Why am I writing this?
I’ve heard different perspectives on works/obedience playing a role in SALVATION, and I want to clear this up. Ultimately I want to know what the Biblical perspective is and from what I’ve read, researched and seen, works play no role at all in getting us to Heaven.
Note: this is a living document and will update as I hear more objections and look into verses deeper. This is why the “Last updated” text exists, to help notify if things have changed.
What Am I Not Saying?
I AM NOT SAYING THAT WORKS DO NOT MATTER. I want to be very clear that God wants us to do good works (Ephesians 2:10, James 2:14-26, Philippians 2:13, Matthew 5:16). However, our good works are not the reason we can enter Heaven, not even in the slightest.
Verses Supporting This View
The following verses (ESV) say that we are not saved by our own works:
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
Isaiah 55:1-3
We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Isaiah 64:6
- All the “good things” we try to do cannot get rid of the sins we already have.
- The Hebrew word used for righteous deeds is צִדְקֹתֵ֑ינוּ (tsedaqah - Strong’s 6666), translating to righteousness, justice, rightness.
- Context: 5 - You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
- Shows that the context is talking about salvation and sin.
And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’”
Luke 13:23
- Similar message to the Matthew 7:21-23 verse above.
And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
John 12:44-48
What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” [Psalm 32:1-2]
Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Romans 4:1-12
What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” [Isaiah 8:14; 28:16]
Romans 9:30-33
For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:3-4
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Romans 11:6
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 2:15-16
Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Galatians 5:2-6
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
- The Greek word for works used in verse 9 is ἔργων (ergōn - Strong’s 2041), translating to deed, action, task, or labor. This word on its own does not have a connotation of law in any way.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith
Philippians 3:8-9
who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
2 Timothy 1:9
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:5
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” [Psalm 95:11]
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” [Genesis 2:2] And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.” [Psalm 95:11]
Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:1-11
- The Greek word for disobedience used in verse 6 is ἀπείθειαν (apeitheian - Strong’s 543), translating to disbelief (from 1 /A "not" and 3982 /peíthō, "persuaded").
- The Greek word for disobedience used in verse 11 is ἀπειθείας (apeitheias - Strong’s 543), translating to disbelief (from 1 /A "not" and 3982 /peíthō, "persuaded").
- The Greek word for work used in verse 4 and 10 is ἔργων (ergōn - Strong’s 2041), translating to deed, action, task, or labor. This word on its own does not have a connotation of law in any way.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:12-15
Arguments Used To Support This View
Same Question Paul’s Audience Asks
If we are to preach the same Gospel Paul did, it would make sense that we would encounter the same questions as he did.
- Romans 3:5 - But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
- Romans 3:7 - But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
- Romans 6:1 - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
- Romans 6:15 - What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
Paul’s message would prompt these questions, which he then addressed. If Paul’s message was that we still have to do good works to get to Heaven, in what world would it make logical sense to ask such questions?
Now when people like myself share the Gospel, that we are saved 100% by Jesus Christ and not because of anything we do, we get questions like this often, just as Paul did. However, if someone who holds to works being necessary (turn away from sin and don’t do it again, you can lose your salvation if you commit a mortal sin, etc.), it makes no sense for someone to ask these questions.
Free Gift
A gift is “something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation” - Merriam Webster. The key point being that a gift is free; a person receives it without having to pay anything for it or do anything to earn it. The Bible repeatedly describes salvation as a gift.
- Romans 3:24 - and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
- Romans 5:15 - But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
- Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
- Revelation 21:6 - And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
- Revelation 22:17 - The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Let’s say someone offers you a “gift” of $20, but in order to keep it, you have to go work for him, otherwise he’d take back the $20. Was that $20 truly a gift, or was it a wage?
- Romans 4:4 - Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
- Romans 11:6 - But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Did Jesus/Apostles Leave Out a Condition for Salvation?
Numerous times Jesus and the apostles tell others that they simply must believe in Jesus to be saved (faith/trust). I’ll list the verses here; they are coming from a page I wrote on this: Belief/Faith/Trust in Jesus is How We Are Gifted Eternal Life
For the sake of argument, I’ve excluded the verses that translate to “faith”, leaving just the ones that translate to “believe/belief” or that clarify that faith is belief. Why? To avoid confusion about what faith means, as I’ve seen people confuse the meaning of faith into faithfulness or “faith that works”. To be clear, the word for faith (pisteuó - Strong’s 4100) translates to “to believe”, “to have faith”, “to trust”.
