Not of Works

From: Young Christian: Volume 11, 1921

• 1 min. read • grade level: 4

Nothing can be plainer in the Word of God than that we are saved apart from our works altogether. There are four kinds of works spoken of in Scripture, and manifest on all hands, which all alike shuts us out from God; namely:

Wicked works. Self-righteous works.

(Col. 1:21²¹And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21).) (Titus 3:5⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5).)

Law works. Dead works.

(Gal. 2:16¹⁶Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16).) (Heb. 9:14¹⁴How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14).)

Ephesians 2:9⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9) distinctly tells us that it is

“not of works,

lest any man should boast.” Again in Romans 4:3³For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3), we read, “For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But

to him that worketh not,

but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness

without works.”

And again, in Titus 3:4⁴But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (Titus 3:4), “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have

done,

but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

We are not saved by works, but by one work, and that

the finished work of Christ.

“This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” (John 6:29²⁹Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29).)

Neither are we saved by our works and Christ, nor by Christ and our works, but by Christ alone. Good works, acceptable to God, are the fruit and evidence of faith in Him. “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17¹⁷Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17).) Faith produces good works to the glory of God.

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