SALVATION BY GRACE WITHOUT WORKS

Text: Eph. 2:8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph. 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I. Since God is absolute in His Holiness, it is impossible that sin can come into His presence. Neither can He be placated or cajoled into overlooking that which is repugnant to His very nature. This makes salvation by works impossible since;

A. Even if one could achieve perfection, sins done previously would still be there and there is no statute of limitation on sin.

B. If one had NEVER sinned he would not need salvation and thus Christ would have died in vain.

C. God gives us no standard by which we could measure our works to know that they were sufficient to salvation, thus if this were the accepted method, one could never know the peace that God desires His people to have.
Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

II The Scripture is clear that salvation MUST be by Grace without works.

A. There can be no mixture of Grace and works toward the same purpose.
Rom. 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom. 11:6 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.

B. Salvation by works would put God in our debt. This can never be. Rom. 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom. 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom. 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

III What about the Scriptures that SEEM to teach salvation by works?
Mat. 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat. 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat.7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat. 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

A. The answer lies in the verses just before these. They clearly indicate that instead of telling us HOW to be saved, He is telling us how to recognize those who ARE saved.
Mat. 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

B. A person who is genuinely born again WILL manifest it!
Mat.7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

This is God's purpose in saving us by Grace.
Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

C. A lost person (bad tree) CAN'T bring forth good fruit, therefore could never do good works by which he might be saved.
Mat. 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

D. The end of the bad tree is told.
Mat:7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

E. While we can't look into people's souls, we CAN be fruit inspectors!
Mat. 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

F. Many who claim salvation are not really saved because they have not come to God the way He demands.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

1. What is the will of the Father?
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light , that all men through him might believe.
John 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
I Tim 2:3 For this a good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
ITim. 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
I Tim. 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
I Tim. 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

THE DEBT WE OWE

If I should labor long and hard,
For fifty years or more,
And work to serve my saviour
Till my hands were stiff and sore,

Could I repay one tear He shed,
Or halt one cry of pain;
Or restore one precious drop of blood
That flowed from open vein?

If I should fall in service,
For Him, my life lay down,
Could I remove one lash mark
Or one thorn from His crown?

If my lips should always praise Him,
Would His lips be less parched?
If my feet should run to serve Him,
Would it shorten where He marched?

If I should give Him all I own
And answer every call,
Could I restore one thing to Him
Who gave for me, His all?

Though I give my all to serve Him,
When I see Him face to face,
If my Saviour then rewards me,
It will only be by grace.

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