savedworks

Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt (Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org

LETTER SENT TO SALVATION BY WORKS ADVOCATE

Our name and address is often used on tracts which are distributed all over the Irish Republic. We got a written response reply from a lady in Dublin who was basically advocating salvation by works. The following is our reply which we sent along with some gospel literature.

24th November, 2006

Dear ______________

Thank you for your letter which arrived yesterday. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to write to me with your thoughts on the tract by Bishop Ryle which bears my name and address and the contents of which I fully endorse.

I have read through the literature which you have sent me about what the Bible says about good works. I notice that you quoted Ephesians 2:8-10 which I will enlarge upon for you, because it summarises exactly the Biblical position.

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. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

The above text makes it clear that salvation is not by works. The above text can hardly emphasise it enough:

1) The use of the word "grace" excludes the idea of men working to be saved, because we read elsewhere that if salvation be by grace, then it is no more of works or if it be by works, then it is no more of grace (Romans 11:6) They are mutually exclusive and the text says that it is by grace. So it cannot be by works, otherwise grace is no more grace.

2) The words "and that not of yourselves" reinforce the same point. We cannot save ourselves or even contribute to our salvation, otherwise, it is of ourselves and so would contradict what Paul has spoken.

3) The words "It is the gift of God" likewise exclude works of any kind. You can neither work for, pay for or contribute anything towards a gift. If you do, then it ceases to be a gift, just as working for grace also renders it void by definition.

4) The words "Not of works" cannot be any clearer. It is "not of works" What more can we say?

Ephesians 2:10 does mention works, but they come as a consequence of being saved…not in any way as a cause or contributing factor in our salvation. Works are the natural outcome of salvation - they are the evidence, but again, not a contributing factor or cause. Otherwise, v8-9 with their fourfold emphasis is sadly mistaken - an impossibly seeing that Paul wrote these things being moved by the Holy Spirit of God.

I am aware that we cannot reduce God's salvation to a mathematical formula, but the following will show what the Bible teaches.

Man's religion: F + W = S
God's salvation: F = S = W

F = Faith
W = Works
S = Salvation

In James 2, although the writer uses the word "justify" yet he is not telling us how we are justified before God, but before men. In other words, James is not contradicting Paul who declared that we are justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28) James is dealing with the evidence of salvation, not the cause. I liked the illustration that while Paul is dealing with the fire in the grate (the cause) James is dealing with the smoke that comes out of the chimney (the effect) Many people who quote James 2 very conveniently leave out those vital words in v10 which read like this:

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

If salvation were by faith and works, then the works side, unless 100% perfect 100% of the time, would sink the whole, since offence in one point of the law is to be guilty of it all. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

While the Bible does warn us sufficiently against a works based or works based salvation, it also warns us (in those many verses which you quote) about having a "salvation" that produces no fruit i.e. good works. This is an empty salvation, based on an empty faith. No man can truly claim to be a Christian and yet be living like the Devil. He is self deluded if he does.

Bishop Ryle in his many other writings was quick to point this out and quote the very verses which you are quoting. It is important that we note the context of many of these verses and do not make them to be "cause of salvation" verses when they are in reality, "evidence of salvation" texts.

Thanks again for writing. I trust these few lines help you.

Yours faithfully,

Colin Maxwell