Works Equal Salvation ~ OR ~ Salvation Equals Works?

Last night our church, International Bible Baptist Church - Riverside (CA), had a "Seven Last Sayings Of Jesus Christ" devotional service.  We had seven of our adult men each share our thoughts on one of those seven last words of Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross of Calvary.  My part was to discuss John 19:30, "So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit."  

I was happy to speak on His declaration of Victory:  "IT IS FINISHED!"    Why that particular saying?   Over the past 29 plus years of being a Christian believer with a God-given writing ministry - I have had many discussions with Friends from the Liberal and Legalistic side of the Christian community regarding salvation.  Should we believe "Works Equal Salvation" - or - should we believe that "Salvation Equals Works"?

I am convinced that works follow salvation.  In other words, works cannot earn us salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16) - but once we become Christian believers we should want to do works that will glorify and please our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16, James 2:17-18).

So, the question I raised in my "It Is Finished" devotional last night was:  Was the death of Jesus Christ on the cross sufficient to make full redemption available to all people?  Or was His sacrifice not sufficient - and we must "work" to finish the task of redemption He began and could not finish?  Was His death sufficient to give us eternal life - or not?

With those thoughts, let me share with you a discussion I had in April 2014 with a Friend on the Religion Forum of my hometown newspaper, the TimesDaily of Florence, Alabama:

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The response below was originally written to answer a Forum Friend in the TimesDaily Religion Forum.  It was in the discussion I began titled "Salvation First - Works To Follow!"  I wrote most of this following response several days ago, but Friday was Grandparents' Day at the Christian school my grandchildren attend and I was away for most of the day.  When I returned to the Religion Forum, I found that my discussion had already been hijacked by the Far Left Gang.  So, with this response, I will begin a new discussion. 

In the "Salvation First - Works To Follow!" discussion, a Forum Friend posted Acts 1:11 and suggested that this Scripture verse supports a "works" salvation.  I reply that Acts 1:10-11 speaks more of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in glory:

Acts 1:10-11, "And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going (ascending back into heaven), behold, two men in white clothing (angels) stood beside them.  (11) They also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.'"

And, my Forum Friend tells me,  "Bill,  I think this is a prime example of two people reading the same Scripture, but rendering different results."

That is true.  And, that is why I enjoy Bible studies so much.  And, also why I attribute the larger portion of our Christian growth and maturity to participation in good interactive Bible studies.   In sermons we learn what the pastor believes about a particular Scripture passage or teaching.  And, most of the time that is accurate.   But, we are only listening and often our minds will wander.

In Bible studies where a Bible study leader stands at the pulpit and does all the talking (which to me is just another sermon), once again we learn what that Bible study leader believes about a particular Scripture passage.

However, when we participate in an interactive Bible study, one where we all sit together (forget the pulpit), read a Scripture verse or passage, and openly discuss it - that holds our attention and is where we experience growth and maturity in our knowledge of God's Word.

This is not lessening the importance of sermons.  What we hear in sermons, we later chew on in interactive Bible studies.  You may recall that, in the past, I have likened a church fellowship to a three-legged stool.   One leg represents sermons, another is Bible studies, and the third leg is our Sunday School classes.  If you have ever sat on a three-legged stool, you know that it is stable. 

However, if you remove one of those legs - the stool standing on only two legs is rather precarious.  Remove another leg, and a one-legged stool requires great dexterity to sit upon.  So it is with Christian fellowships which stand only upon Sunday sermons and exclude Bible studies or Sunday School classes - or both.

In a Bible study or Sunday School environment where people are encouraged to join in the discussions, to offer their understanding of a Scripture verse, and to be willing to openly hear and discuss the thoughts of others on that verse - through such discussions we all grow in our knowledge of God's Word. 

Does this mean that, in a study environment, everyone is right - or that all others are wrong?  No.  But, when we discuss that verse or passage in a study group, keeping in mind that the full and sole authority is the Bible itself - we may often find that the understanding we have of that verse might be changed when we are encouraged to stand it alongside other Scripture verses.  That is the power, and benefit, of Bible study and Sunday School group discussions. 

A good example might be one my Forum Friend raised before, suggesting that James 2:14 supports "works" salvation:

James 2:14, "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works?  Can that faith save him?"

