Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not impute to him (Romans 4:8)
Back when I was still on Active Duty I went to the funeral of a dear brother killed in action in Afghanistan. After the military service people were expressing their condolences to his young wife. When I hugged her those are the words I whispered in her ear. For the first time during the service she smiled.
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Philippians 3:2-9 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
All that hard work and Paul counts it as rubbish for the excellency of knowing CHRIST.
Religion is worthless in knowing God. All it does it provide an opportunity for the flesh to brag about itself.
Colossians 2:16-23 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
This is all true but I would suggest that it should be made plain that Paul was not against doing the works of faith.
What he was saying is that we should not think that we can earn our way into glory land by our works.
Even people who do not believe in works will brag about the works they do, but is it the works Jesus told us to do?
We are not saved by works, we are saved by Gods grace.
Was Paul against works?
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
If Paul was against works why would he tell the Corinthians he worked harder than them all?
James 2
shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Any one can holler about how much faith they have, lets see some of it.
Any one can holler about how much work they do, is it the works which come from faith or is it just so they can brag?
John 14
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Matthew 22
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Luke 10
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Was Jesus against works?
John 14
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;
Amen. I can read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians over and over and still be in awe of God’s Mercy. All you can say is Thank You Lord!
Ephesians 2:4-9 (AMP)
4 But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).
6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]
I’m not sure why faith vs work get so complicated. ..
Anyone in a relationship should understand. ...your didn’t buy your wife love.. and you do not buy in on going in the relationship. ..but you also love..you give back.. some see that as work and are trying to buy “love”...but if you do your not in love in the first place
See many do on not see it... but faith is a two way street.. and God shows his faith in you.. faith in man..first...
so once you come faith in God.. you also honor that faith God first show to you... God gave you a chance. . God show faith in you... honor that faith God put in you
..that is the works...
It works to honor the faith God showed in you..
work do not buy.. works honor what was given freely
“Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness . . . For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants.”
—Romans 4:4-5, 16”
That will leave a mark. :p
"Faith works by (agape) love." - Galatians 5:6.
"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
The certainty of salvation:
.....” faith brings no idea of self-worth with it” and since grace is by definition free and unmerited, then salvation itself is ‘wholly the work of God’ ... and hence it is certain, firm and can be “guaranteed.” ....Only salvation that is God’s work in its totality can fit this description”......
I write these things ‘to you who believe’ in the name of the Son of God so ‘THAT YOU MAY KNOW’ that you have eternal life...... I John 5:13
It’s noteworthy that he’s writing ‘to those who believe.....which would indicate that those who do not know the assurance of their salvation may very well have a false sense of belief...relying on something or someone else rather than the work of Jesus Christ who said..”It is finished”.
Therefore their eternal security is at stake...blinded by a misplaced faith.