Continuing our discussion on the primary aspect of salvation-- deliverance from the
penalty of sin--remember this aspect is made possible by the finished work of Christ
on the cross. Everything essential to this aspect of salvation was completed before
Christ ever left this earth.
The will of God, related to this truth, was for Christ to come into the world to save
sinners by offering Himself in death--according to the eternal purpose of God. This
act satisfied God's demand as payment for the penalty of sin. This act offers fallen
man a perfect and acceptable substitute.
God's will for the alien sinner is that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth
on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. Where that
will is so appropriated, then he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
The work is finished. It is perfect. It is complete. It is the gift of God.
The only thing God requires of the alien sinner is to receive the benefit of this gift
through believing on Christ--a faith, where applicable to the alien, is always
unmodified. The object of this faith is the Lord Jesus Christ.
When one has his faith in the proper object, he has the primary aspect of deliverance
as an accomplished fact in the inward man. All believers did not have their faith in
the proper object because they did not believe the record God gave of his Son.
In their failure to believe the truth required, they were never numbered among God's
children. To obey the gospel as required of the alien, is equivalent to believing the
gospel. Obedience has always been in order to have life, and it has always been the
basis for the expression of life.
But, the obedience in both cases is not identical, nor is it imposed on the same
class. Also, it is not designed of God to accomplish the same end.
Where faith in the Lord Jesus Christ obtains, justification by faith is an established
fact. The faith which worketh by love is only true in Jesus Christ and where it is
operative, believers are justified by works.
In the first aspect of salvation, Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
That seems simple enough. However, in spite of the simplicity, there are those who
teach the expression not of works really does not mean what it says.
V.E. Howard argues, "Do you exclude all works from the plan of salvation? . . . if so,
then what about faith, since faith is also work as revealed in John 6:29?"
Roy E. Cogdill said, "In James 2, we hear faith only . . . the only passage in the
Bible that mentions justification by faith only, James declares 'you see how a man is
justified by works and not by faith only.'"
Mr. Cogdill also denied the proposition that "the scriptures teach that the sinner is
saved by grace through faith before water baptism." Persuant to that, he went on to
say, "I want . . . to call your attention to another passage, Eph. 2:8-9. What's he
talking about? God's grace. Man's faith. Does that mean that man does not have
anything to do? Or that if a man does do anything that he nullifies grace?"
These statements provide an idea as to how some treat the expression not of works. The
salvation expressed in the words by grace are ye saved speaks of something possessed
as an accomplished fact.
The means of obtaining this aspect of deliverance is stated positively and negatively.
Notice, "For by grace are ye saved through faith;" "And that not of yourselves;" and
"Not of works lest any man should boast."
Consider Romans 4:4, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but
of debt." Notice, worketh is and not reckoned of grace are essentially the same things
stated in Ephesians 2:8-9.
Concerning the text in Romans 4:5, Kenneth Wuest observes, "Worketh is katergazomai,
to do that from which something results. The workman works in order to earn wages.
Reward is misthos, dues paid for work, wages. Grace is charis . . . used here in the
classical sense of favor. Debt is opheilma, that which is justly or legally due, a
debt."
Wuest continues, "Paul uses an illustration here taken from human affairs. He calls
attention to the fact that when the employer gives his workman his pay, that is not
counted as a favor, but as a legal obligation which the employer is bound to
discharge. It is a debt which he owes his employee. The latter, out of courtesy,
thanks his employer, but he is not legally obligated to do so. He earned the wages and
he deserved them."
Wuest concludes, "If the sinner earned salvation by good works, God would be indebted
to man and obligated to give it to him. It would not be a favor which God would do for
man. And man would not need to thank God nor glorify Him for it . . . But in the realm
of the . . . spiritual, if a sinner does not perform good works in an effort to earn
salvation, but instead put his trust in the God who justifies the ungodly person, the
act of faith is put down to his account as the efficient medium through which God
bestows a righteous standing upon that person."
Now notice, "For by grace are ye saved" and "Now to him that worketh is . . . not
reckoned of grace. " There is no such thing in God's Word as the salvation of the
alien sinner being accomplished by a mixture of grace and works.
In Romans 11:5-6, "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according
to the election of grace. 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." To mix grace and works is to nullify the meaning of each.
The alien sinner is described by various terms. He is lost and needs to be saved (Lk
19:10). He is unrighteous and needs to be reckoned righteous before God (Rm 3:10). He
is also shown to be dead in trespasses and sins, spiritually separated from God, and
needs to be quickened, made alive (Eph 2:1).
The salvation God offers the alien sinner, in the merits of the death of Jesus Christ,
furnishes these needs. These needs are accomplished as the gift of God but also of
righteousness (Rm 5:19) and eternal life (Rm 6:23).