- Luke 8:12 - “The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”
- John 1:12 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
- John 3:14-15 - “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
- John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“
- John 3:18 - “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
- John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
- John 5:24 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
- John 5:38-40 - “and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
- John 6:27-29 - “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
- John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
- John 6:40 - “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
- John 6:47 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”
- John 7:38-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
- John 8:24 - “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
- John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
- John 12:35-36 - So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
- John 12:44-47 - And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”
- John 20:31 - but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
- Acts 10:42-43 - And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
- Acts 11:13-17 - And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
- Acts 13:37-39 - but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
- Acts 16:30-31 - Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
- Acts 19:1-4 - And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”
- Romans 1:16-17 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
- Romans 4:3-5 - For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
- Romans 4:20-25 - No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 - For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
- Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
- 1 Timothy 1:15-16 - The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
- 1 Timothy 4:10 - For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
- 1 John 5:1-5 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
- 1 John 5:13 - I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Now if you think that there’s another condition to be saved (baptism, circumcision, works, etc.) then you’d have to say that these verses are at best misleading, at worst not true. Why? Because these verses give just one condition to have eternal life, believing (faith/trust) in Jesus Christ. If there was another condition, you’d have to disagree with these verses.
A Reason to Boast
The Bible says numerous times that we will have no reason to boast before God, some verses being in reference to our salvation
- Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
- Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:27-31 - But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
- Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
- James 4:6-10 - But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
The question is, do your reason(s) why you are saved give you a reason to boast before God? For the “works do not save you crowd” (where I stand) we have no reason to boast because it was not our actions that saved us, it was God softening our hearts and opening our ears to the Gospel, the finished work of Christ; we can take no credit for any of that, to the praise of His glory.
Verses Used Against This View
The following verses (ESV) have been used to try to argue for works being necessary. However, context and looking at the Greek for these verses defeat their argument.
A very common confusion I see is around the English word disobedience. The Greek language has two different words that often get translated the same: apeítheia (disobedience, unbelief - Strong’s 543) and hupakoé (obedience - Strong’s 5218). Some people read apeitheia (unbelief) as disobedience of works, when the Greek word does not imply that:
- apeítheia (from 1 /A "not" and 3982 /peíthō, "persuaded") – properly, someone not persuaded, referring to their willful unbelief, i.e. the refusal to be convinced by God's voice.
Matthew 5-7 (Anything in these Chapters)
Verses commonly used:
5:13 - “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”
5:29-30 - “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”
6:14 - “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
7:21-23 - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
- Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, preserved here in chapters 5-7, Jesus is laying out and expanding on the law.
- 5:17-20 - “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
- 7:12 - “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
- Chapter 5 ends by telling us the standard we much reach to get to Heaven by the law or by ourselves:
- 5:48 - “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
- 5:48 - “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
- With perfection being the standard of the Law, 7:21-23 and the other verses make much more sense. Even though those people called Jesus ‘Lord, Lord’ and did many mighty works in His name, they were not perfect as their Heavenly Father, thus not doing the will of the Father as perfect as Jesus has and does. As John points out, sin (singular according to the Greek) is lawlessness, making those people workers of lawlessness.
- 1 John 3:4 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
- 1 John 3:4 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
- If someone is using any of these law verses to say “this is what we have to do to get to Heaven”, unfortunately you are (subtly or consciously) thinking that you have to keep the law to enter the Kingdom of God. Whether we like it or not, all of us have already failed at this, as all of us fall short of God’s standard of righteousness.
- Ecclesiastes 7:20 - Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
- Romans 3:19-24 - Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
- Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
- Galatians 3:10 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
- James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
- 1 John 1:8 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- Ecclesiastes 7:20 - Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
- Well then how do we get to Heaven? Not by our works, but Jesus’ righteousness credited to our account on the basis of faith (belief/trust in Jesus alone).
- Romans 4:22-25 - That is why his [Abraham’s] faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
- Philippians 3:8-9 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith
- Colossians 2:13-14 - And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
- Romans 4:22-25 - That is why his [Abraham’s] faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Matthew 18:23-35
- Context:
- Matthew 18:21-23 - Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared…”
- Matthew 18:21-23 - Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared…”
- This verse is one of the better verses to be used against this view. However, the context of Peter asking about forgiving his brother demonstrates that this verse likely isn’t about salvation. If this verse was in isolation from the verses in support, I could see the argument that verses 32-35 talks about sins (debt) and hell (jailers/torturers). Although, in light of the rest of Scripture, I would argue this could fit with God’s discipline of His children.
- 2 Samuel 12:11-14 - Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”
- Hebrews 12:5-7 - And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
- Proverbs 3:11-12 - My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46
- The separation was not based on their actions, but whether they were a sheep or a goat, as seen in the first 3 verses.
- Verse 34 shows this clearly: “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Heaven was prepared for His sheep from the foundation of the world, before they could’ve done any works.
- John 10:25-27 - Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
- Verse 34 shows this clearly: “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Heaven was prepared for His sheep from the foundation of the world, before they could’ve done any works.
- Similar to Romans 4 and James 2, the works His sheep do are evidence to others that someone has saving faith, not how they are justified before God. I break down this paradigm in the James 2 section further down.
“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
John 5:28-29
- Opposition’s claim: It says those who do good go to eternal life, and those who do evil are judged. So, we are judged by our actions!
- If this is meant to be applied to those in Christ, then this is wildly out of context:
- John 5:24 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
- John 12:44-48 - And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
- Revelation 20:12-15 carries a similar theme, that those in Christ (Lamb’s Book of Life) are not judged by their actions, but only those not:
- And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
- “Well how do our names end up in the Book of Life?” Revelation tells us twice, they are written from the beginning of the world:
- Revelation 17:8 - The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
- Revelation 13:8 - And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.
- And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
John 8:51
- Opposition’s claim: Shows obedience, and death is talking about soul.
- The Greek word for keeps is τηρήσῃ (téreó - Strong’s 5083), translating to “to keep”, “to guard”, “to observe”, “to watch over”
- The Greek word for death is θάνατον (thanatos - Strong’s 2288), translating to death (literally or figuratively)
- Context:
- John 8:13 - So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”
- John 8:42-47 - Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
- Jesus is talking to the Pharisees, not believers.
- I see two ways to interpret this verse with the context in mind:
- Interpreting “keeps my word” as doing everything Jesus/God commands (Mosaic or Christ’s law), then yes if someone never sinned, they would never die
- Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Ezekiel 18:4 - Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
- Ezekiel 18:5, 9 (condensing for brevity) - “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.”
- Interpreting “keeps my word” as believing in Christ / the Gospel, then also yes if someone believes (faith/trust) then they will have eternal life, though they would die physically.
- John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
- John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
- Interpreting “keeps my word” as doing everything Jesus/God commands (Mosaic or Christ’s law), then yes if someone never sinned, they would never die
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Romans 6:16-22
- The Greek word for sanctification is ἁγιασμόν (hagiasmon - Strong’s 38), translating to sanctification, holiness, consecration. (derived from 40 /hágios, "holy") – sanctification (the process of advancing in holiness); use of the believer being progressively transformed by the Lord into His likeness.
- Context:
- Romans 5:18-21 - So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.- The Greek word for disobedience is παρακοῆς (parakoēs - Strong's 3876), translating to disobedience, neglect to hear (from 3844 /pará, "contrary by close comparison" and 191 /akoúō, "hear")
- The Greek word for obedience is ὑπακοῆς (hypakoēs - Strong’s 5218), translating to obedience (from191 /akoúō, "to hear" and 5259 /hypó, "beneath") – i.e. obedience – literally, "submission to what is heard"
- Romans 6:5-7 - For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.
- The Greek word for enslaved is δουλεύειν (douleuein - Strong’s 1398), translating to “to serve”, “to be a slave to”, “to be in bondage”
- The Greek word for enslaved is δουλεύειν (douleuein - Strong’s 1398), translating to “to serve”, “to be a slave to”, “to be in bondage”
- Romans 6:15 - What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!
- Romans 7:21-25 - So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
- The Greek word for serve is δουλεύω (douleuō - Strong’s 1398), translating to “to serve”, “to be a slave to”, “to be in bondage”
- Romans 5:18-21 - So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:12-13
- Context: This is in reference to sanctification, not salvation.
- Romans 6:17-19 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
- The Greek word for sanctification is ἁγιασμόν (hagiasmon - Strong’s 38), translating to sanctification, holiness, consecration. (derived from 40 /hágios, "holy") – sanctification (the process of advancing in holiness); use of the believer being progressively transformed by the Lord into His likeness.
