Faith Or Works ?

Salvation: IS Received By Faith; then Demonstrated By Works; and IT’S ALWAYS By Grace

Romans 4:1-8 1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

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

6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Listen to these two verses and think to yourself whether or not they contradict each other:

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5).

--And listen as I read this verse in (James 2:17 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone"

So are we saved by faith or by works?.

I. SALVATION IS RECEIVED BY FAITH according to (Romans 4:1-5).

Paul asks this question about Abraham:

"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?" (v.1).

In other words, Paul’s question was, “What were Abraham’s experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith.”

verse 2 say’s 2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. In other words; if Abraham had done enough good deeds to be justified then he would surely have something to boost about, but God knows that it was not Abraham’s deeds that justified him, it was Abraham’s faith in his God.

Why did Abraham have no basis at all for boosting? Paul gives us the reason in verse 3:"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."

Paul was quoting what Moses recorded in Genesis 15:6.about Abraham 6And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.

What does it mean when it says that faith was counted unto Abraham for righteousness? That word “counted” means “to put on one’s account.” So when Abraham believed God, righteousness was placed on his account.

Many people today have a bank account. Let me try and illustrate, just suppose you have a car payment that automatically comes out of your account at the end of each month. But at the end of this month you have only five dollars in your account, and the car payment is four hundred dollars.

So you don’t have enough money to pay for your car. But let’s say someone heard of your need and gave you four hundred dollars to deposit in your account. You now have the necessary amount of money in your account to make your car payment.

The reason why God placed righteousness on Abraham’s account was because Abraham’s righteousness was not enough to save him.

Just like your friend that bailed you out because you didn’t have enough money for your car payment in your account.

For God to place righteousness on a person’s account is justification. Justification is the act of God whereby He acquits a believer of the verdict of condemnation and declares him to be righteous.

Why did God declare Abraham to be righteous?

Paul says it was not the result of Abraham’s works. If that were the case then it would be something he earned and had reason to boast about. Abraham was saved when he believed God. Thus He was saved by faith.

This fact is clearly stated in

verse five:"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

II. SALVATION IS DEMONSTRATED BY WORKS

(James 2:14-26 14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18Yea, 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. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?