False Doctrines: Works Based Salvation

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

So basically there are those who teach works based salvation ie Catholicism, Messianic Jews, Christian law keepers, Ray Comfort, Jewish, Seventh Day Adventists, etc. Considering those groups mentioned we need to recognize that they do not have faith for they are under the law or have put themselves under it. Now if a man put himself under the law he is not condemned for it for the law is good and does not condemn ROM 13:3. However the law will condemn them if they prove false or altogether unworthy of serving God according to the law when they fall short ROM 3:19. But living under the law is good and though the Christian Church often views keeping the law in a negative manner often referring to it as "legalism" or "improper expression of faith in Jesus" these things are not the case. Keeping the law is a great way to follow Jesus it just doesn't express any faith in him for the works of the law is death not life. ROM 3:27. Therefore reading Romans 3:27 I have discovered that boasting is excluded from those who choose to follow Jesus and still keep the law. They often get arrogant for thinking themselves better than those who don't keep the law and this is hypocrisy negating their faith in Jesus.


The Plumb Line of God


Amos 7:8
And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said: “Behold, I am setting a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible seems to contradict itself? God commanding us not to kill our children and burn them in the fire and yet God killed his Son? Or why he gave us the Gospel which contradicts the Law? Or why he says he loves us but will send us to a burning Hell forever? Or why a perfect God would allow suffering? Or why Jesus said we must keep the law yet taught and brought in the Gospel of Grace? Or why God says he will reject us but then says he will save us?

The answer is simple...it's the plumb line of God. Basically these things described are like a double edged sword HEB 4:12, cutting between bone and marrow causing both calamity and serenity. The truth of God is like a Rose beautiful, yet it has thorns which can cause pain. For this reason I say at one point those who mix law and grace are apostates and then at other points like now I say people who keep the law and follow Jesus are doing good. The Bible says these same things. Basically the Bible says anyone who does the law does good but anyone that does not do it fails to do good and brings forth sin. JAM 4:17. So basically what I am trying to do here is paint the picture here that the Bible says to "Keep Law & Grace" but then also says to "Not Mix Law & Grace". So it says them both. As I have pointed out. This is why you will find me at one point telling others not to mix Law & Grace and at other points justifying others who keep Law & Grace. What's the difference here am I teaching hypocritically? No I am practicing mercy for I myself desire mercy. Should I not also give mercy to others? Do you think it wise to condemn everyone who doesn't agree with me? Would that be quite arrogant of me in fact? And if it was not so then do you think it wise to justify the breaking of the Law? Or justifying the denial of Salvation? So then how can I be teaching a lie if I in fact support what the Bible teaches and not go against it?


It should be plain to see but I'll point it out anyway. I do support keeping New Testament (NT) Laws & obeying the Gospel otherwise known as Law & Grace but that is not my stance. My stance is Grace, grace, and more grace! I only support the laws of the NT to exalt the grace. I am not a supporter of Christians keeping the Law of Moses which I think is a very clear form of Apostasy. But rather I permit Christians to obey the Gospel by keeping the laws or commands of the Gospel to help mature the Christians in their walk of faith. JAM 2:14-17. So without the Law the Jew is dead and without faith the Christian is dead. But without God they are both dead! So we must realize that anything of God lasts forever but anything not of God perishes. So essentially this is a message of mercy that I don't condemn those who keep Law & Grace but I do condemn those who Mix Law & Grace and who teach others to mix it. The difference I think is letting our light shine and not bragging about our observance of the Law since that could be misconstrued as a mixture if done in the wrong spirit.

Isaiah 55:8

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
 

Here is God saying again that his ways are not our ways. We think if something is the opposite of something it is a contradiction. Well I am saying it is not always the case in the unknown with God. We must trust God in order to have faith. Since faith is the essence of things hoped for there can be no way faith is anything substantial or tangible. Therefore how can we say we have faith unless we speak from God? We must recognize then also that those ideas seem contradictory they are in fact describing in simple terms exactly what God teaches in human form. God brings forth both light and darkness let us understand and be wise. We cannot always see the rainbows for the rainstorms or the reasons for our lack of understanding but God is faithful to his word and his word is truth. Therefore my stance again is always grace which I use the law to exalt grace more not to go about keeping the law but rather live out what it is commanded.

That being said I don't think anyone can work their way to Heaven of course and I am not trying to teach anyone other than to know grace. To find salvation I truly believe grace is evident, mercy is prevalent, and truth is paramount.