"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel... By which also ye are saved... unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

It is a common teaching among the religions of the world, as well as many of the "Christian sects", and an understanding of the general populous today that if an individual makes an effort to lead a decent and honest life, that certainly when one reaches the end of his days, God would most likely let him enter into heaven. This is almost always the answer given when the question is asked, "When you die, where will you go, and why?"

The answer's given to this question are almost always focused on what the individual has or has not done. "I have never …", "I have always …", "I have tried …", I, I, I, … What they really are saying is that they are not that bad of a person, and come to this conclusion perhaps by measuring themselves up to someone more evil than they are in their own eyes.

When asked if they have ever committed a sin, most will usually admit that they are not perfect, but then, out comes the long lists of credits that will somehow outweigh any of the bad that they may have done. How often I have asked even those who are regular "church goers" and this is the reply. Why is there such ignorance in regards to this most important question that pertains to the "gospel" (1Corinthians 15:1-4) and our "common salvation" (Jude 3)?

The apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian church saying "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost : In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not " (2Corinthians 4:3). The god of this world is the devil and his primary task is blinding the minds of those who choose not to believe the truth of the gospel. He lures his dupes and blinds his victims with a glitter of error and flashes of perverted truth. Peter warns us "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

Paul also stated to the Ephesians that the "lost" have their " understanding darkened , being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart " (Ephesians 4:18). "They willingly are ignorant" , says Peter (2 Peter 3:5). It is a tragedy for a person to have blind eyes, but how much worse for one to be spiritually blind. "Their minds were blinded … [and a] … vail is upon their heart" (2Corinthians 3:14-15).

But, Jesus said "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:46). If they would but "turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away" (2Corinthians 3:16) and "the glorious gospel of Christ … should shine unto them" (2Corinthians 4:4).

When sin entered the world mankind plunged into a darkness that the natural mind cannot comprehend. Man became ignorant of God, His holiness, and His ways; of himself and the deceitfulness of his own heart and exceeding wickedness; of the world and the reason for its decay and bondage to corruption.

He had fallen from light, from righteousness, from truth. Man revolted, rejected His counsel, and wandered in darkness, and, Oh, what darkness! For darkness covered the earth and "gross darkness the people" (Isaiah 60:2). The dark clouds of ignorance settled upon mankind, whose thickness seemed impossible for light to penetrate. But with God all things are possible, whose countenance is as the sun, and there was still hope for restoration, to reconcile man and God.

This hope lay not in what man could do, for how could those who "were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15) free themselves? How can those who are dead to God rise up and eat? How can the lame leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing? How can a leper be made whole? How can the blind walk upright without falling into the ditch? Jesus said, "without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). So God sent His Son "for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house" (Isaiah 42, 6-7).

How foolish it is for one to offer "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) for salvation. Likewise, it is outright madness for one to trust in their own good works to get them into heaven. How often do we hear charges against this in the Scriptures.

There were certain ones who "took shipping … seeking for Jesus" (John 6:24), who were really only seeking another free meal after witnessing the miraculous feeding of over 5000 people (v. 26). They diligently sought out Jesus, or rather that "meal ticket", and when they found Him, Jesus said " Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life , which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 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 " (John 6:27-29).

For those who have not been "born from above" , the only work that could prove profitable to attain "everlasting life" is for them to believe on Jesus Christ. "This is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ" (1John 3:23). "What must I do to be saved? … Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:30-31).

From thence, good works are but the fruit of salvation (never the root) of those who have been made a new creature in Christ Jesus. They are "the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:11). Certainly "the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine" (John 15:4). We have been "raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (Romans 7:4). "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works , which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

Paul wrote Titus, who was a believer, saying "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works" (Titus 2:7), for it is Christ "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works " (Titus 2:14). "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works . These things are good and profitable unto men" (Titus 3:8). And might I say, that it is an absolute felony to exhort the lost to "be careful to maintain good works". It is mockery to tell a dead man to walk this way or that.

