Various "Works" Passages Refuted
Note:
The first rule of thumb when exploring a verse to determine its meaning is to consider what it says within the context of the surrounding text. Always read that entire paragraph, if not the entire section or even the whole chapter. This is your first step, especially when hit with a passage you’ve never considered before. Context almost always clears up the meaning immediately.
Also we must recognize that scripture never contradicts scripture, therefore the rule is that the unmistakably clear texts overrule and drive the interpretation of the less clear texts.
Genesis 3
From the very first book of the Bible it is taught that what man does to atone for sin is not adequate, and only what God does is acceptable. Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves to cover this sin and shame, but this was rejected by the Lord God and it was He that, "made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."
They did not sacrifice the animal for its skin . They did not fashion the covering. They did not clothe themselves. God did it all.
Feel free to point this out when any of the below are mentioned in an attempt to support faith plus works.
The power of Ephesians 2:8-9
This text contains a pair of bookends, positive for faith and negative for works, that makes it an airtight argument:
POSITIVE
+ For it is by grace you have been saved through faith
+ It is a gift from God
NEGATIVE
- This is not of yourselves
- Not of works
This verse is irrefutable teaching salvation is by faith alone apart from works.
Feel free to keep pointing this out when any of the below are mentioned in an attempt to support faith plus works.
The below verses used in attempts to show salvation by faith plus works are listed in alphabetical order.
Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.‘”
This verse is often cited to argue that baptism is part of salvation, but other scriptures indicate that it is not, to avoid contradiction. Here, repentance and forgiveness of sins are connected. In Greek, "repent" and "your" (as in "your sins") are both plural, indicating a collective action. It is as if saying, "All of you repent, each of you be baptized, and all of you will receive forgiveness." Repentance signifies salvation, as it is granted by God (2 Timothy 2:25) and given only to believers. In this context, only a regenerated, repentant person should be baptized. Baptism is an outward sign of repentance and a circumcised heart, which is why it says, "repent and be baptized."
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
Acts 22:16 “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”
Is the washing away of sins accomplished through baptism, which represents a circumcised heart (Colossians 2:11-12) and indicates that you are already saved, or is it through the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:14; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7)? Clearly, it is through the blood of Jesus, and the washing mentioned here refers to calling on Jesus' name.
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
Galatians 3:27 “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
This refers to the believer’s union with Christ, signifying identification with, joining to, and proclaiming loyalty to Him. In 1 Corinthians 10:2, the Israelites were baptized into Moses, meaning they were closely identified with him and his purpose. The same concept applies here.
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
Hebrews 5:9 he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Christ)”
Here the question is what is meant by “obey Christ”? Is it obedience through works? Or obedience in some other way?
Romans 6:17 teaches obedience to Christ/gospel is “from the heart.” John 3:15 and Romans 10:16 teach that obedience is through “believing.” 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10 teaches that “obeying the gospel” is through “believing.”
So it is clear from scripture that obedience to Christ/gospel is not by works of the Law, but comes from the heart through believing faith.
Note: When dealing with Jehovah's Witnesses, share the following link from their website which agrees with the above interpretation under the heading, "Is anything more than faith needed in order to gain salvation?" https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/Reasoning-From-the-Scriptures/Salvation/
James 2 “Faith without works is dead”
We cannot accept that scripture contradicts scripture (points 1 & 2), so we must harmonize the “faith alone” and the “faith + works” passages.
Here, James is examining two kinds of professed faith: one that leads to godly works and one that does not. One is true, and the other is false. One is dead, the other alive; hence, “Faith without works is dead.”
Verses 14-26 are about the relationship between faith and works.
In context, these passages are about:
1: A said (professed) faith [ref. verse 14: “says he has faith”].
2: Justifying that professed (said) faith before other people (not before God concerning salvation).
Verse 18 clearly states that James is speaking about showing one another their professed faith to be true (alive) by their works. This is not salvation by faith and works. It is a demonstration, before people, that a true professed faith and works go together.
A false professed faith (that is “dead”) does not produce good works.
James is simply saying that if you ‘say’ you are a Christian, then there had better be some appropriate works manifested, or your faith is false. This sentiment is echoed in 1 John 2:4 which says, “If you say you have come to know Him, yet you do not keep His commandments, then the truth is not in you and you are a liar.”
Notice that James actually quotes the same verse that Paul uses to support the teaching of justification by faith in Rom. 4:3. James 2:23 says, “and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.'” If James was trying to teach a contradictory doctrine of faith and works than the other New Testament writers, then he would not have used Abraham as an example.
If the unbeliever does not accept this explanation, ask them to explain the “faith alone” passages.
Note: When dealing with Jehovah's Witnesses, share the following link from their website which agrees with the above interpretation under the heading, "Is anything more than faith needed in order to gain salvation?" https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/Reasoning-From-the-Scriptures/Salvation/
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
John 3:25 “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.‘”
Some argue that "water" in this context refers to baptism, but this is unlikely since Christian baptism had not yet been established. If this verse did refer to baptism, it could only have meant the baptism of repentance administered by John the Baptist (Mark 1:4). Therefore, if this were the case, it would suggest that baptism is not essential for salvation, as the baptism of repentance is no longer practiced.
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
Matthew 5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”
If we read through the paragraph, we see that there is, in fact, one specific way in which we are being told to be like the Father in heaven (verses 43-48).