Many folks will read this Scripture verse and declare that it tells us that we are saved by our works.  Is that really what James is telling us?   No.  These are rhetorical questions - questions to make us think, to lead us into digging for a fuller understanding of that Scripture passage.

I believe James is leading us to ask the question:  "Can faith save the person who is not willing to work?" 

And, the answer has to be, "Yes.  But, it will be a faith that is built upon stunted growth, no maturity."

When we stand Ephesians 2:8-9 alongside James 2:14 - we see that, yes indeed, a person is saved exclusive of works, for that grace and that saving faith - is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

We are told in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

Should we be doing good "works"?  Yes, but those works are the result of our salvation - not the cause of our salvation.

In an earlier post, I wrote, "What I see in Acts 1:11 are angelic witnesses, promising that Christ will return again, His Second Coming in glory.  And, with that I agree completely.  If we did not have that blessed hope; there would truly be no Christian faith."

And, my Forum Friend responds, "When I read that verse I arrive at a completely different conclusion.  Remember we are in the Book of Acts.  I understand that there are different mind sets out there concerning the true purpose of this book, but let's just take it on face value:  'The Acts of the Apostles.' "

Here you are reading the word "Acts" as being acts of work.  Whereas, most folks view the book of Acts as a history of the "actions" of the growing church body, covering the time period between the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ - to some time before the execution of the apostle Paul.  I would suggest that the book of Acts covers history of the early church for about 30 plus years after the Crucifixion of Christ.

And, Acts, written by Luke, is considered to be a companion or continuation of the Gospel of Luke.  The book focuses on the actions (witnessing and teaching) of the apostles during that 30 plus year growth period of the Christian church - and leaves off with Paul still preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Most Christians see the book of Acts as still continuing today, spanning the entire Christian Church Era.  In other words, many feel that we are still living out the continuation of the book of Acts - which will culminate in the imminent Rapture of the church from earth.

But, the name does not imply, in any way, that salvation is dependent upon or gained through acts of "work."   That is proven in Ephesians 2:8-9.
 
He continues, "Now if we read Acts 1:1-10, we know that Jesus has been giving instructions to the Apostles and he has told them that they are to be his witnesses."

Yes, in Acts 1:1-8, we see Luke describing those 40 days from the time of His resurrection until the time of His ascension back into heaven.  In this discourse, we see Jesus Christ telling the apostle that they should remain in Jerusalem until they receive the promised gift from God, the Holy Spirit, which did happen 10 days later on the Day of Pentecost.

Here we also see Jesus instructing them, and us, that we should be His witnesses in our Jerusalem (our family and immediate community), in our Judea (our city and state), in our Samaria (our nation), and in all the world.  This passage, and Mark 16:15, I view as a continuation of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20 - that we should take the Gospel to all the world.  In a sense, you and I are doing that right now - as we participate in an open forum dialogue.

Then, my Friend tells me, "So when I read verse 11 the message that I get from the Angels is, 'Why are you standing here?  Be about the task that Jesus has assigned you.' "

In that, my Friend, you give us a perfect example of "eisegesis" - the action of reading INTO Scripture what you want it to say. 

Acts 1:10-11, "And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.  (11) They also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.' "

If you and I had been there that day - just like the apostles, we would have been looking up into the sky as Jesus Christ ascended into heaven.  I am sure those apostles had mixed emotions.  They knew He is God the Son.  They had His promise that He WILL come again to rapture His church, and that He will return to earth in the same glorified, immortal body in which He ascended.  He will return in glory as the Lion of Judah. 

But, the apostles and disciples were not yet indwelled, sealed, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  When that happened, ten days later, that is when the dynamic Christian church began.   Our blessed hope is that we know that He is coming again to Rapture His church from earth - and exactly seven years later - He will return to earth, His Second Coming - just as the apostles watched Him go into heaven.

That is what the two angels are telling the apostles, "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. " 

Nothing was said, nor implied, about "the task that Jesus has assigned" - to them or to us. To insert that into this verse - is to insert what you expect or want it to say.  And, that is "eisegesis" - how false theologies are created.

Next, he writes, "Then we see in verse 12 that is exactly what they did.  Which to me, underscores that the 'meat' of verse 11 was 'get to work.'"

