Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 10
September 11, 1958
NUMBER 19, PAGE 8-9b

Foolish Preaching On Salvation By Faith Only, -- (III.)

James E. Cooper, Campbellsville, Ky.

In previous articles we have shown that the idea of salvation by faith only contradicts the Word of God. We have also considered some passages thought by some to teach it, and have found that they nowhere teach salvation by faith only, though they do teach salvation by faith.

But, do I hear someone say that the doctrine of salvation by faith only must be true? That if a person is required to do anything more than just believe, he will be working, and Paul said in Eph. 2:8-9, "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"? Sectarian preachers quote this passage and cry long and loud that "it is by faith only. . ..not by works!" Can't you see that this passage doesn't say "faith only"? If it said "faith only," you would have the Holy Spirit inspiring Paul to teach faith only and inspiring James to teach that it is not by faith only. Any man who would force that kind of action into the work of the Holy Spirit is a dangerous preacher, and will lead the souls of men astray. I don't believe the Holy Spirit is any such kind of two-faced personality.

The trouble with sectarian preachers engaged in such preaching is that they think that a person is "working" if he does anything that God says to do, but believe. But, Jesus taught that faith itself was working. (John 6:28-29.)

The kind of works mentioned in Eph. 2:8-9 is a faith that will enable the sinner to boast. Paul said, "not of works, lest any man should boast." The plan of salvation is so arranged that man cannot boast that he has lifted himself by his own efforts apart from the mercy of God. Paul is saying that we cannot be justified by the deeds that we devise ourselves. He is saying, "You can't do it yourself; you cannot devise for yourselves schemes or plans or traditions or righteous ceremonies that will save you. You can't do enough out of your own choice or by your own invention to save yourself, or make yourself worthy of salvation. It is by grace through faith."

There are different kinds of works mentioned in the Bible. Down in verse 10 of this same chapter. Paul says, "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, that we should walk in them." What kind of works? Good works, and God intends that we should walk in them. Back in John 6:28-29, Jesus called it the "works of God." Here it is called "good works." Faith is a work of God. God requires men to believe on his Son. God directs it. God commands it. Man obeys. That is the kind of works that Paul calls "good works," and that is the kind of works by which we are saved. Good works are mentioned in Titus 3:8, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou of firm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." Then, in verse 14, he says, "And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful." Yes, the Bible talks about "good works."

The Bible also mentions "works of faith." In I Thess. 1:3, we have Paul "remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father." There their actions are designated as "works of faith." We can read of such works of faith in Hebrews, chapter eleven, where we find examples of men who were blessed as a result of their faith, when their faith led them to obey God's instructions.

In Acts 10:34-35, we read, "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Peter told Cornelius that he now understood that anybody who feared God and worked righteousness would be accepted of God. Cornelius was not a Christian. He had not believed in Christ. He had never heard a single gospel sermon. God had instructed him to send to Joppa for Peter, "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." (Acts 11:14.) When Peter arrived, having already seen the vision while on the housetop praying, Cornelius tells him the reason for sending for Peter. Peter opens his mouth, and the very first thing that he says is that he now understands that God is no respecter of persons: "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him." Is this the kind of works mentioned in Eph. 2:9? If so, Peter contradicts Paul. Sectarians have Peter contradicting Paul because they force into Paul's words ideas that Paul never entertained.

There are two other kinds of works mentioned in the Bible. In Rom. 3:28; Paul speaks of the works of the Law of Moses, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." And, in Gal. 2:16, he says, "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." Hence, we can conclude that the works of the law are excluded by Eph. 2:9.

The final class of works is the class under consideration in Eph. 2:8-9. The apostle Paul wrote of the Jews, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal for 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." Here in Rom. 10:1-3, Paul contrasts the righteousness of God with the righteousness of men. Because the Jews went about to establish their own righteousness, they would not submit themselves unto the righteousness of God. Paul compliments them on their zeal, but says that their zeal is not according to knowledge. Yet, his desire was that they might be saved. He wished that their zeal would be according to knowledge. He wished that they would no longer be ignorant of God's righteousness. He desired that they would cease going about to establish their own righteousness and would submit themselves unto the righteousness of God. The works Paul mentioned in Eph. 2:8-9 are works of man's righteousness. Titus 3:5 says, "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." Salvation is not by the works of man's righteousness, but by the works produced by faith. Faith causes an individual to submit himself to the righteousness of God.

There are too many people who are going about to establish their own righteousness. They refuse to be governed by what God says in his word. They hear Jesus saying, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," but they refuse to submit to it. They think they can "go about to establish their own righteousness" and say that "salvation by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort." Ah, good neighbor, you can't be saved that way. You need to submit yourself unto the righteousness of God. The Bible does not teach salvation by faith only; it is "foolish preaching."