The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
“Not Of Works”
“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23).
Certainly, there is nothing wrong with good works per se. There is much wrong with them, however, per salvation.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us” (Titus 3:5).
The very essence of sin involves the pride long ago embraced in Eden. “Ye shall be as gods” tempted the devil with the delusion in which he himself exists (Genesis 3:5: Isaiah 14:14). Nothing could have been further from the truth, resulting in the darkness of heart whereby we naturally believe ourselves capable of producing a life and its works worthy of God’s standard, or in most cases, of a standard we create for ourselves. If honest, we must admit we fail at both, preparing us for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ whereby we trust in His works on our behalf. “God, have mercy on me a sinner” pled the justified publican, in contrast to the rejected Pharisee who touted his own sacrifices and works (Luke 18:10-14).
The redeemed of Heaven will have worked much for the glory of God, whereby we “show” a genuine relationship with Him through how we live, but never earning or maintaining the bond thereby (James 2:18). Not one of our deeds will serve as the basis for a salvation completely provided through the works of the Lord Jesus. He alone fulfills the perfect standard through which we become “accepted in the Beloved” by His righteousness freely imputed to us (Ephesians 1:6; I Corinthians 1:30). Christ alone “died for us” and “ever liveth to make intercession for us” (Romans 5:8; Hebrews 7:25). We come to God solely by Him, or we do not come at all. The works of believers are fruit. The Lord Jesus alone is the root. This the Gospel, thrice declared in Romans 5 as a "free gift" purchased by the price only Christ could remit. He did so, perfectly, and we approach God by the works of His Son. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.
“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.”
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”
(Ephesians 2:10)
Weekly Memory Verse
Sanctify them through Thy truth. Thy Word is truth.
(John 17:17)
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