If we simply walk through the flow of Jesus’ argument, we are not commanded to be like God in the sense of becoming morally perfect, but rather we are to imitate Him in love for our enemies. Just as our Father causes the blessings of sun and rain to fall on all men, righteous and wicked, faithful and rebellious alike, in this same way we are to love our enemies and not only those who are kind to us.
The “father/son” language here has to do with the imitation of behavior, not with our ascension to His unique, divine state moral perfection. Jesus doesn’t just say, “be perfect,” but “therefore be perfect.” The command to be perfect is directly tied to what came before it. We are to be perfect in the impartiality of our love and kindness, and in this specific way, to imitate God.
This fact becomes even clearer if we look to where the gospel of Luke repeats the same teaching (Luke 6:32-36). Luke communicates the same teaching of Jesus, but instead of the word “perfect,” he uses the word, “merciful.” The point is precisely the same. We are to imitate God specifically in being “kind to ungrateful and evil men.” We are to be mercifully loving and compassionate to all, even to those whose behavior toward us seems least deserving. This is in no way that people can work their way to being morally perfect in their whole being.
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
Matthew 24:13 “But he that shall endure unto the end, shall be saved”
This verse is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, an explanation to His disciples about things to come.
Jesus here talks about what was ahead before He returned. Some of those prophecies were fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The remainder has yet to happen.
This specific verse is best understood when read in context. Verses Matthew 24:9–14 says, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
He then warns that, as persecution increases, many who considered themselves His followers will reveal their true spiritual condition when they turn away from the faith. This had already happened during His ministry (John 6:66) and would escalate until the end. True Christian faith would be tested by deception, false prophets, and the increase of wickedness. Not only will there be some who turn away, but Jesus foretold that “the love of most will grow cold.” The implication is that those who “stand firm to the end” will be the minority (see Matthew 7:14).
Those who endure to the end are the opposite of those in the previous verse whose love grows cold. Jesus’ statement that he who endures to the end will be saved cannot be taken to mean that our salvation is somehow dependent on our personal ability to remain saved. Rather, it is a promise of perseverance. Those who have the grace to endure to the end are the ones who are genuinely saved by grace.
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
Philippians 2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Here we are not told here to work for our salvation, but to work it out—that is, to demonstrate its reality in our daily lives. In fact, it cannot mean to work for our salvation because the very next verse states, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
And in chapter 1 verse 6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Likewise back to chapter 2 verses 28 & 29, “… This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him…”
Our salvation must be received entirely by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9), or else it is not true salvation. Works can no more keep our salvation than they can earn it for us in the first place. It is not faith plus works, but grace through faith.
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
1Peter 3:21 “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
This is the only verse that suggests baptism saves, but the NIV translation is problematic. A more accurate translation is found in the NASB: “and corresponding to that, baptism now saves you.” The key word here is the Greek word "antitupon," which means “copy,” “type,” “corresponding to,” “a thing resembling another,” “its counterpart,” etc. Baptism is a representation or type of something else. The question is, "What is it a type of?" or "To what does baptism correspond?" The answer is found in the preceding verse, verse 20: “who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you.” (NASB).
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
Revelation 20:12-13 “… the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. … and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.”
There will be two judgments: One for believers and one for unbelievers.
The judgment seat of Christ, also known as the bema seat of Christ, is the judgment where God judges the works of the Christians. This judgment is not for salvation because Christians are not judged for salvation based on their works (Rom. 3:28; 4:5; 5:1; Gal. 2:16, 21). They have escaped that judgment of damnation (Rom. 8:1). Instead, the Judgment Seat of Christ deals with the reward and loss of reward that Christians will receive in heaven.
The judgment in this passage of Revelation 20 is, rather, the White Throne Judgment of God upon unbelievers according to their evil deeds (works).
There will be a judgment of all people according to their works (Matt. 16:27; 1 Cor. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:12; Rev. 2:23)…
For the Christian (bema seat judgment) there will be reward and a loss of reward. But they have escaped the judgment of damnation by trusting alone in Christ’s perfect righteousness, not their own failed self-righteousness.
The unbelievers will face the judgment (white throne judgment) of their works along with their rejection of Christ.
Romans 6:4 “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Because the believer is so closely united with Christ, baptism is said to symbolize our death, burial, and resurrection. Obviously, we did not literally die, so this must be understood figuratively. In this context, baptism represents the reality of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It serves as a covenant sign for us, signifying the covenant of grace. This covenant between God and the Christian is where we receive God's grace through the sacrifice of Christ.
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
Titus 2:14 “Zealous for good works”
In context, Titus 2:11-14 is about the results of God’s saving grace
With God living in you (regenerate, born-again), you should become excited, filled with love, eager to please…zealous to do good.
Good works are a result of faith, not the cause of it. It is the fruit, not the root.
For further discussion on this text, go here and here.
Titus 3:5 “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
The washing of rebirth refers to the cleansing by the blood of Christ. It is not the symbol that saves, but the reality. The true saving power lies in the blood of Christ.
And finally, we have these verses from scripture:
Isaiah 64:6
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
John 6:28-29
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
Therefore, Biblically, salvation is by grace alone through faith alone apart from an individual's own works.
If you have any questions or concerns related to this issue, please don't hesitate to email us; we'd be happy to talk with you: elderchuck@mail.com.