http://www.boomerinthepew.com/2009/10/a-works-based-faith-makes-god-a-debtor-to-those-who-work.html
Romans 4:4-8 4Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
Since the beginning of time, a social contract has existed between the worker, and the man who contracted the worker. The worker works, and then is paid. Once the worker works, then the owner is in debt to the worker until he is paid his due.
In other words, until the worker is paid, he can say, "you owe me".
Those who would presume that any amount of works can brings about, or add to, their salvation would put God in the same contractual arrangement.
The works oriented man might work a day in the soup kitchen, believing that he is working toward his salvation. Once this day's work is accomplished then what?
Are we to say to God, "you owe me?"
If this were the case then the opposite would then also be true. If we perform bad deeds, which we all do every day, then might God say to us: "you owe me?"
It is absolutely impossible to work our way to God with our works. It is absolutely impossible for us to obtain the perfection and holiness required.
No my friend, salvation is obtained completely by grace (unmerited favor) through faith. It is the free gift of God to those who truly believe.
Our works are evidence (fruit) of our faith, our works are a sacrifice, and a sweet aroma in the nostrils of God.
To think any other way is to put God in our debt, and a great error of thinking.
Romans 4:4-8 4Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
Since the beginning of time, a social contract has existed between the worker, and the man who contracted the worker. The worker works, and then is paid. Once the worker works, then the owner is in debt to the worker until he is paid his due.
In other words, until the worker is paid, he can say, "you owe me".
Those who would presume that any amount of works can brings about, or add to, their salvation would put God in the same contractual arrangement.
The works oriented man might work a day in the soup kitchen, believing that he is working toward his salvation. Once this day's work is accomplished then what?
Are we to say to God, "you owe me?"
If this were the case then the opposite would then also be true. If we perform bad deeds, which we all do every day, then might God say to us: "you owe me?"
It is absolutely impossible to work our way to God with our works. It is absolutely impossible for us to obtain the perfection and holiness required.
No my friend, salvation is obtained completely by grace (unmerited favor) through faith. It is the free gift of God to those who truly believe.
Our works are evidence (fruit) of our faith, our works are a sacrifice, and a sweet aroma in the nostrils of God.
To think any other way is to put God in our debt, and a great error of thinking.
