ARE GRACE AND WORKS MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE?

Andrew M. Connally

 

In many people’s thinking, there seems to be a contradiction between the subjects—the grace of God and the works of God. In a letter I have in my files, a brother in Christ states: “It is time, brother Connally, that we quit thinking of Jesus as another Moses. Jesus never wrote any book or gave any law. We are under grace and not any law (Rom. 6:14) . . . It’s about time we started relying on Jesus (our sin-offering) rather than our legalistic religion for salvation . . .” Here you have it — confusion to the nth degree and from a man who purports to be a Christian.

 

The Nature of Grace

 

If the Bible teaches anything, it teaches we are saved by grace: “For by grace have you been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory” (Eph. 2:8-9). Again, we read, “For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men . . .” (Tit. 2:11). These passages, and dozens of others, make it abundantly clear that God’s grace saves us! Yet, in none of them do they state we are saved by “grace only,” nor do they teach all men are saved without any effort on the part of man!

God’s grace is “unmerited favor.” Man does not deserve it, neither can he earn it, nor work for it. It comes from God. He is the source of “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17). He is the supreme architect of the universe (Gen. 1:1-2). He is the author of the plan of salvation (Eph. 1:11). He gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16), yet this grace is not unconditional and herein lies the confusion.

 

The Nature of Works

 

The Bible plainly teaches that man’s works cannot save! Notice again, “For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no man should glory” (Eph. 2:8-9). Human works of righteousness do not amount to anything in the sight of God. Man is a sinner, a terrible, lost sinner! And there is nothing on earth he can do can save himself. The Bible says, “When the kindness of God our Savior, and his love toward man appeared, not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit . . .” (Tit. 3:4-5). So, anyone can see that anything man might devise to eradicate sin or make him holy or make him appear righteous can never avail in the sight of God.

Human works cannot save, and even the works of the Mosaic law cannot save. Notice: “Because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight . . .” (Rom. 3:20). Therefore, works of human merit and works of the Mosaic law cannot save us; if they could, then there would have been no reason for Christ to come and die for us! His very coming shows something else was required.

This does not mean that God does not demand we obey his commandments in order to be saved! Either the Bible teaches universal salvation, or it does not. Since the Bible plainly teaches some will be lost (Matt. 7:21-23: Matt. 25:46), then it follows that something separates the saved from the lost! What is it?

 

The Nature of Faith

 

God demands and commands works of faith in order for man to attain salvation. “Without faith it is impossible for man to please God” for “God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Faith, for it to be acceptable to God, must express itself in action. This is the very point missed by so many in denominationalism! Faith unexpressed is a dead faith. Notice: “Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith . . . For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:24, 26). Now we have shown that the Bible says some works do not save and some works do save. This is why some people are confused. But God expects us to search the Scriptures with a longing for truth. Our responsibility is to harmonize all God’s teaching.

At this point, a denominationalist screams “faith only” saves! Yet in the passage just noticed from James, we learn we are not saved by faith only! Surely, the Bible teaches we are saved by faith (Rom. 5:1: Acts 16:31), but nowhere does it teach salvation by “faith alone.” People who so teach fall into the trap of those who teach salvation by “grace only.” Neither is true! God’s part is called “grace.” Man’s part is called “faith.” But saving faith includes (leads to) acts of obedience. Notice: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down”—now we ask the question, “When did they fall down?” Was it at the moment the Israelites “believed” they would fall down? Was it the moment they “trusted God” to make them fall down? Or was it “after they had marched for seven days” (Heb. 11:30). Surely anyone knows they fell after the Israelites obeyed God’s commands to march for seven days and blow the trumpets! Such is the nature of faith. Faith must always express itself in overt action according to the command of God. To refuse to do so is disobedience. To do anything else is works of human merit. But to do exactly as God has said is to be “justified by faith.”

 

The Nature of Obedience

 

Numerous passages teach obedience is essential to salvation. Notice: “Though he was a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which He suffered: and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey Him the author of eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:8-9). For this very reason “faith alone” never saves. But to obey is to be “saved by faith.” Our responsibility is to harmonize God’s Word, not to take a position that contradicts some other passage. To demand salvation by “grace only,” “faith only,” or by “works” is to violate the plain teaching of God.

That is why when Jesus said, “except you believe I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Faith becomes essential to salvation. That is why when Jesus said, “Except you repent ye shall perish” (Luke 13:3-5). Repentance becomes essential to salvation. When a man believes, repents, or is baptized according to the commands of God, these are not works of human righteousness but rather constitute “justification of faith.” Any other position taken will result in a hopeless morass of contradictions and error. That is why so many are confused and do not understand the relation of grace and works.

 

Conclusion

 

To answer the question first raised, “Are Grace and Works Mutually Exclusive?” If you mean the grace of God and the meritorious works of man—yes, they are exclusive. But if you mean God’s grace and God’s commanded works, then they are not mutually exclusive. God does not cause confusion; only man does that. God demands an honest heart, a searching for truth and will reward such a person with an understanding so he can obey. Otherwise, a man will be lost. One should accept all that God has said, render obedience to the truth, and teach it to others. In this way, and only in this way, we can hope to be “justified by faith.”