- The Greek word for sanctification is ἁγιασμόν (hagiasmon - Strong’s 38), translating to sanctification, holiness, consecration. (derived from 40 /hágios, "holy") – sanctification (the process of advancing in holiness); use of the believer being progressively transformed by the Lord into His likeness.
- Romans 7:4-6 - Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
- Romans 7:18-25 - For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
- Romans 8:1-11 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
- Romans 6:17-19 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
- The Greek word for wicked is ἄδικοι (adikoi - Strong’s 94), translating to unrighteous, unjust, wicked (an adjective, derived from 1 /A "no" and 1349 /díkē, "justice")
- The Greek word for justified is ἐδικαιώθητε (edikaiōthēte - Strong’s 1344), translating to “to justify”, “to declare righteous”, “to acquit”
- Context:
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 - “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 - “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
- Yes, the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. We who believe (faith/trust) in God are credited as righteous.
- Romans 4:20-25 - No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
- Also see this block about the bad news in Galatians 5:19-21
- Romans 4:20-25 - No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
- Verse 11 does not say “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by your water baptism.” No, it says “by the Spirit of our God”, the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
- When does this Holy Spirit baptism happen? When we believe/trust in Jesus Christ.
- John 7:37-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
- Acts 10:43-44 - To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
- Acts 11:15-17 - As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
- Galatians 3:2-3 - Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
- Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
- John 7:37-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
- When does this Holy Spirit baptism happen? When we believe/trust in Jesus Christ.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Galatians 5:6
- Context:
- Galatians 5:1-5 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. (3) I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
- Galatians 5:13 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
- Galatians 5:16-18 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Galatians 5:1-5 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. (3) I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
- I do agree that true faith will produce fruit and good works. However, as Paul mentions in verse 3, that if you count even one of these works as necessary to be saved, Christ will be of no advantage to you. Given the context of Galatians 5, Paul is encouraging the Galatians to serve one another out of love from the Spirit, which is the whole point of sanctification.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
- The Greek word for do is πράσσοντες (prassontes - Strong’s 4238), translating to “to practice”, i.e. perform repeatedly or habitually
- Context:
- Galatians 5:13-18 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.- The Greek word for you are not consumed is ἀναλωθῆτε (analōthēte - Strong’s 355), translating to “to consume”, “to spend”, “to use up”
- The Greek word for you are not consumed is ἀναλωθῆτε (analōthēte - Strong’s 355), translating to “to consume”, “to spend”, “to use up”
- Romans 7:14-25 - For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
- Galatians 5:13-18 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
- Given the context, that Paul says they are free but shouldn’t use their freedom for the flesh as it will consume each of them, I see this passage as things the Galatians (and us today) should avoid, as they will “keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
- To the point of “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God,” I see two valid ways of interpreting this: either as unrepentant sin, or that people who sin (even once in their life) earn hell for themselves.
- Unrepentant sin interpretation:
- The Greek word seems to apply that this is unrepentant (no change of mind) sin, not sin that the Christian is either working on eliminating, does accidentally, or does unknowingly.
- This exact Greek word is used one other time in Romans 1:32 - Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
- Earning hell through sin interpretation: (This is the interpretation I deem best)
- Everyone has sinned, and because even one sin is enough to doom the body to death and send us to hell, everyone has earned hell as a consequence for sin. This is the bad news, where we all naturally start at.
- Galatians 3:10 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
- Romans 2:12 - For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
- Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
- Galatians 3:10 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
- The Good news (Gospel) is what saves us from hell, through Jesus’ finished work on the cross; His righteousness is credited to our account when we trust in Him alone.
- Galatians 2:16 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
- Galatians 3:3-6 - Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
- Galatians 3:24 - So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
- Romans 4:22-25 - That is why his [Abraham’s] faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
- Philippians 3:8-9 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith
- Colossians 2:13-14 - And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
- Galatians 2:16 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
- Everyone has sinned, and because even one sin is enough to doom the body to death and send us to hell, everyone has earned hell as a consequence for sin. This is the bad news, where we all naturally start at.
