Eternally Secured

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Jun Malazo

(Part four)

We are continuing the subject of eternal security.  As a review, the Bible clearly teaches that all those that have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation are kept by God’s power and are secured in Christ for eternity.  (Please look up John 6:37-40; John 10:27-29; 1 Corinthians 1:8, Romans 8:1, and 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10.)

In this series of articles I am trying to clarify and challenge the false teaching which implies that works are required to maintain salvation.  Many prominent Christian denominations adhere to this teaching largely due to misinterpretation of the Bible.

In part 3 of this series I highlighted some of the principles that need to be applied in order to get an accurate interpretation of the Bible.  We must always keep in mind that “…God is not the author of confusion…” (1Corinthians 14:33) and that there is a right way to “divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).  Therefore, clarity and proper interpretation of the Bible is possible when the right principles are applied.

I can never emphasize enough the importance of properly interpreting the Bible.  This is because so many are being led astray with false teachings.  The giving and receiving of inaccurate information often leads to great disasters.  The gravity of this subject is extremely serious as it deals with your eternal destiny. 

In the last article, we talked about Matthew 7:21 which is a verse that is often misinterpreted and misused.  We discovered that, by applying the principles for proper Biblical interpretation and comparing Scriptures with Scriptures, Jesus was not saying that works is needed to gain or maintain salvation.  Salvation by faith and grace alone is part of God’s will for mankind (John 6:40).

Another such passage that is constantly misinterpreted and misused is James 2:20-26 which reads:

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”  (James 2:20-26)

At first glance, these verses may seem to prove that works are needed to gain and maintain salvation.  As we apply proper Biblical interpretation principles, we will discover something else.

James said, “…that faith without works is dead?” (v.4).  He then brought our attention to the example of Abraham in the succeeding verses.  I want to turn our attention for a moment to the following verses:

"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."  (Romans 4:1-3)

It is important for us to compare the two passages (James 2:20-26 and Romans 4:1-3) because it gives a clearer picture of the life of Abraham when it comes to justification (salvation).  If you read the two passages carefully it would be seem that there is an apparent contradiction.  James says, “…Was not Abraham our father justified by works…” (James 2:21) and yet, Paul says, “…Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3b).

Let us compare the two.  Paul in Romans 3 is addressing salvation before God (justification by faith and grace alone).  James in James 2 is addressing how to display our salvation to men through good works (2:18). 

James was not addressing salvation, but rather he was addressing the Christian life.  Notice he addresses them in verse 14 as “my brethren….”  James is contrasting dead faith with true biblical faith.  He is saying that true faith is evident by works.  He is addressing salvation before man from the Christian’s perspective.  If a Christian claims to have faith in Jesus Christ, He must diligently serve God and walk in His commandments. 

Those who live in rebellion and ignore God’s Word are not evidencing that they somehow lost their salvation but are rather showing that they do not possess true saving faith in the first place.

Paul, on the other hand, is addressing salvation before God, from the unsaved sinner’s perspective.  Notice Paul continues to say:

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,"  (Romans 4:4-6)

According to Paul’s writings, the sinner must trust Jesus Christ exclusively for salvation.  Notice the words “worketh, believeth and imputeth”. Righteousness comes not by works but only by believing in Jesus Christ and His redemptive plan for mankind (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5). 

It is also important to note that James and Paul are referring to different events in Abraham’s life.  Paul refers to Abraham’s salvation which occurred early in his life (Genesis 15:5-6).  While James talks about an event in Abraham’s life that happened 20 years later when his faith was tested (Genesis 22:1-18).

If we look at the Bible as a whole, the teaching of James is no different than the other Apostles.    True faith always produces works.  Notice the following verses:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

This passage puts faith and works in their proper order.  It is faith alone that saves a person.  Salvation is a gift and our works have nothing to do with it.  We cannot add to what Jesus has already accomplished at the cross of Calvary.  Works follow after salvation, because they are the natural outflowing from the life of a true believer. Consider also Hebrews 6:9, 10:39; 1 John 3:6, and 3 John 11.  Lastly, to say that James is teaching that salvation is by works would contradict what he and the other apostles declared in Acts 15:13-22—that salvation is only by faith and grace alone.  

How important is it to believe that we are eternally secured in Christ?  Does is really make a big difference?  I would submit to you that it is a matter of great importance.  It is a matter of eternal life or eternal damnation.  One man said it well, “If I think that my works and my righteousness and my obedience and my law-keeping is a part of salvation, even a tiny part of salvation, I am denying the perfect sufficiency of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.”

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."  (Hebrews 10:14)

Salvation is by faith in Christ alone.  I cannot add to it otherwise it is no longer free.  Paul says, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"  (Romans 3:24).  Works is only the evidence of a new birth.