Those who have believed God were born again "unto good works" , and should "be careful to maintain good works" , but never are good works the cause of the new birth, rather, they are the result of a life filled with gratitude by those who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. They are become a new branch whose life proceeds from the "True Vine" . They shot forth from the Vine and only therein can they bear fruit. And they who abide in Christ "bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither" (Psalm 1:3).

So then, Can a person who is dead in sin and trespasses do good works? Certainly not! As previously stated, we have been "raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (Romans 7:4). No matter how pious the workings of the lost may appear on the outside, in the eyes of the Lord "the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination" (Proverbs 15:8).

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders saying, "ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity … Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Matthew 23:27-28, 33). "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination" (Proverbs 28:9).

In regards to justification (salvation), the conclusion of the matter was clear for the apostle Paul. "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law " (Romans 3:28). "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" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness " (Romans 4:4-5).

"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).

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness , which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith " (Philippians 3:10).

" Not by works of righteousness which we have done , but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour ; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:5-7).

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags ; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6).

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse : for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them " (Galatians 3:10).

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38-39).

The Bible very clearly states again and again that salvation is NOT by works. God cannot be bought, so no amount good deeds can ever pay for sin. This would be like trying to pay your Electricity Bill with burnt out light bulbs. If you do not pay with the proper exchange you are cut off. Likewise, those who have "despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him" (Numbers 15:31).

For those who are outside of Christ, after the "hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Romans 2:5). The works that they do all the daylong is sin in the eyes of the Most High, and there is payment due for the "works of darkness" . The Bible clearly states that the payment required for sin is DEATH, NOT GOOD WORKS. This is the legal requirement. It is called "the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). Death is required for sin and nothing else can be exchanged for it!

Listen, "The wages of sin is death…" (Romans 6:23). "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). "When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death " (James 1:15). "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die " (Genesis 2:17). "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

If death is the payment for sin, then surely a life is required to satisfy God's justice and to pay the debt. Surely no amount of good works can ever be exchanged for death. If someone commits first-degree murder and is condemned with a life sentence, certainly good works will not redeem him from the penalty. The penalty must be paid.

Jesus went about doing good, but even His perfect life and all His good deeds could never pay for sin. It was death that was required. Since Jesus was "the Life that lighteth every man" (John 1:4-9), He could die for all, and that He did on Calvary's cross when He poured out His precious blood and "gave himself a ransom for all" (1Timothy 2:6).

However, many try to substitute their own good works in exchange for the blood of Christ to their own peril. If good works could pay for sin there would have been no need for Christ to die and the cross would have been the greatest tragedy of all mankind. Listen! "If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Galatians 2:21).

There are also many who try to add their own good works to the finished works of Christ as if His shed blood was not sufficient to pay the full price of our sin. But this could only "frustrate the grace of God" (Galatians 2:21). The apostle Paul described this as "another gospel" which could never save anyone, but bring him or her under the curse.

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel : Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ . But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed . As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-9).

Such were certain men from Judaea who "taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised … [and] keep the law of Moses … ye cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1, 5). They were a "certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed " (v. 5). They believed that Christ died for their sins and rose again but to this they added the works of the law as a necessity for salvation. They tried "to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear" (v. 10). They were "certain which went out from us" (v. 24), the apostles, and "have troubled you with words, subverting your souls , saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment" (v. 24).

Paul charged those who were being subverted by this sect, "that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith" (Galatians 5:2-4).

This sect "perverted the gospel of Christ" and were considered "false brethren" and "accursed" apostates who had snuck into the church shortly after its birth. "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in , who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage : To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you " (Galatians 2:4-5).

These Pharisees who "believed" were "frustrating the grace of God" by trying to add the works of the law to the finished work of Christ thereby perverting the gospel of Christ. The apostles withstood them to the face and concluded together saying, "we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they" (Acts 15:11).

James vs. Paul?

