Salvation By Works Destroys Faith and Grace.

Romans 4:14 – 16a “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: (15.) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (16.) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed…”

Beloved as we continue to slowly march through the book of Romans we indeed find so many wonderful truths. This week we saw very clearly how the idea of salvation by works of the law totally destroys two very important ingredients of salvation; Grace, and Faith. Paul has went into great detail about how Abraham was justified in God’s sight and he has concluded it was by faith Romans 4:13 “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” The main point here includes Abraham being justified through circumcision and the law, but Abraham was not circumcised until he was 99 years old after he was already justified and the promise made to him and his seed (his seed includes all of the elect of God not just Israel), and as far as the law is concerned it did not exist until some 400 years later as I understand it.

In Ephesians 2:8 - 9 we read “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9.) Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Both grace and faith are involved in salvation and both are a gift from God. If grace is an unmerited favor then it is a gift and not earned and faith is a gift from Christ Jesus. With this all being said God said “For by grace are ye saved through faith...” and the fact that Paul spoke of in Romans chapter 4 is that both grace and faith are destroyed by the very thought of salvation by works. First let us look at grace Paul said in Romans 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” In other words, if salvation is by works, including circumcision or works of the law then grace is dead or a non-factor in salvation. How can anything be given as an unmerited favor if it is earned by any kind of work or effort on our part. The two simply make no sense together. Works for salvation not only destroys grace but the entire writings of Paul and the rest of the bible. Second let us look at faith, in Romans 4:14 “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:” Not only is grace made of non-effect but so is faith. Faith is dead because if you believe in salvation by works than where is faith and what is faith? Faith is believing that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and how is that possible if we do not believe it. Faith is also believing that the payment Jesus made on Calvary’s cross was sufficient payment of our debt and by it God would count us as just and righteous people. Works for salvation also destroys Ephesians 2:8 - 9 and makes it worthless at best and a total lie at worse. How can God tell us works is not a part of salvation and then command us to earn it by works and how can God tell us salvation is of His unmerited favor and then command us to earn it? Is God that confused or is His word so confusing that man cannot understand the reality of salvation? How about the promise God made to Abraham? Isn’t it also destroyed? Paul said it was “…and the promise made of none effect:” verse 14. God promised Abraham that his faith was sufficient to be righteous and to all of them that would believe after him so isn’t that also destroyed? If Abraham was justified by his works then where was the law, and where was his circumcision? Neither was a reality until long after his salvation. Salvation is no more of works than it is of money because if you can earn it then why can’t it be purchased?