No More Works for Salvation

 

In Ephesians 1:13 the Apostle Paul declares that men today are saved and sealed “with the Sprit” by… hearing and believing “the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.”

This declaration is substantiated by many other passages of Scripture. Our Lord said: “He that heareth… and believeth… hath everlasting life” (John 5:24). This was at a time when sacrifices and baptisms were still required for the remission of sins. But even then men had to hear and believe to be saved, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

Now, today, under “the dispensation of the grace of God” in which we live today, salvation is received by hearing and believing alone…. Without any works of performance requirement. Today “works” for salvation are not merely unnecessary; they are forbidden… as seen here.

“to him that Worketh NOT, but believeth” (Rom. 4:5).

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

 “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).

“And if by grace, then is it no more (‘0’) of works: otherwise grace is no more grace…” (Romans 11:6a)

God has changed His dealings with men from time to time down through the ages, teaching one lesson at a time. This is why it is so important to note the dispensational distinctions in Scripture, “rightly dividing the Word of truth.” … thereby determining what applies to men today.

  • At one time “the works of the Law” were required for salvation… that is before the age of “the grace of God.”
  • But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested” (Rom. 3:21) and men are saved solely by faith in Christ, “being justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24).

We are saved, then, as we hear and believe what Paul calls, “the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13). We become established in “the faith” as we follow Paul’s instruction in 2Timothy 2:15… to “study” by “rightly dividing the Word of truth.”