by faithfaith

• James 2:24James 2:24: : justified by justified by worksworks So… So…

Since many have found it difficult to Since many have found it difficult to harmonize these ideas, they have de-harmonize these ideas, they have de-contextualized various Scriptures to contextualized various Scriptures to conform to their ideology. E.g… conform to their ideology. E.g…

Two such mutilated Scriptures:Two such mutilated Scriptures:

• Romans 11:6:Romans 11:6: if justification is if justification is by by grace, then it is no longer of works, grace, then it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is no longer graceotherwise grace is no longer grace..

• Ephesians 2:9:Ephesians 2:9: justification is justification is not of not of works, lest anyone should boastworks, lest anyone should boast. So…. So…

Purpose:Purpose: To determine the relationship To determine the relationship of grace, faith, & works without of grace, faith, & works without causing causing The New TestamentThe New Testament to to contradict itself.contradict itself.

Our Text-Passage:Our Text-Passage:

• Ephesians 2:8-9:Ephesians 2:8-9: By grace you By grace you have been saved through faith, have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.lest any man should boast.

• Here we’re told what the origin Here we’re told what the origin of man’s salvation of man’s salvation isis and what it and what it is is notnot. Firstly… . Firstly…

Man’s salvation is Man’s salvation is notnot of of 11himself or himself or

of of 22his works.his works.

Man’s salvation is Man’s salvation is notnot of of 11himself or himself or

of of 22his works.his works.……you have been you have been savedsaved … … not of yourselvesnot of yourselves [and] … [and] … not of worksnot of works, lest any man , lest any man should boast. should boast. ~ Eph. 2:8-9~ Eph. 2:8-9

Man cannot provide a plan by which he can save himself.Man cannot provide a plan by which he can save himself.

• Since God is God & our Creator, Since God is God & our Creator, and since He’s perfect & the One and since He’s perfect & the One ultimately sinned against, only He ultimately sinned against, only He has the right to devise a plan for has the right to devise a plan for reconciliation (reconciliation (Rom. 5:6-11Rom. 5:6-11).).

Besides… Besides…

• Since His ways & thoughts are Since His ways & thoughts are not our ways & thoughts (not our ways & thoughts (Isa. Isa. 55:8-955:8-9), ), it’d be impossible for us it’d be impossible for us to know what would accomplish to know what would accomplish a reconciliation to Him without a reconciliation to Him without His revelation to usHis revelation to us..

• The Bible speaks often of the The Bible speaks often of the ignorance of man without God.ignorance of man without God.

We’re ignorant about We’re ignorant about how to acthow to act ((Rom. 3:9-18Rom. 3:9-18).).

We're even ignorant about We're even ignorant about whatwhat or or who to worshipwho to worship; ; e.g.,e.g., speaking to speaking to the Athenians about their idolatry, the Athenians about their idolatry, Paul said that at one time God over-Paul said that at one time God over-looked such ignorance, but not any-looked such ignorance, but not any-more (more (Acts 17:30Acts 17:30).).

Man cannot do any meritorious work to save himself.Man cannot do any meritorious work to save himself.

• Merit:Merit: to be worthy of, entitled to be worthy of, entitled to; to earnto; to earn

• ThisThis is what’s referred to in... is what’s referred to in... Romans 11:6:Romans 11:6: merit from the keep-merit from the keep-

inging ofof JewishJewish LawLaw ((vv.vv. 11 & & 77),), which,which, ifif obeyedobeyed perfectly, would place God perfectly, would place God in debt to us (in debt to us (4:44:4).).

Ephesians 2:9:Ephesians 2:9: merit from keeping merit from keeping GentileGentile LawLaw,, forfor itit isn’t in man to de-isn’t in man to de-vise a way to God thenvise a way to God then toto boastboast ofof it.it.