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:8-9
- Context:
- Galatians 5:13-15 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
- The Greek word for you are not consumed is ἀναλωθῆτε (analōthēte - Strong’s 355), translating to “to consume”, “to spend”, “to use up”
- The Greek word for you are not consumed is ἀναλωθῆτε (analōthēte - Strong’s 355), translating to “to consume”, “to spend”, “to use up”
- Galatians 5:25 - If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
- Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
- Matthew 5:16 - “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 - “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15 - For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
- 1 Peter 2:11-12 - Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
- 1 Peter 4:10-11 - As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- Galatians 5:13-15 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
- At surface level, this verse may sound like we have to “sow” to reap eternal life for ourselves. However the immediate context tells us how we should interpret the parable, as an encouragement to serve one another, not “unless you serve one another you will not be saved”.
- Paul just described that though we are free in Christ, we should not use this freedom to satisfy the flesh. Paul repeats this encouragement multiple times throughout his letters, as such good works will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. These good works are not described as the means by which we ourselves merit eternal life, otherwise we’d have a reason to boast—
- Therefore, viewing the phrase “the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” in it’s context, this sowing and reaping would correlate to the believer sowing seed in other’s lives. The good work that a Christian does (serving, sharing the Gospel, giving, etc.) brings glory to God and your works may plant a seed in unbelievers that God may use.
- This would link closely to the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:3-8
- Paul just described that though we are free in Christ, we should not use this freedom to satisfy the flesh. Paul repeats this encouragement multiple times throughout his letters, as such good works will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. These good works are not described as the means by which we ourselves merit eternal life, otherwise we’d have a reason to boast—
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:3-6
- The Greek word for is proper is πρέπει (prepei - Strong’s 4241), translating to “to be fitting”, “to be proper”, “to be suitable”
- Notice it does not mean “necessary” or “required”, but that saints “should” or “ought to” act appropriately.
- Notice it does not mean “necessary” or “required”, but that saints “should” or “ought to” act appropriately.
- The Greek word for disobedience is ἀπειθείας (apeitheias - Strong’s 543), translating to disobedience, unbelief (from 1 /A "not" and 3982 /peíthō, "persuaded") – properly, someone not persuaded, referring to their willful unbelief, i.e. the refusal to be convinced by God's voice.
- Context:
- Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
- Ephesians 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- Ephesians 5:1-2 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
- Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
- There’s a difference between the commands to be saved (to believe/trust in Jesus/the Gospel) and the commands once we are saved.
- The confusion with this verse comes from the English word disobedience, interpreting it as disobedience in works. However the root Greek word is peithó (belief - Strong’s 3982) and not hupakoé (obedience - Strong’s 5218). This is the same confusion mentioned in the intro to this “verses against” section.
- So regarding verse 6, I completely agree; those who do not believe will bear the wrath of God.
- I address this same subject in this block about the bad news in Galatians 5:19-21
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
- Context:
- Philippians 1:1 - Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
- Philippians 2:1-5 - So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
- Philippians 2:14-15 - Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world
- Matthew 5:16 - “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
- Romans 12:1-2 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
- 1 Peter 2:11-12 - Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
- 1 Peter 4:10-11 - As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- Philippians 1:1 - Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
- The verse does not read “work for your own salvation”. You cannot work out something you do not have. Like the gym, you go to work out the muscles you already have.
- In the context, Paul is writing to people who are already saved, exhorting them to act right and look out for the interests of others, so that they will shine as lights in the world.
that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Philippians 3:11-12
- Context:
- Philippians 3:3-4 - For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
- Philippians 3:7-10 - But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
- Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
- Romans 4:1-5 - What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
- Romans 4:21-22 - fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
- Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
- Philippians 3:3-4 - For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
- In the context, we can gather two things that Paul is talking about:
- That he “put no confidence in the flesh”, and “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ”. In terms of our salvation, Paul has already made clear that our salvation/righteousness depends not on ourselves, nor our works in the flesh, but on faith, both in Philippians 3 and in his other letters.
- What Paul has not yet attained is “the resurrection from the dead”, which is what will happen in the future—whether alive or dead—to those who are saved. Paul is not saying that he is unsure whether he is saved or justified before God. That is why he writes in verse 20 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”. Now this was written after Jesus’ ascension, after He died on the cross for us. How can Paul say he’s still awaiting a Savior? The next verse answers that to my point: “who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body”
- That he “put no confidence in the flesh”, and “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ”. In terms of our salvation, Paul has already made clear that our salvation/righteousness depends not on ourselves, nor our works in the flesh, but on faith, both in Philippians 3 and in his other letters.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
- Context:
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 - Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 - Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
- Verses 1-3 tell us what Paul is talking about: not salvation and/or justification, but sanctification and/or holiness.
