Faith Speaks Series

5 12 13 “Faith Speaks”

Romans 10:5-10

In the world today, there is, what seems to be, a lot of competition among religions. Many say that every religion has some validity, suggesting (pluralism), but yet some HAVE TO BE wrong, or even worse, ALL have to be wrong, except for one; otherwise TRUTH does not exist. The Bible teaches that ALL religions are wrong which do not call us OUTof our own inadequacy and total INABIBLITY to save ourselves, and into an exclusive faith and life in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and righteousness.

Salvation by Works…Won’t Work!

Look at Romans 10:5: “For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.” Once again, we see New Testament teaching coming out of the Old Testament. Here, Paul probably has Leviticus 18:5 in mind: “So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD.” The word “live” is very important in both of these verses. God certainly rewards people with a good life on this earth if they obey His revealed law…and…by doing so, you stay out of court and you stay out of jail. There is no doubt that morality is better than immorality. But living “RIGHTLY” does not make you righteous.

BUT if you take the word “live” to refer to, not only THIS LIFE, but to ETERNAL LIFE, then every single person who ever walked this earth is in big trouble, because NO ONE can do the “right thing” all the time and then do it perfectly, and we are BORN UNRIGHTEOUS.

Romans 3:10-12: "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD ; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS ; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." (These are Old Testament teachings too.) This paints a pretty dim picture of trying to achieve a righteousness apart from God. SALVATION by works WON’T WORK, since there is NO ONE who is righteous.

Galatians 3: 10: For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse ; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW…”

Listen to Galatians 5: 3: And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the WHOLE LAW.

(You just heard that right? ALL THINGS. 1. If you are going to be saved by your works, you must DO every thing (ALL THINGS) perfectly! That is what the law of God requires. Not one imperfection at any time, and NO ONE can do that.

Galatians 3:11: “Now that NO ONE is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."

Putting your trust in a “salvation by works” comes in many different shades: Some plainly say that you are saved by what you DO. That would be legalism and according to the Bible, it is eternally LETHAL. Others may say that you are saved by faith PLUS your own works (or any variation on this way of thinking). If you are thinking this, then you are denying justification which is by FAITH in Christ. Any other way but TRUSTING CHRIST EXCLUSIVELY for your righteousness and forgiveness is not trusting in justification by FAITH in Christ: justification is by Christ ALONE.

2. If you live your life trusting in YOUR works, even in part, in any way, shape or form in order to be made right with God, you will be judged according to your works. If you try to mix your works with a righteousness by faith, you POLLUTE and destroy the righteousness which is by FAITH in Christ’s Work. It is a futile and FATAL MIX. 3. If you are trusting AT ALL in your works, you are not trusting in the WORK of Christ.

Many people say, “Well, I’m not such a bad person.” Right there, you think that you somehow deserve grace because of your character. There is NO ONE who is Good. Not One. Galatians 5:4 describes such a person: “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law (by works, even a little bit); you have FALLEN FROM GRACE.” “Severed from Christ” is strong language: It means that Christ has no influence for you and God’s grace is no longer effective for you!

Look at What Salvation by faith DOES NOT say

Look at Romans 10:6-8: “But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN ?' (that is, to bring Christ down ), 7 or 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." 8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart "-that is, the word of faith which we are preaching.”