It can all be summed up in this…It can all be summed up in this…

• Without Jesus, we’re between the Without Jesus, we’re between the proverbial “rock and a hard place,” proverbial “rock and a hard place,” because we can’t supply the required because we can’t supply the required sacrifice of perfection. So…sacrifice of perfection. So…

• OurOur salvationsalvation duedue toto ourour reconciliation to God is reconciliation to God is solelysolely a result a result of God’s love, mercy, & grace. Next…of God’s love, mercy, & grace. Next…

• Not only is man’s salvation not of Not only is man’s salvation not of himself or his works, but also… himself or his works, but also…

Man’s salvation Man’s salvation isis 11a gift of God’s a gift of God’s

grace grace 22accepted by accepted by faith.faith.

Man’s salvation Man’s salvation isis 11a gift of God’s a gift of God’s

grace grace 22accepted by accepted by faith.faith.By By gracegrace you have been you have been

savedsaved through through faithfaith …; it is …; it is the the giftgift of God. of God. ~ Eph. 2:8~ Eph. 2:8

• Gift:Gift: somethingsomething voluntarilyvoluntarily

given by one person to another given by one person to another with-out compensationwith-out compensation

• Grace:Grace: something voluntarily something voluntarily given by one person to another given by one person to another who is undeservingwho is undeserving. So…. So…

• The gift of God is the result of The gift of God is the result of His grace.His grace.

Jesus—someone we don’t deserve—is God’s gift to us.Jesus—someone we don’t deserve—is God’s gift to us.

• Jesus brought grace which makes us Jesus brought grace which makes us righteous (saves us) and teaches us righteous (saves us) and teaches us howhow toto staystay righteousrighteous ((TitusTitus 2:11-132:11-13).).

• Since man is Since man is soso sinful and continues sinful and continues to rebel against God, this gift of God to rebel against God, this gift of God is is trulytruly indescribableindescribable ( (2 Cor. 9:152 Cor. 9:15)!)!

Nevertheless… Nevertheless…

Man must receive this gift if he wants to be saved.Man must receive this gift if he wants to be saved.

• Having been justified by faith, we Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God thru … Christ, have peace with God thru … Christ, thru whom also we have access by thru whom also we have access by faithfaith intointo thisthis gracegrace inin whichwhich wewe stand stand (Rom. 5:1-2(Rom. 5:1-2)).. However… However…

• There’s no such thing as There’s no such thing as an uncondi-an uncondi-tional gifttional gift—they all have the condi-—they all have the condi-tion of tion of acceptanceacceptance; God’s particular ; God’s particular gift is accepted gift is accepted by faithby faith.. **

But… But…

• It must be a biblical faith which, be-It must be a biblical faith which, be-lieve it or not, includes activity.lieve it or not, includes activity. Since they hate the idea of works Since they hate the idea of works

being associated with faith to salva-being associated with faith to salva-tion, some folks teach that man is tion, some folks teach that man is saved by “faith only,” and they do saved by “faith only,” and they do this in spite of what James wrote: this in spite of what James wrote: A A man is justified by works and not by man is justified by works and not by faith only faith only ((2:24, 2:24, cf.cf. 2:19 2:19).).

Others teach that faith comes to us Others teach that faith comes to us directly from God in a miraculous directly from God in a miraculous way, and they do so in spite of the way, and they do so in spite of the fact that to have faith is a command fact that to have faith is a command to obey…to obey…

Jesus Jesus demandeddemanded that people believe that people believe in Him (in Him (John 14:1John 14:1), and…), and…

Paul Paul demandeddemanded the Philippian jailer the Philippian jailer to to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31(Acts 16:31).).