Since it is the gift of God then we understand why Paul said and that not of
yourselves. Wuest translates this passage as, " . . . and this (salvation) is not from
you as a source; of God it is the gift . . . "
Ephesians 2:10 is a key verse in understanding verses 8-9. Paul begins by saying, "For
we are his workmanship." He then adds, "created in Christ Jesus unto good works."
The introductory word for provides the reason no man should glory. If salvation is His
workmanship, then it cannot be of yourselves. If God creates those saved in Christ
Jesus unto good works, then good works cannot be operative in accomplishing the
initial creation.
The creation is not of works. Yet, once established is unto or with a view to good
works. Life must be possessed before it can be expressed. Relationship with the Lord
always precedes responsibility in service to the Lord.
To say good works are in order to be created in Christ Jesus is a gross perversion of
the truth. The Bible order of truth is revealed in the following passages:
Galatians 5:25, "If we live in the Spirit (relationship), let us also walk in the
Spirit." One does not walk in the Spirit in order to live in the Spirit but those who
live in the Spirit have the responsibility to walk in the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:8, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord
(relationship): Walk as children of light." One does not become light in the Lord by
walking, but those who are light in the Lord have the responsibility to walk as--not
alien sinners but as--children of light.
John 8:42, " . . . if God were your Father (relationship), ye would love me . . .. One
is not instructed to love Christ to have God as his Father. Rightly so since love for
Christ is impossible apart from having God as one's Father.
Romans 6:18, "Being then made free from sin (relationship), ye became the servants of
righteousness." One is not made free from sin by being a servant of righteousness. The
freedom precedes the service.
Romans 6:13, " . . . yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead
. . . " One must be alive from the dead before he can yield . . . unto God.
Also see Romans 12:1; I Thessalonians 1:9 and 4:1; Hebrews 9:14; and I John 3:18. The
examples could be multiplied indefinitely because there is no other Bible order.
Walk follows the redemptive relationship in every case. Thus, our text affirms we have
been saved . . . not of works . . . For we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
The teaching of Ephesians 2:8-10 harmonizes with Bible truth elsewhere. Read Romans
4:2-6; II Timothy 1:9 and Titus 3:5 as cases in point.
The faith of Ephesians 2:8 that enables the alien sinner to receive the gift of God
excludes all human merit. Life being, and life manifested, are not identical.
One is, the other is doing. Faith being does not express life, but faith working by
love does. The latter is true only of those in Jesus Christ. BD
penalty of sin--remember this aspect is made possible by the finished work of Christ
on the cross. Everything essential to this aspect of salvation was completed before
Christ ever left this earth.
The will of God, related to this truth, was for Christ to come into the world to save
sinners by offering Himself in death--according to the eternal purpose of God. This
act satisfied God's demand as payment for the penalty of sin. This act offers fallen
man a perfect and acceptable substitute.
God's will for the alien sinner is that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth
on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. Where that
will is so appropriated, then he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
The work is finished. It is perfect. It is complete. It is the gift of God.
The only thing God requires of the alien sinner is to receive the benefit of this gift
through believing on Christ--a faith, where applicable to the alien, is always
unmodified. The object of this faith is the Lord Jesus Christ.
When one has his faith in the proper object, he has the primary aspect of deliverance
as an accomplished fact in the inward man. All believers did not have their faith in
the proper object because they did not believe the record God gave of his Son.
In their failure to believe the truth required, they were never numbered among God's
children. To obey the gospel as required of the alien, is equivalent to believing the
gospel. Obedience has always been in order to have life, and it has always been the
basis for the expression of life.
But, the obedience in both cases is not identical, nor is it imposed on the same
class. Also, it is not designed of God to accomplish the same end.
Where faith in the Lord Jesus Christ obtains, justification by faith is an established
fact. The faith which worketh by love is only true in Jesus Christ and where it is
operative, believers are justified by works.
In the first aspect of salvation, Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
That seems simple enough. However, in spite of the simplicity, there are those who
teach the expression not of works really does not mean what it says.
V.E. Howard argues, "Do you exclude all works from the plan of salvation? . . . if so,
then what about faith, since faith is also work as revealed in John 6:29?"
Roy E. Cogdill said, "In James 2, we hear faith only . . . the only passage in the
Bible that mentions justification by faith only, James declares 'you see how a man is
justified by works and not by faith only.'"
Mr. Cogdill also denied the proposition that "the scriptures teach that the sinner is
saved by grace through faith before water baptism." Persuant to that, he went on to
say, "I want . . . to call your attention to another passage, Eph. 2:8-9. What's he
talking about? God's grace. Man's faith. Does that mean that man does not have
anything to do? Or that if a man does do anything that he nullifies grace?"
These statements provide an idea as to how some treat the expression not of works. The
salvation expressed in the words by grace are ye saved speaks of something possessed
as an accomplished fact.
