Are you justified by faith, or by works?


Theologians have debated the question of whether one can accomplish salvation by faith, or by works of the Law, since the first century. Today, the debate continues, and just like the old days, opinions may differ from one denomination to another.

Personally, I err on the side of the apostle, Paul, who writes the following:

No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law only shows us how sinful we are” (Romans 3:20). “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that, not of yourselves; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

 All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God because ‘the righteous will live by faith’ (Galatians 3:10-11).

Whosoever shall keep the law, and yet stumble in one point, is guilty of all. For he that said Do not commit adultery also said Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law  (James 2:10-11).

But, despite Paul’s convincing arguments, and his experience as an expert of the law, many Christians still believe we are justified by works of the Law. Even though, some of those same Christians conveniently pick and chooses which Law they should obey.  How, then, can anyone who picks and chooses which law to obey, say he or she is justified by works of the Law. If Jesus were here in the flesh, He would call you out as He did the Pharisees.

“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees? For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the most important things. (Luke 11:42).

As i have shown, the laws are mostly rigid. They leave no room for error. If you broke one, you broke all. Therefore, no one can keep them. But God, who knows all things sent His Son to die and free us from the curse of the law.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).

32 comments

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  7. But God, who knows all things sent His Son to die and free us from the curse of the law.

    Sorry, but did not Jesus claim he had come to fulfill the Law. Moses Law?
    I can dig out the relevant passage for you if you are unfamiliar with it?

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      1. Now you are merely trying to obfuscate for the benefit of your claim.
        Must I really dig out the verses for you of what Jesus is claimed to have actually said regarding Moses and the Law or are you simply going to continue to trot out Pauline doctrine which is, in effect what your religion is based on?

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      2. No need to do that. I know what He said about the law and the prophets. The religious leaders were obsessed about enforcing the law, even though they could keep them. Jesus called them hypocrites which made them uncomfortable. And judging their actions, Jesus declared the following: “Think not that have come the abolish the law and the profits. I have come to fulfill them. Later on somebody asked Jesus the following:
        36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

        37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

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      3. Now, don’t be naughty…let’s include the rest of the verse shall we?

        I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

        Now, what the Jesus said can be seen in its (original) and real context.

        Jesus was a Jew.
        He was born a Jew
        He followed Jewish Law
        He died a Jew.

        You lot seem to forget this on occasion.

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      5. There is no “New Dispensation”, this is Pauline doctrine.
        Jesus was clearly of an eschatological frame of mind.
        He believed the end was at hand.

        I reiterate. Jesus was a Jew. And he died defending ( or at least believing in) Mosaic Law. For the Jews, the supposed chosen people
        .
        Now, how do you view his stance on Moses, the Patriarchs & Mosaic Law in view of the fact Moses was mythological and and the Pentateuch fiction?

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      6. Let me answer your question with this:Matthew 22:36-40
        New King James Version (NKJV)
        36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

        37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

        40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

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  8. You appear to have accidentally repeated that piece of scripture..

    Would you like to respond to the question in the previous comment?

    How do you view his stance on Moses, the Patriarchs & Mosaic Law in view of the fact Moses was mythological and and the Pentateuch fiction?

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      1. The premise is correct. Archaeology has demonstrated this and it is accepted throughout the world by most scholars.
        Why and on what grounds do you not agree with the premise?

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      3. Well, the likes of Ron Wyatt and Ken Ham most certainty did/do make up stories all the time , but this is not the case with respected scientists such as Israel Finkelstein, Ze’ev Herzog and William Dever.
        Archaeology is a lifelong career for these people. Why would they make up stories?
        What possible motivation could they have?

        On the face of it , those of a religious bent are more likely to make up stories and in truth, many are aware they do continue to promote what is ostensibly fiction.

        In fact, the Clergy Project was set up to help these former “liars for god’ who must still find a way to make a living now they have rejected the stuff they previously embraced.
        http://www.clergyproject.org/

        But back to the archaeologists.

        Finkelstein and many other Jewish archaeologists have been active in the Sinai for decades; initially at the command of the Israeli government with the explicit instructions to “Find the title deeds to the promised land”.
        Being Jewish, their whole heritage and birthright and religion rests on the ”truth” of the Torah. But it has been shown to be a fiction. So why on earth would they lie?
        And many Rabbis have come out in support of these scientific findings.
        In fact, it is only those with either fundamentalist or orthodox views that still consider the Exodus and all that goes with it to have any bearing on the truth at all and they dig with a spade in one hand and a bible in the other.
        Many have never even been on an active dig.

        For those who have been prepared to ‘come out’ as it were, they must be commended , surely?

        But I am still very interested in why you would think they would ‘make up stories’.

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  12. I just went through the book of Job, which always troubles me a little. This time I listened to it on my Gideon app rather than reading it. What really stood out was Job’s remark, “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” Job struggled as his friends condemned him. Job, being a man, had sin in his life, but the one thing Job knew was that he had faith in God and that God would come to earth to redeem him. “By grace are we saved through faith, not of works lest any man should boast.” Great Post, Noel!

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