Today, the "false brethren" in the many "sects" of Christianity, who are really "the enemies of the cross of Christ" (Philippians 3:18), have tried to pit James against Paul when James questioned, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" (James 2:14)

James is not here denying that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone apart from works, but rather he is questioning the profitability of one who has a "profession of faith" but has no outward evidence of "saving faith". The key to understanding what James is teaching here is wrapped up in the phrase "though a man say". "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16).

When one "says" they have faith, God certainly knows whether this is true or not, for He is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and nothing is hid from Him with whom we have to do. He knows the object of their faith, whether it is in "their faith" whatever it may be, or if it be the "faith of Christ" (Galatians 2:16), faith in the Truth of God which is the only hope for mankind.

However, to those who are of the household of faith, certainly it would seem questionable whether these "professors" were truly born again at all, who have no evidence whatsoever of a walk in the faith. Jesus said, "If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love" (John 15:10). If after years have gone by and there is no evidence of a changed life, an outward hatred for sin, a love for the Word of God and a devotion to follow after His voice. If the Blessed name of Jesus Christ is not confessed before men (Romans 10:9-10), and there is no desire to fellowship with the saints but to continue in the ways of darkness, why should the "professor" be considered saved and a member of the body of Christ? Why should he have standing in the congregation of the righteous?

The fact of the matter is that we as individuals cannot see faith unless it is active, that is, following after sound doctrine, which is a good profession of faith. It is one thing to "believe that there is one God" (James 2:19) as the devils, it is another to "believe God" (Acts 27:25) and to worship God "believing all things which are written" (Acts 24:14) and follow His voice. Wherefore Jesus said, "by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20).

Timothy "professed a good profession before many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:12) and did "the work of an evangelist" (2Timothy 4:5), therefore Paul could call him "my own son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2). Paul could say to the Corinthian Church that they were "sanctified in Christ Jesus … Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you" (1Corinthians 1:2, 6). They had "the testimony of Christ" , which confirmed to the apostle Paul that they were saved, even though some were rather carnal.

Apart from a good testimony, true believers are left wondering if a man is really saved, therefore James would challenge the mere professor, "Yea, a man may say , Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18). Jesus likewise would question the "professors" saying, "why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46)? A mere profession of faith might very well be empty if it is not active and therefore considered a dead faith. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone … For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:17, 26).

These are but elementary tenants of the faith, which the writer of Hebrews describes as, "repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God" (Hebrews 6:1). The saved should "have no fellowship with the works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Galatians 5:11). His life should be exemplified by walking in the light of God's Word, even as Christ gave us the example to walk. Paul preached, "that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance" (Acts 26:20).

But, sadly today, many will not repent all the while maintaining a "form of godliness" (2 Timothy 3:5). Religion will never save anyone and the darkest religion is that which perverts God's truth preaching "another Jesus" , "another spirit" and "another gospel" (2Corinthians 11:1-4). "But … there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies … And many shall follow their pernicious ways" (2Peter 2:1-2).

The fact of the matter is that men love darkness rather than light. They "rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof" (Job 24:13). "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God" (John 3:20-21).

When considering the whole council of God, it is very reasonable to conclude that for those who say they believe in God but in their works they deny Him, that they are yet unregenerate as far as Christian evidence is concerned. James then could rightly say, as far as justification in the eyes of men is concerned, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24), and therefore is not contradicting Paul when he says "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law … But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 3:28, 4:5).

Time and time again there are many who deny the faith by their works (or lack thereof). Basically, they have no love for the Word of God. Jesus said, "If ye c ontinue in my word , then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8:31). "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you … so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:7-8). "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me " (John 10:27). "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14). "If a man love me, he will keep my words : and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23). "He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ , he hath both the Father and the Son" but, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God (2John 9). So James admonishes his readers to "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves"" (James 1:22).

Those who profess one thing and do another, the apostle John deals with as well in his little epistle saying " If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1John 1:6-7). " If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:8-9). " He that saith , I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1John 2:4). " He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1John 2:6). " He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now" (1John 2:9). "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" (1 John 3:10).

