I was struck recently about an idea that is all too common among Christians as well as the unsaved. The notion I am referring to is the concept that salvation is achieved as a result of grace plus "good works." This concept is found both inside and outside born again Christianity as well as numerous sects and denominations in organized religion. This idea of "grace plus works" is, in my opinion, second only to the idea of attempting salvation without Christ as a danger to the quality of people's lives. Obviously the belief of a salvation without Christ is only a problem for the unsaved and is the worst lie of the evil one because it causes people to forfeit their chance for eternal life. Within born again Christianity, the grace and works idea is, to my thinking, the most destructive lie that true born again believers can fall into.

The concept that we must work our way into God's good graces engenders any number of obstacles to living the life the Father desires for His children in this world. Among these harmful effects are the loss of assurance, weak or nonexistent growth, inability to live spontaneously, timid and fearful living and a lack of positive testimony. I believe that it is not an exaggeration to say that much of the negative impression of Christianity found in the world today comes from this one false idea. Nonetheless, the greatest and saddest effect on the born again coming from this false notion is that it almost totally cuts the children of God off from enjoying peace and rest in their living.

How can we live in the peace and rest that only comes from the Father through life relationship if we are never quite sure of our true status with God. It is not surprising that most people who hold to a grace plus works system of salvation also hold that we cannot have any absolute assurance of that salvation. In truth they are quite correct. If salvation is by grace plus works, no assurance of that salvation is possible. This is no small point. For without assurance of salvation no real and enduring peace and rest is possible in this life. Make no mistake about this; if works are part of the necessary needs for salvation then assurance is an impossibility. This is best summed up in the question that no works based system can answer: How much work is enough? As there is no definitive answer to this question there can be no peace and rest that comes only from the assurance of our salvation status with the Father.

This idea of a works based salvation has its roots in a worldly view of our relationship with God and Christ. It seems very reasonable and believable (in the world's economy) that we should have to put some work into the salvation process to please God (in other words we need to earn it). Unfortunately this is a worldly idea and not a spiritual one. First, the idea of working into God's favour diminishes the Father's all sufficient being. Simply, if God is all in all then what work can He need from us? If we are saved by faith through grace alone: "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." (Eph 2:8-9), what can be added to this?

The Bible is clear on this point, work has no place in the dispensation of the grace of God. Only a simple failure to rightly divide the Word of God (2Tim 2:15) can lead someone to hold to the idea of salvation by grace plus works. Further, the Word teaches us that grace plus works is an oxymoron: "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." (Rom 11:6). We would all do well to keep in mind E.W. Bullinger's simple observation that God means exactly what He says. Simply put, there is no biblical support for the idea of grace plus anything. The Scripture is so clear on this point that no one who holds to the Bible's place as the revealed word of God can possibly hold to any "grace plus works" position.

The dictionary definition of grace (in the spiritual application) is "Unmerited (unearned) favour". The first thing that strikes me is that this leaves no room for any action on our part beyond receiving. Work has no place in the giving or receiving of a gift (...it is the gift of God...). This does not speak to how we live after salvation but it is the essential character in the receipt of eternal life in the first place "...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom 6:23b). The work we do after salvation (of whatever sort) is a function of the effect of God's life operating in us and our surrender to that operation. What I am interested in discussing here is the salvation event itself. The distinction between salvation and life as a child of God must be kept in mind. Salvation is the act or event that translates us out of the world and into the family of God. The life we live after this change certainly involves activities (works):  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10). This fact does not, however, reflect on the dynamic of salvation.

When we start thinking of our place in the Father's family in terms of personal effort we are falling prey to a subtle and relationally corrosive error. This idea is really based on a view of God that attempts to make Him less than He really is. Quite simply, if God is the all powerful and all knowing being He claims to be, what sort of work does He need from us? As we draw nearer to God we must become less and He must become more: "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) To say that God is everything is to simultaneously affirm that we are nothing. One of the prime attributes of drawing near to God is to get an ever greater appreciation of the enormity of the Father. You cannot have everything plus something else. So the idea of grace plus works fails both from a spiritual perspective and a logical one.

The truth of the salvation issue (that it is by grace through faith alone) is that we can have both the assurance of our place in the Father's family and the peace and rest that makes our living in this world the best that it can be. I can only encourage every believer to search the Bible for themselves and let the Lord show you what His position on this issue is. I would accept no "third party" ideas or positions based on hearsay or non biblical teaching. The word of truth, rightly divided is very clear on this point. I suspect that much of the "grace plus works" thinking in the family of God comes from the failure to rightly divide the word of truth. There are a number of biblical verses that speak of faith and works (Mat 24:13, Rev 20:4, Rev 14:12, Rev 22:14, Rev 2:26, Jam 2:17). Please note, however, that these verses are not part of the Scriptures relating to the dispensation of grace. If we do not rightly divide the word we can and should expect to come to wrong conclusions.

Salvation is far too important an issue to entrust to second rate evidence, careless thinking, mixed motives or unreliable sources. The only thing that can liberate our life is the truth: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) There is nothing in creation that has real power but the truth. Don't let your life be poisoned by error. Don't let your life be robbed of the peace and rest that is the Father's wish for all His children.