GRACE OF GOD VERSUS WORK OF LAW!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 31, 2021. 

SUBJECT: GRACE OF GOD VERSUS WORK OF LAW!

Memory verse: “And If by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.” (Romans 11 vs 6.)

READ: Romans 4 vs 1 - 8:

4:1: What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 

4:2: For If Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

4:3: For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

4:4: Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

4:5: But to him  who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, His faith is accounted for righteousness,

4:6: just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputed righteousness apart from works.

4:7: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered:

4:8: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

INTIMATION:

Grace and works are diametrically opposed to one another. They cannot fellowship or have anything to do with each other. In other words, grace and works are mutually exclusive. Where one exists, the other cannot exist. The Bible, in Romans 11 vs 6, says, "But if it is by grace (His unmerited favor and graciousness), it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace [it would be meaningless]."

If you and I are into works, then we are out of grace. If we are in grace, then we are out of works. Any time we get into works, the grace of God ceases to operate on our behalf. God has no choice but to back off and wait until we have finished trying to handle things ourselves. As long as we continue to try to figure out our own problems, we will only get more and more frustrated and confused. The reason is because we are trying to operate without grace of God which will never going to be successful. 

The teaching of the apostle James in James 2 vs 21 - 24, has always confused many by thinking that one needs to be justified by works: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” 

The works James is referring to are the works of faith. Abraham was justified by works of faith, but not by meritorious deeds of law and good works. He was justified by works in that he responded to the righteousness of God. It was his obedient faith to God that justified him before God, and James is saying that he was justified by works of faith. it is the obedience of faith in God that James calls works. Abraham was not performing a meritorious work of law when he sought to offer Isaac. It was because of his faith that he responded to the will or commandment of God. The fact that he would obey God without question was evidence of his obedient faith. 

Those who respond to the will of God because of faith and love are not seeking to meritoriously justify themselves before God. Therefore, justification by works does not mean that one works in Christ in order to meritoriously earn his salvation. Through the blood of Jesus one is considered righteous (justified) in the eyes of God on the basis of his faith in God’s grace to forgive all sin. One is not so accredited with righteousness because he has put God in debt to forgive him by meritorious works of law. One is accredited righteous or justified on the basis of obedient faith.

The works listed in this context do not refer specifically to keeping the commandments of law. For this reason one must not confuse the works of faith that James discussed with the works of law that the apostle Paul discusses. Reference here is to good deeds toward one’s fellow man. Such deeds are the manifestation of one’s faith. Therefore, one’s faith must be manifested by his benevolent actions toward others. True love of God cannot be seen without obedience to the commandments of God. True faith in God  can be seen with benevolent actions toward one’s fellow man.

We gain entry into the realm of God’s grace through Jesus in whom we must have faith. It is grace that brings assurance, for upon it we base our spiritual and emotional stability. Upon it we base our salvation. Our faithful acceptance to the grace of God, our obedience to will and commandments of God is considered as our works of faith. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my all in all. By my strength and efforts I cannot achieve the desires of my heart, but by Your grace I can do all things. Endue me with Your grace, O Lord, that I may accomplish all things through Your power, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!