Justified by Works
In Romans chapter four Paul affirms that we are not
justified by works. In James chapter two verse twenty four
James says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only.” We are told to study to
shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Since we
know that the scripture cannot be broken, i.e., contradict
itself, we must conclude that the above scriptures likewise
can be perfectly harmonized.
When it comes to those things that bring about our eternal
salvation from sin and ultimate glorification, we are not
justified by works:
1. God’s election of a people is not of or by works: Rom.
9:11-13, “For the
children being not yet born, neither having done any good or
evil, that the purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works but of him that calleth; it was said
unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is
written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Also
Rom. 11:5, 6 reads, “Even so then at this present time also
there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And
if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is
no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more
grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
2. The new or spiritual birth is not of works: Tit. 3:5,
“Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of
the Holy Ghost. Also, Eph. 2:8-10, “For by grace are ye
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the
gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.”
3. Our salvation from sin is not of works: II Tim. 1:9, “Who
hath saved us and
called us with an holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given
us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Also, Rom. 3:20,
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of
sin.”
Thus we conclude that God’s choice of a people to be his
before the foundation of the world, our spiritual birth, and
our salvation from sin is by grace and not by works. Those
things which pertain to our eternal salvation and
justification are by grace and not by works. We are
eternally justified freely by his grace through the shed
blood of Jesus: Rom. 3:24, “Being justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
The scriptures, however, also teach a justification by
works, but in another court room. Justification by works
takes place in the court room of men’s opinions. II Pet.
3:10 reads, “Wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence
to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these
things, ye shall never fall.” We ask, who can we make our
calling and election sure to? Obviously we cannot make them
sure to God, for it is He who chose us in Christ before the
world began, and it is He who calls us into spiritual life.
We read, “The foundation of God standeth sure, having this
seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his...” Obviously God
knows who he elected and who he called, thus the assurance
is to ourselves that we may assure ourselves that we are
called of God and chosen of God. We can assure ourselves of
our calling and election by being fruit inspectors. Matt.
7:15-2- reads, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you
in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree
bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good
fruit...Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” While
this was written about the identity of the false prophet,
yet these great principles of truth tell us about ourselves
as well.
The natural man is as the corrupt tree. Paul said that “I
know that in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth no good
thing.” David said that he was conceived in sin and shapened
in iniquity. Thus we are sinners from conception bearing a
sin-cursed nature. According to Gal. 5:19-21 all the works
of the flesh are evil. Also 1 Cor. 2:14 reads, “The natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned.” Man by nature is a totally
corrupt tree only capable of bringing forth corruption. When
God’s elect are born spiritually from above they then come
into possession of a new nature. According to 1 Pet. 1:23,
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth
forever.” This new nature is incorruptible. According to I
John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,
because his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin,
because he is born of God.” The spiritual inner man of the
child of God is like the good tree that only brings forth
good fruit.
Those who are not born again can only bear the evil
(natural) fruit. Whereas, those who have been born again are
capable of bearing both the natural (evil) fruit and the
spiritual (good) fruit. The fruit of the Spirit (good fruit)
is described in Gal. 5:22 as “love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and
temperance.” When we can see this fruit (works) being
manifest in our lives then we can identify ourselves as
possessors of the good tree (spiritual life) and identify
ourselves as of the called and elect of God. Thus in our own
opinion we are justified (declared to be called and elect)
by works. Likewise when we see such fruit (works) in others
we have assurance that they are the called and elect of God.
In Phil 4:3 Paul wrote, “And I entreat thee also, true yoke
fellow, help those women which labored with me in the
gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow
laborers, whose names are in the book of life.” Paul was
sure that those he mentioned were written in the book of
life, not because he was given a special look into that
book, but rather, because he saw their works which was
evidence to him that they were written therein. They were
justified, in his opinion, by works.
Elder Vernon Johnson