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Titus 1:16
- The Greek word for disobedient is ἀπειθεῖς - (apeitheis - Strong’s 545), translating to disobedient, unbelieving
- Cognate: 545 apeithḗs (an adjective) – literally, unwilling to be persuaded (by God) which shows itself in outward disobedience (outward spiritual rebellion); disobedient because unpersuaded.
- Cognate: 545 apeithḗs (an adjective) – literally, unwilling to be persuaded (by God) which shows itself in outward disobedience (outward spiritual rebellion); disobedient because unpersuaded.
- Context:
- Titus 1:10-15 - For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
- Titus 1:10-15 - For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
- Paul calls these people unbelievers, and we see that they are unbelievers because of their works. This is similar to James 2:14-26 and Romans 4:1-6. To us humans, we can see if someone has faith by their works (James), but God judges the heart and know whether we have true faith in Him apart from our works (Romans).
And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
Hebrews 5:9
- Context 8-10: Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
- The Greek word for obey is ὑπακούουσιν (hypakouousin - Strong’s 5219), translating to “To obey, to listen attentively, to heed” (from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 191 /akoúō, "hear")
- This section of Hebrews (Chapters 3-10) talks about the perfect priesthood of Jesus. It was the obedience of the priest, making sacrifices for himself and his people, that atoned for sins.
- Hebrews 3:1 - Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
- Hebrews 7:23-27 - The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
- First, this verse does not say “the source of salvation ONLY to all who obey him;” it does not exclude any group of people here.
- Second, the writer of Hebrews tells us how we “enter God’s rest” (salvation/Heaven), as mentioned in the affirmative section:
- Hebrews 4:1-3: Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.
- Hebrews 4:9-11 - So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
- The Greek word for work used in verse 10 is ἔργων (ergōn - Strong’s 2041), translating to deed, action, task, or labor.
- The Greek word for disobedience used in verse 11 is ἀπειθείας (apeitheias - Strong’s 543), translating to disbelief (from 1 /A "not" and 3982 /peíthō, "persuaded").
- Hebrews 4:1-3: Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
- Third, we see plenty of examples of what disobedience is, unbelief
- Hebrews 3:18-19 - And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
- The Greek word for disobedient used in verse 18 is ἀπειθήσασιν (apeithēsasin - Strong’s 544), translating to “to disbelieve” (willfully and perversely)
- Hebrews 4:6, 11 using the Greek word apeitheian (Strong’s 543), translating to disbelief (from 1 /A "not" and 3982 /peíthō, "persuaded").
- Hebrews 3:18-19 - And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
- Fourth, you’d have to reconcile the numerous verses above that say that we are saved not by works :)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
James 2:14-26
- The Greek word for believe in James 2:19 is πιστεύουσιν (pisteuousin - Strong’s 4100)
- “Well isn’t that same Greek word used by Jesus when he says to believe in Him to be saved?”
Yes, but notice that the object of that belief is different, demons believing that “God is one”, while saving faith is trusting in Jesus. James is not redefining belief, but showing that mere intellectual assent—belief that stops short of trust and allegiance—is not saving faith. The Greek language has prepositions that change the kind of belief that pisteuó points to; it can be either faith/trust, or mere head knowledge.
These articles break it down succinctly:
- “Well isn’t that same Greek word used by Jesus when he says to believe in Him to be saved?”
- This passage is not talking about proving your faith to God; God already knows your heart before you demonstrate it through actions/works.
- 1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
- Psalm 44:21 - would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
- Proverbs 21:2 - Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
- Luke 16:14-15 - The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
- 1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
- This passage tells us how other people can tell if someone has faith. This is evidenced by the wordage like “Show me”, “I will show you”, “Do you want to be shown”, and “You see”.
- “But if faith is dead, does that mean it’s not saving?”
A ‘dead’ faith is not imaginary faith, but a faith that is presently unproductive and indistinguishable to others—real belief that has not yet borne visible fruit. Like an apple tree, just because the tree has not yet produced fruit does not mean it’s not an apple tree; with time it will naturally produce fruit because it is an apple tree. Our faith is the same way, and with time and sanctification, God leads us to do good works as a fruit of us being saved.- Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
- “But if faith is dead, does that mean it’s not saving?”
- The quotation of Genesis 15:6 helps show this too, for if someone thinks that James says that works are required before God, first they have to justify the Genesis quote in verse 23, but then explain why Paul can quote the same verse in Romans 4, yet say that we are justified apart from works. Would this mean that Romans and James contradict each other? Hopefully your answer is no, otherwise you’d have say the Bible has a contradiction.
- Romans 4:1-6 - What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
- Paul is answering: “How is a sinner made right before God?” By faith apart from works. James is answering: “How can someone claim faith while living unchanged?” True faith is shown to us humans by works. Different questions, same truth.
- Romans 4:1-6 - What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
2 Peter 3:14-16
- Opposition’s claim: God is being patient as we sanctify ourselves enough to be saved, being found without spot or blemish
- Context:
- 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
- The Greek word for repentance is μετάνοιαν (metanoian - Strong’s 3341), translating to compunction (metánoia – literally, "a change of mind”)
- The Greek word for repentance is μετάνοιαν (metanoian - Strong’s 3341), translating to compunction (metánoia – literally, "a change of mind”)
- Romans 2:3-5 - Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
- The Greek word for repentance is μετάνοιαν (metanoian - Strong’s 3341), translating to compunction (metánoia – literally, "a change of mind”)
- The Greek word for impenitent is ἀμετανόητον (ametanoēton - Strong’s 279), translating to unrepentant (from a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of metanoeo)
- Luke 24:45-47 - Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
- The Greek word for repentance is μετάνοιαν (metanoian - Strong’s 3341), translating to compunction (metánoia – literally, "a change of mind”)
- The Greek word for repentance is μετάνοιαν (metanoian - Strong’s 3341), translating to compunction (metánoia – literally, "a change of mind”)
- 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
- It appears the immediate context (and what Paul wrote as well) clarifies that this patience of the Lord is for us to come to repentance (metanoeó - “change of mind”)
- What is this twisting of the Scriptures Paul and Peter talk about? Thankfully Paul tells us exactly:
- Romans 3:5-8 - But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? (8) And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
- Notice that the statement that “our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God” is not the slanderous part. It is in verse 8 “why not do evil that good may come?”. This is why, without contradicting himself, Paul can write just a couple chapters later:
- Romans 5:20-6:2 - Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
- If Paul was sharing the Gospel that already required us to become righteous and do good works to be saved, it would make no sense for this question to be raised. Yet with Paul’s Gospel message, whatever you think it is, this question logically gets raised with those who he shares it with.
- Romans 5:20-6:2 - Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Romans 3:5-8 - But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? (8) And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
1 John 3:8-10
- Context:
- 1 John 1:8 - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
- 1 John 2:1-2 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
- 1 John 2:23-25 - No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
- 1 John 4:13-16 - By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
- 1 John 1:8 - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
- What must be resolved is how John can say “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” but then say “when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil”? Paul’s distinction between the flesh and the Spirit seems to resolve this perfectly. The Spirit God gave us cannot sin, but as regards the body, it remains dead in sin.
- Romans 7:14-19 - For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
- Reflecting on 1 John 3:8: “when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil”, should we then say that Paul belonged to the devil even after being saved and writing this letter?
- Reflecting on 1 John 3:8: “when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil”, should we then say that Paul belonged to the devil even after being saved and writing this letter?
- Galatians 5:16-18 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Romans 7:14-19 - For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:8
- The Greek word for faithless is ἀπίστοις (apistois - Strong’s 571), translating to unbelieving, faithless, unfaithful (from 1 /A "not" and 4103 /pistós, "faithful," see there) – properly, not faithful because unpersuaded
- Context: Those in the book of life escape this judgement
- Revelation 20:12-15 - And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
- John 5:24 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
- John 12:44-48 - And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
How To Change My Mind
As I mentioned in the beginning of this document, I want the Biblical perspective on this. In order to convince me that I’m wrong on this topic, I’d need the following (in order of significance)
- An explanation of all (or at least most) of the verses in support by
- Using the context of the verse and the rest of the Bible
- Bringing up the Greek/Hebrew word
- Then from either/both of those, make your case
- A refutation of my explanations of the verses against. I’ve used a similar framework that I just listed to explain these verses.
- Responding to my arguments for my position.
- This is secondary; if you can show all the verses in context do not support my position, that’d knock the foundation of these arguments.
More to explore
Browse the other apologetic writings, or start with the full Gospel presentation.
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