The means of obtaining this aspect of deliverance is stated positively and negatively.
Notice, "For by grace are ye saved through faith;" "And that not of yourselves;" and
"Not of works lest any man should boast."
Consider Romans 4:4, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but
of debt." Notice, worketh is and not reckoned of grace are essentially the same things
stated in Ephesians 2:8-9.
Concerning the text in Romans 4:5, Kenneth Wuest observes, "Worketh is katergazomai,
to do that from which something results. The workman works in order to earn wages.
Reward is misthos, dues paid for work, wages. Grace is charis . . . used here in the
classical sense of favor. Debt is opheilma, that which is justly or legally due, a
debt."
Wuest continues, "Paul uses an illustration here taken from human affairs. He calls
attention to the fact that when the employer gives his workman his pay, that is not
counted as a favor, but as a legal obligation which the employer is bound to
discharge. It is a debt which he owes his employee. The latter, out of courtesy,
thanks his employer, but he is not legally obligated to do so. He earned the wages and
he deserved them."
Wuest concludes, "If the sinner earned salvation by good works, God would be indebted
to man and obligated to give it to him. It would not be a favor which God would do for
man. And man would not need to thank God nor glorify Him for it . . . But in the realm
of the . . . spiritual, if a sinner does not perform good works in an effort to earn
salvation, but instead put his trust in the God who justifies the ungodly person, the
act of faith is put down to his account as the efficient medium through which God
bestows a righteous standing upon that person."
Now notice, "For by grace are ye saved" and "Now to him that worketh is . . . not
reckoned of grace. " There is no such thing in God's Word as the salvation of the
alien sinner being accomplished by a mixture of grace and works.
In Romans 11:5-6, "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according
to the election of grace. 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." To mix grace and works is to nullify the meaning of each.
The alien sinner is described by various terms. He is lost and needs to be saved (Lk
19:10). He is unrighteous and needs to be reckoned righteous before God (Rm 3:10). He
is also shown to be dead in trespasses and sins, spiritually separated from God, and
needs to be quickened, made alive (Eph 2:1).
The salvation God offers the alien sinner, in the merits of the death of Jesus Christ,
furnishes these needs. These needs are accomplished as the gift of God but also of
righteousness (Rm 5:19) and eternal life (Rm 6:23).
Since it is the gift of God then we understand why Paul said and that not of
yourselves. Wuest translates this passage as, " . . . and this (salvation) is not from
you as a source; of God it is the gift . . . "
Ephesians 2:10 is a key verse in understanding verses 8-9. Paul begins by saying, "For
we are his workmanship." He then adds, "created in Christ Jesus unto good works."
The introductory word for provides the reason no man should glory. If salvation is His
workmanship, then it cannot be of yourselves. If God creates those saved in Christ
Jesus unto good works, then good works cannot be operative in accomplishing the
initial creation.
The creation is not of works. Yet, once established is unto or with a view to good
works. Life must be possessed before it can be expressed. Relationship with the Lord
always precedes responsibility in service to the Lord.
To say good works are in order to be created in Christ Jesus is a gross perversion of
the truth. The Bible order of truth is revealed in the following passages:
Galatians 5:25, "If we live in the Spirit (relationship), let us also walk in the
Spirit." One does not walk in the Spirit in order to live in the Spirit but those who
live in the Spirit have the responsibility to walk in the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:8, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord
(relationship): Walk as children of light." One does not become light in the Lord by
walking, but those who are light in the Lord have the responsibility to walk as--not
alien sinners but as--children of light.
John 8:42, " . . . if God were your Father (relationship), ye would love me . . .. One
is not instructed to love Christ to have God as his Father. Rightly so since love for
Christ is impossible apart from having God as one's Father.
Romans 6:18, "Being then made free from sin (relationship), ye became the servants of
righteousness." One is not made free from sin by being a servant of righteousness. The
freedom precedes the service.
Romans 6:13, " . . . yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead
. . . " One must be alive from the dead before he can yield . . . unto God.
Also see Romans 12:1; I Thessalonians 1:9 and 4:1; Hebrews 9:14; and I John 3:18. The
examples could be multiplied indefinitely because there is no other Bible order.
Walk follows the redemptive relationship in every case. Thus, our text affirms we have
been saved . . . not of works . . . For we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
The teaching of Ephesians 2:8-10 harmonizes with Bible truth elsewhere. Read Romans
4:2-6; II Timothy 1:9 and Titus 3:5 as cases in point.
The faith of Ephesians 2:8 that enables the alien sinner to receive the gift of God
excludes all human merit. Life being, and life manifested, are not identical.
One is, the other is doing. Faith being does not express life, but faith working by
love does. The latter is true only of those in Jesus Christ. BD
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| From the Penalty of Sin--Belief CHAPTER 11 By Bobby Dunn |