These "professors" are only sadly deceiving themselves. Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity " (Matthew 7:22-23).

Peter admonishes his listeners, "give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2Peter 1:10). Likewise Paul would admonish the readers of his letter to "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves . Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2Corinthians 13:5)

I would plead even with the readers of this letter that your hope of heaven is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness apart from any amount of good works you might achieve.

"What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon this I see—Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing, this my plea—Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing for can for sin atone—Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done—Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace—Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness—Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! Precious is the flow, That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

(Robert Lowry)

Good works cannot save you, only Jesus can! ONLY JESUS CAN! "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). The payment for sin is death! Never will your good works do anything for you in regards to salvation but weigh you down to hell. Death is the required payment for your sin, but there is good news, may God wake you up to it if you are yet dead in your sins. And here it is "CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS" (1Corinthians 15:3), He was buried, and He rose from the dead victoriously three days later conquering sin and death and the grave and hell and the devil.

Don't let any charlatan or subtle deceiver tell you otherwise "for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers … Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not" (Titus 1:10-11). You were not redeemed even in part by your good works. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things , as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers ; But with the precious blood of Christ , as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God " (1Peter 1:18-21).

The only thing that could redeem you from the debt of your sin was the precious blood of Christ. Good works could never purchase anything; it is but "vain conversation received by the tradition of your fathers" . The Bible tells us "the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11), therefore Jesus "wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by [His] blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Revelation 5:9).

This is the reality, that "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us . Much more then, being now justified by his blood , [By His very life offered in substitution for ours] we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:8-9). The recipients of Christ by faith therefore have peace with God "through the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:20), and "the forgiveness of sins" \(Ephesians 1:7). There is yet hope for mankind through the wonderful person of God's own beloved Son Jesus Christ. This hope can be appropriated to you through faith alone in Christ and His shed blood for sinners. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus … through faith in his blood" (Romans 3:24-25).

Paul admonished the elders of the Ephesian church before his martyrdom, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood . For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you , not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things , to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears " (Acts 20:28-31). "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:38-39).

There is only one way to God (not two, works and grace) and that is through His beloved Son Jesus (John 14:6). Won't you receive Jesus Christ today by faith alone and receive the gift of eternal life. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1John 5:10-13). Repent and Believe the Gospel!

"Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone."

"Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die!"

(A. M. Toplady)

Righteousness of faith vs. Righteousness of the law

Within the Scriptures we find that there is mentioned the "righteousness which is of faith" (Romans 4:13, 9:30, 10:6) that "God imputeth … without works" (Romans 4:6), therefore called "the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3:9). It is called "God's righteousness" (Romans 10:3), "His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33), and "the righteousness of God" (Romans 1:17, 3:5, 21, 22, 10:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 2Peter 1:1). The Bible also tells us that there are those who have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge for "they being ignorant of God's righteousness , and going about to establish their own righteousness , have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). In other words, there are many who are religious, who go about trying to establish their own righteousness, but are lost.

Now there is also a " righteousness which is of the law " (Romans 10:5). "And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live" (Galatians 3:12). Even Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death" (John 8:51). But, the problem is that all have sinned and transgressed the commandment of God. The Bible says that without "holiness" (absolute righteousness or totally sinless), "no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14) for "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Galatians 3:10).

"But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise … That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:6, 9). Salvation is all of grace and in no wise can be mixed with works for "the law is not of faith" , but salvation is by "faith, that it might be by grace" (Romans 4:16). "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" (Romans 11:6).

The only hope for mankind was that God made Christ "to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him " (2Corinthian 5:21). Jesus was perfectly upright according to the law for there was no sin in Him. He did "all things well" (Mark 7:37) for "no unrighteousness is in Him" (John 7:18), and He could rightly say to all "yet none of you keepeth the law" (v. 19).