Acceptable, biblical faith is obedient Acceptable, biblical faith is obedient faith (cf. faith (cf. Rom. 1:5Rom. 1:5 & & 16:2616:26).).**

SinceSince ourour selfself--deviseddevised righteousness righteousness is is as filthy ragsas filthy rags ( (Isa. 64:6Isa. 64:6), it isn’t ), it isn’t acceptable (cf. acceptable (cf. Rom. 10:3Rom. 10:3). So…). So…

We must comply with We must comply with God’sGod’s works of works of righteousness, faith itself being one righteousness, faith itself being one of them: of them: this is the work of God that this is the work of God that you believe in Meyou believe in Me ( (John 6:29John 6:29)—)—something we must something we must dodo ((ActsActs 16:3116:31).).

• Jesus taught that he who chooses to Jesus taught that he who chooses to believe or have faith believe or have faith andand get baptized get baptized will be saved (will be saved (Mark 16:16Mark 16:16); and just ); and just as faith is a work or condition of God, as faith is a work or condition of God, so is baptism (so is baptism (Titus 3:4-7Titus 3:4-7)—not a work)—not a work of merit, but a simple condition.of merit, but a simple condition.

In Conclusion…In Conclusion…In Conclusion…In Conclusion…

By grace you have been By grace you have been saved through faith, and saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should works, lest anyone should boast.boast. ~ Eph. 2:8-~ Eph. 2:8-99

• Man’s salvation is not of himself or of Man’s salvation is not of himself or of his works.his works. He can’t provide his own plan.He can’t provide his own plan. He can’t do any meritorious works.He can’t do any meritorious works.

• Man’sMan’s salvationsalvation isis aa giftgift ofof God’sGod’s grace accepted by faith.grace accepted by faith. Jesus—someone we don’t deserve—Jesus—someone we don’t deserve—

is God’s gift to us.is God’s gift to us. WeWe mustmust acceptaccept thisthis giftgift ifif we want we want

to be saved. to be saved.

Summary Outline of Ephesians 2:8-9...Summary Outline of Ephesians 2:8-9...

We can only be saved when both we and God fulfill our mutual parts.We can only be saved when both we and God fulfill our mutual parts.

• We have our part to doWe have our part to do: In : In Acts 2:40Acts 2:40 Peter said, Peter said, save yourselvessave yourselves. How?. How? We must We must believebelieve that Jesus is who that Jesus is who

He claimed to be (He claimed to be (Acts 16:31Acts 16:31).). WeWe mustmust confessconfess thatthat beliefbelief with our with our

lips before witnesses (lips before witnesses (Rom. 10:10Rom. 10:10).). We must We must repentrepent of our sins ( of our sins (Acts Acts

17:3017:30). And…). And… We must We must be baptizedbe baptized for the for- for the for-

giveness of sins (giveness of sins (Acts 2:38Acts 2:38).).

• God has His part to doGod has His part to do: He will fulfill His : He will fulfill His promises based on our obedience.promises based on our obedience. He He makes righteousmakes righteous those who be-lieve those who be-lieve

in Him & His Son (in Him & His Son (Rom. 10:9Rom. 10:9).). He He grants salvationgrants salvation to those who to those who

confess His Son (confess His Son (Rom. 10:10Rom. 10:10).). He He bestows lifebestows life on those who repent on those who repent

((Acts 11:18Acts 11:18).). He He washes away the sinwashes away the sin of those who of those who

are baptized (are baptized (Acts 22:16Acts 22:16).).

Incidentally… Incidentally…

Scriptures teach that grace & salva-tion are in Christ (2 Tim. 2:1 & 10).Scriptures teach that grace & salva-tion are in Christ (2 Tim. 2:1 & 10).

• And how do we get And how do we get into Christinto Christ? Only ? Only one way: through the last step just one way: through the last step just mentioned—mentioned—baptismbaptism..

• In In Romans 6:3Romans 6:3 & & Galatians 3:27Galatians 3:27 Paul Paul said that we are said that we are baptized into Christbaptized into Christ; ; in fact, there are no other Scriptures in fact, there are no other Scriptures which tell us how to get which tell us how to get into Christinto Christ where grace & salvation is found.where grace & salvation is found.