Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2015 15:49:04 GMT -5
Anything other than "by grace alone" is not the Gospel. There's nothing about the false gospel of works that makes it "good news". It's not hard to understand why people tend to believe in a more works-based idea of salvation though. It's what would make the most sense in our human minds, appeals to our pride, and stems from a lack of understanding of the extent of our own sinfulness and God's holiness.
Good works do NOT contribute to salvation, but they WILL be evident in a person who is saved. They are not the cause of salvation but the evidence of it.
Rev_20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Are those verses speaking of believers or unbelievers??? Context is important. I don't claim to understand much of Revelation, how all of that will work out...I am excited for BSF this year as we will be studying that book! But I do know I don't have any reason to fear it because I believe the overall theme of the scriptures tells me that while I am a sinful human, I am reconciled to God through the blood of His Son and putting my faith in Him. And I can proceed from a saving belief in Him with the Holy Spirit in me, producing fruit which is evidence of a faith that is alive.
I used to believe my salvation was somehow dependent on what I was doing. I was afraid constantly...fearing death, because I wasn't sure at any given moment I had done enough to be saved. That's the problem with a works-based view of salvation. Scripture assures us as Christians we don't have to fear death...death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory? And why is that? We know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
I never much understood the concept of heavenly rewards (referred to as "crowns" in scripture) vs salvation before either...you should look into it! Scripture tells us we will be rewarded for the good things we do and God will not overlook it...as long as the basis for it is our faith. But that doesn't mean the good things we do will save us because we are still marred by sin...to which there is only one answer...