Therefore, whosoever seeks to be justified by the law is "under the curse" (Galatians 3:10). The law can only prove us guilty as charged and "the wages of sin is death" . But, "as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:21).

"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). "No man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11).

The Two Law's

The Bible tells us that "by the law is knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20) and "whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1John 3:4). Paul said "I had not known sin, but by the law" and that sin takes "occasion by the commandment" (Romans 7:6, 11). We are told that "the law worketh wrath" (Romans 4:15) for "the sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law" (1Corinthians 15:56), and therefore is called "the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). Clearly, "the letter (law) killeth" (2Corinthians 3:6).

This "law was given by Moses" (John 1:17) under the Old Covenant which is found in the Old Testament portion of our Bible, primarily the first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) which are referred to as the Pentateuch. But within the Old Testament there was the promise of a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34), which would replace the Old. When Jesus died for our sins, He abolished the Law of Moses and brought in a New Covenant, the Covenant of Grace, so it is said "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).

"Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first , that he may establish the second" (Hebrews 10:9). Through the cross He "abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Ephesians 2:15). "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us , which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colosians 2:13-14).

If "the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12), Why did Christ abolish the Law? "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression " (Romans 4:15). It was added "till the seed should come" (Galatians 3:19), but then was "done away" and "abolished" (2Corinthians 3:7, 13). If no such rule is given, if no command be decreed, there can be no transgression and no crime. Never the less, even before the law, sin was a very real thing so death reigned from Adam to Moses. "For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law" (Romans 5:13).

Some will demand that the letter of the law is still in effect under the New Covenant, however this is not so. Rather, under the "dispensation of grace" the Lord works from within the life of the believer to change him "into the same image" of Christ "even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2Corinthians 3:18). He says "I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 10:16-17).

Those who are born of the Spirit are now said to be "obeying the truth through the Spirit" (1Peter 1:22). "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). We are now day by day being "transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). For it is "the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13), and so called the "sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

We now walk in the Spirit and obey from the heart "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2Corinthians 5:14-15). "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Romans 6:17). "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us" (1John 3:24).

What then was the purpose of the Law? "It was added because of transgessions" (Galatians 3:19), "that the offence might abound" (Romans 5:20), "that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful" (Romans 7:13). The Law was to define precisely what sin was "that it might appear sin" . Therefore, the law could never justify or make righteous the individual. "If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin" (Galatians 3:21-22). The law then was "not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners" (1Timothy 1:9).

The Law then, was to reveal to man his true nature as a transgressor of the law. The Bible very explicitly reveals to man that all are "under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:9-10). Jeremiah says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). And do you not know that "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psalms 9:17)? Understand, that the law could never make one righteous; only heap condemnation and wrath upon the soul who tries to come to God in this manner.

But now, the Good News, "what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3). Christ died for our sins. This was our only hope. When the sin darkened soul is awakened to his exceeding sinful and desperate state before God knowing that the "wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36), the wages of his sin being death, surely the gospel of Christ becomes the most glorious news to his person, finding that His sins have been pardoned and paid in full by the crucified One.

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38-39). "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4). "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16-17).

Paul summed it up beautifully like this, "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin , that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith . But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus " (Galatians 3:22-26).

Jesus brought in a new law, the law of Grace, which is entirely at enmity with the works of the law. Grace is based on what God has done, while works reveals what man has miserably failed to do.

The entire Law of Moses was summarized as such, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind … And … Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40).

All that man can do towards God and His fellowman in the way of good works are covered under the first covenant. It does not count for nothing if at one time or another we have kept portions of the law for "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). No man has followed after the law flawlessly; therefore salvation "is of faith, that it might be by grace" (Romans 4:16).

There is now a new law called "the law of faith " in contrast to that "of works" (Romans 3:27). It is called the "ministration of righteousness" in contrast to the "ministration of condemnation" (2Corinthians 3:9). It is called the "ministration of the spirit" in contrast to "the "ministration of death" (v. 6-7), for "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (v. 8). Elsewhere it is called "the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2) and "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2). How great the contrast between faith and works! How great is the gulf that is fixed between these two. What God has decreed never to be joined let no man couple together.