Acts 1:12, "Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away."

In this verse and subsequent verses, I see more of a "wait upon the Lord" than the "'get to work" you suggest.  In those verses, I see the apostles joining with other believers (120 in total), men and women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus - devoting themselves to prayer and fellowship as they wait upon the Lord. 

And, in their human nature which has not yet been empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit - I see the apostles doing what we all do at times - getting ahead of God.

Jesus personally appointed the twelve apostles.   During that ten days in the Upper Room, the apostles took it upon themselves to appoint a replacement for Judas.  They appointed Matthias - who quickly disappeared into the tombs of history, never to be heard of again in all the New Testament.

However, once Christ got the apostles and disciples indwelled and on the road to building His Christian fellowship through their teaching of the Word - Jesus Christ Himself appointed the new twelfth apostle: Paul.

During that ten days in the Upper Room - not '"get to work" - but, wait upon the Lord, stay in prayer and prepare yourself to receive the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit, the promise of God.

My Friend tells me, "I referred to James just to underscore my believe in actions."  

Once again, as I have shown in an earlier post - when you see "salvation through works" in James - you are reading INTO Scripture what it does not say.

Next, "Just know this, the chapter of James that I (and I feel a lot of Christians) really, really need to take to heart is Chapter 3."

I am not quite sure where you were going when you insert James 3 into a discussion of "works based" salvation; so, I will leave that for another discussion.

Finally, he asks, "How about Acts 10:47-48?   Acts 19:3-5?"

If I read you right, you are suggesting these Scripture passages - as proof of "baptismal regeneration," i.e., a person does not have salvation until he/she has been baptized.

Briefly, in Acts 10:47-48 Peter has, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, gone to the home of Cornelius the Roman Centurion, preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his household, and they have believed in Jesus Christ.  In verse 47 Peter is addressing the Jewish believers who accompanied him to the home of Cornelius regarding the right of Gentile believers to be be baptized.  Then, in verse 48, Peter orders Cornelius and his believing household to be baptized.   Notice that they had believed, i.e., were indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit, saved - then, they were baptized.

And, in Acts 19:1-5, we find Paul who, passing through Ephesus, came upon believers (Acts 19:2).  He asked if they had received the Holy Spirit - and they confirmed that John the Baptist had not told them of the Holy Spirit.  But, keep in mind that just because John the Baptist did not tell them of the Holy Spirit - that did not preclude them being indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit the moment they became believers in Jesus Christ, through the preaching of John.

So, Paul had these believers baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  Once again, notice the timing:  (1) when Paul found them, they were already believers through the teachings of John the Baptist - and then (2) Paul had them baptized.   Salvation first - Works, i.e., baptism, to follow.  Baptism is a work of obedience, fruit of a person's salvation -- but, not the cause of that person's salvation.

Below I have taken excerpts from an article found in GotQuestions.Com.  I believe this explain the position of baptism in our salvation very well:

Question: "What is baptismal regeneration?"
http://www.gotquestions.org/baptismal-regeneration.html

Answer:  Baptismal regeneration is the belief that baptism is necessary for salvation, or, more precisely, that regeneration does not occur until a person is water baptized. . .

The problem with this viewpoint is that there are biblical passages that clearly and explicitly declare faith to be the only requirement for salvation.   John 3:16, one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In Acts 16:30, the Philippian jailer asks the apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?”. . .   Paul’s response was simple: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).  No baptism, no confession, just faith.

There are literally dozens of verses in the New Testament that attribute salvation to faith/belief with no other requirement mentioned in the context.  If baptism, or anything else, is necessary for salvation, all of these verses are wrong, and the Bible contains errors and is therefore no longer worthy of our trust.

An exhaustive study of the New Testament on various requirements for salvation is not necessary.  Receiving salvation is not a process or a multi-step formula.  Salvation is a finished product, not a recipe.  What must we do to be saved?  Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we will be saved.

My Friend, I pray this explanation that, "by grace, through faith, alone" - we attain salvation has given you food for thought.  Faith does not preclude us doing good works as a result of our salvation.  Actually, receiving eternal life in Christ should make us want to do works in His name.  But, that desire to do good works in His name - came because we had already become Christian believers, were already saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit, empowered to do those good works.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill