GRACE vs. WORKS
And
now if (it be) by grace (that is, election) then is it no more of works;
otherwise grace (becomes) is no more grace. The
general position laid down here is fundamental and of supreme importance. It may be thus expressed; there are but two
possible offerings of salvation-men’s works and God’s grace. It should be noted that they (grace and
works) are distinct and opposite thus salvation cannot possibly be of any
combination or mixture of both. It must
be wholly one or the other.
The
essence of salvation is that one has been justified or declared to be legally
righteous before God. So the basic
question is, how is one able to stand and be declared legally just or righteous
(sinless) before God? Romans 4:25,
speaks of God’s only remedy as it reads (King James Version) “Who (Jesus) was
delivered (sacrificed as an appeal) for (because) our offenses and was raised
again (up) for (because of) our justification (being declared righteous)”. Here we note the Greek expression “os pahr eh·tho·thee·ah tah pah rahp·to·mah·tah ee·mon” rendered
“who was delivered up because of our offenses (transmission, sin)”. Note it was
“on account of our sin”, that is, it was in order to expiate (perform an act of
penance) (an act of self-mortification or devotion performed voluntarily to
contrition confession and expectance of punishment thus absolution that leads
to reconciliation) (to amend to atone completely) by His blood. Notice the second Greek phrase of this verse
“kehee·yehr·thee thee·ah theen theek·eh·o·seen ee·mon”, rendered
“and was raised up because of our being declared righteous”. Note the Greek preposition “thee·ah”, as it is
expressed in the accusative case; here it denotes a cause or is indicative of
the reason, thus it is literally rendered ‘on account of” or “for the sake of”. Thus it was on account of or for the sake of
our justification, that is in order to our being justified (“theek·eh·o·seen”) or
declared legally righteous or perfectly acceptable to God.
The
Greek word “theek·eho·seen” literally
rendered “perfectly righteous”; strictly denotes an act of making right or
just, hence justification, acquittal or absolute vindication. So justification
is the righteous act that sets free and gives life (Romans 5:18). Now the
basic question is; what is the righteous act or acts that set sinners free and
give(s) life to those who are dead?
Here we note the Greek verb “ee·yehr· thee”, is
literally translated “to wake up” or “to awaking” or “to arouse”; but its
meaning is to “get up” or to “bring back” from death; and such is, i.e. the
resurrection of Jesus. Next, the
question is who is able to carry through to completion the action of
resurrection? Also, can
any man qualify to the extent of defying the sting (“kehn· dron”) – (harmful
force which is impelling) of death by fulfilling the obligations and
requirements in answering to the curse and penalty of sin, which is death? Here the
righteousness of God through Jesus Christ is more than the ample antidote to
arrest the destructive effect of sin unto death or separation from God.
Accordingly
the exclusive work or righteous act of justification is limited to the virtuous
accomplishments of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary, as He died
for or because of our sins (sin nature) and rose (resurrected) for or because
of our justification (righteous acceptable to God). Now in
light of the above, it should be evident that no man made remedy or solution or
antidote is sufficient to accommodate that which is required to satisfy the
justice or requisite demands of righteousness.
No rite, no ritual, no ceremony, in fact no baptismal ceremony, no
religious function(s), no do penance, nor repentance, no matter what it is; nothing, nothing but the blood of Jesus is competent to deliver us faultless
before the throne of God, free and cleared of all charges, adorned with the sufficiency that is acceptable to
God.
Accordingly
it is essential for all of God’s people to understand that righteousness before
God is obtained only through
imputation, i.e. the righteousness of God being transformed to mankind through
the merit of Jesus Christ.