"Now we are delivered from the law" (Romans 7:6) for "Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14). "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" for "whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:1, 4).

Appendix

The Deadly Teachings
Of Roman Catholicism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

1129 "the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation ."

1257 "Baptism is necessary for salvation ."

846 "the Church … is necessary for salvation "

980 "Penance is necessary for salvation "

2068 "the Ten Commandments are obligatory for Christians … that men may attain salvation through … the observance of the Commandments."

1816 " Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation "

1475-1477 "recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin …We also call these spiritual goods of the communion of saints the Church's treasury ... This treasury includes as well the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary . They are truly immense, unfathomable and even pristine in their value before God. In the treasury, too, are the prayers and good works of all the saints ... In this way they attained their own salvation and at the same time cooperated in saving their brothers in the unity of the Mystical Body.

VATICAN COUNCIL II

(Pg. 70): "For "God's only-begotten Son . . . has won a treasure for the militant Church ... he has entrusted it to the blessed Peter, the keybearer of heaven, and to his successors who are Christ's vicars on earth, so that they may distribute it to the faithful for their salvation ... The merits of the Blessed Mother of God and of all the elect ... are known to add further to this treasure."

(Pg. 68, 65): "From the most ancient times in the church good works were also offered to God for the salvation of sinners , particularily the works which human weakness finds hard. Because the sufferings of the martyrs for the faith and for God's law were thought to be very valuable, penitents used to turn to the martyrs to be helped by their merits to obtain a more speedy reconciliation from the bishops. Indeed, the prayers and good works of the holy people were regarded as of such great value that it could be asserted that the penitent was washed, cleansed and redeemed with the help of the entire Christian people." "They have carried their crosses to make expiation for their own sins and the sins of others. They were convinced that they could help their brothers to obtain salvation from God who is the Father of mercies."

(Pg. 365, 366): "Basing itself on scripture and tradition, it teaches that the Church , a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation ; the one Christ the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and baptism (cf. Mk. 16:16; Jn. 3:5), and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it, or to remain in it ."

DECLARATIONS OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT

SIXTH SESSION, CANONS CONCERNING JUSTIFICATION: "If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ's sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA" (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 12).

SIXTH SESSION, CANONS CONCERNING JUSTIFICATION: "If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA" (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 24).

SIXTH SESSION, CANONS CONCERNING JUSTIFICATION: "If anyone says that the Catholic doctrine of justification as set forth by the holy council in the present decree, derogates in some respect from the glory of God or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, and does not rather illustrate the truth of our faith and no less the glory of God and of Christ Jesus, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA" (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 33).

The "Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent" state (pg. 52 Can. 4): "If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation but are superfluous, and that without them or without desire of them men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of justification , though all are not necessary for each one, let him be anathema." "We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely NECESSARY FOR the SALVATION of every human creature to be SUBJECT TO THE ROMAN PONTIFF (POPE)." --POPE BONIFACE VIII, BULL UNUN SANCTUM, 1302

All of these statements by the authoritative teachings of the Roman Catholic Church are a blasphemous denial of the sufficiency of what Christ has done for us once for all on the cross of Calvary. None of the "necessities" that they have decreed can produce salvation. They can only bring one under the curse (Galatians 1:6-9). They are like those Judaeizers who sought to add "works" to "faith in Christ" as a "necessity" for salvation, who the apostles had to rebuke and withstand to the face. They are "of the circumcision" (Titus 1:10-11), "false brethren" (Galatians 2:4), "false teachers" (2Peter 2:1), who "corrupt the word of God" (2Corinthians 2:17), "subverting [the] souls" (Acts 15:24) of many. May God grant us the grace to stand for the truth against the monstrous religion and damning doctrines of Roman Catholicism.