Is Salvation by Faith, by Works, or by a bit of both?

It is highly recommended that Mormon readers view the following link concerning the Book of Mormon before reading this paper:  http://www.lhvm.org/vid_bible_med.htm 

Before we begin our study, I hope you recognize that the motive for this endeavor is one of love: love for God through Jesus Christ, and love for my neighbor, which includes Mormons, Muslims, Roman Catholics, atheists, etc.  If someone truly is concerned for the welfare of another, I believe that they will seek what is best for them, which is a knowledge of the truth, for it is only the truth that is able to set one free (John 8:32).  I pray that God would glorify Himself greatly in this study and that He would draw many to His Son Jesus Christ through it.  Indeed, “whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, KJV). 

As a Bible-believing, born-again Christian, I believe unequivocally that the Bible alone is God’s revelation of Himself to mankind.  I hold that it is inspired by none other than God the Holy Spirit, and thus is inerrant, infallible, and sufficient.  Indeed, 

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:7-8, KJV). 

If this is so, we must make the Word of God our standard, for it alone contains God’s truth.  By studying the book of Galatians, I will attempt to briefly show that the Mormons have erred greatly, for their beliefs are contrary to the clear teachings of Scripture, and therefore should not, indeed, they cannot, be considered or viewed as true Christians.  

Salvation 

In the epistle written to the Galatians, the apostle Paul is writing to the believers to warn them of the false teachers who had crept into the church’s midst unawares and had begun to spread their gangrenous doctrine within the church.  Galatians is perhaps Paul’s harshest letter written, as he aggressively warns the believers to hold fast to the gospel that he had preached to them, namely, that salvation is not to be earned by good works, but is given freely to all who believe and trust in Christ by faith.  

The introduction of this letter is unique to Paul; instead of his formal greetings, he immediately cuts to the chase, for the eternal souls of men and woman are at stake!  The first thing he writes to the believers is that God the Father saves people through the death and resurrection of God the Son: 

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father” (Galatians 1:3-4, KJV). 

Apparently, the false teachers were advocating that men and women could be delivered from this evil world (i.e. ‘make it to heaven’) by their additional works or merits.  And so Paul wastes no time in reminding them that the believer’s deliverance and freedom from this present evil age into the future eschatological age has been purchased for them already by the self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who came into this world to redeem His people from the curse of the Law.  

The very next thing the apostle does is solemnly warn them that these false teachers were proclaiming a perverted gospel, which he develops later in the epistle to be the false gospel of a ‘works-righteousness’ salvation.  We read, 

“But there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-7, KJV). 

In the next chapter, Paul shows us that this perverted gospel was advocating that the Gentiles who had believed in Jesus also needed to keep certain elements of the Jewish law (such as circumcision) to be saved, or delivered, from their sins.  But Paul adamantly refutes this notion, reminding the Christians that the only way one is reckoned righteous in the eyes of God Almighty is by faith in Jesus Christ: 

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 1:16, KJV). 

Note how Paul does not say that one is saved by faith plus works, but by faith alone!  Indeed, we are told that no flesh shall be reckoned as righteous in God’s eyes by their keeping of the law.  In fact, in chapter 3, Paul goes on to say that those who try to justify themselves by their works are presently under the curse of God: 

“For as many are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10, KJV). 

Basically, Paul is saying is that if one wants to earn their own salvation, one must do what is impossible for fallen and mortal mankind, that is, to always, and at all times, keep the entirety of God’s law!  Though this may at first glace seem unfair, Paul reveals in the next verse God’s ultimate reason for this: 

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11, KJV). 

Paul is reminding the Christian believers that God’s way of justifying His people has always been by faith (note especially the preceding verses [3:5-9]).  Here Paul shows us that God justified Abraham when Abraham believed in the gospel by faith, and not by his striving to be a good or moral person.  

God’s people are pleasing to Him because they magnify His worth by trusting in His faithfulness to keep His promise to redeem a people for Himself by sending His Son to die for their sins.  Those who do not walk by faith do not trust in the merits of God the Son, but in their own goodness and merits, which the Bible actually declares to be nothing more than filthy rags in God’s sight (see Isaiah 64:6). 

God is not pleased with those who seek salvation by works of the law, for “the law is not of faith” (Galatians 3:12, KJV).  Those who put all their trust in what Jesus has done for them are those with whom God is pleased, because they have accepted God’s only way of making men and women right with Himself.  In fact, Paul tells the Christians: 

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13, KJV). 

Paul couldn’t make it any clearer.  Either one trusts in their own imperfect ‘goodness’ and merits, or they trust in the perfect merits of Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God who died to take away their sin and guilt of not keeping perfectly God’s commands.  This is strengthened as Paul shows us God the Father’s great purpose in sending God the Son: 

“But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4). 

Those who trust in the merits of the Son are adopted into God’s family.  Though formerly children of disobedience by nature (see Ephesians 2:2; 5:6), they are grafted into God’s family by faith alone and called sons.  Paul, speaking to the Christians, pleads with them: 

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1, KJV). 

Christ died for these Christians to redeem them from their bondage.  No longer did they need to try to impress God, for Christ Himself had fulfilled the law perfectly on their behalf.  When people believe that they can be saved by their good works, they become entangled when they are drawn away and look within themselves instead of looking to Christ and His righteousness.  Note how the apostle looks only upon Christ as he closes the epistle, showing us where his trust was and where his boast lay: 

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14, KJV). 

When you stand before the throne of God above, whose merits will you dare to plead?  If you have not kept the entirety of his law fully at all times, you will be cast from His presence by His holy wrath.  

How many sins does it take to be cast from the presence of Almighty God?  Adam and Eve were taken out of the garden for just one.  They could not plead their good works to somehow ‘outweigh’ their sin.  Despite what every false religion teaches, God does not put our good works and bad works on a balance and see which one wins out.  This lie from Satan has condemned countless souls to eternal torment and destruction!  

The Mormon religion teaches that faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ is not enough to obtain eternal life.  Like the false teachers in Galatia that Paul condemned, they teach that Christ’s atonement is only fully made effective if one ‘adds’ to it.  (Note how www.mormon.org commands that one must also be subsequently baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and choose to follow Jesus’ teachings for the rest of their life.) 

But such teaching flies in the face of the account of the thief on the cross next to Jesus had his sins fully atoned for.  After simply believing that Jesus was the Messiah, he is immediately promised, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 22:43, KJV).  

Over and over in the New Testament, Paul uses the patriarch Abraham as the basic paradigm of salvation in his letters.  We have already seen this in Galatians.  But in Romans 4, the apostle writes the following: 

“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?  For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God!  For what saith the scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith shall be counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:1-5, KJV). 

By claiming that additional works are necessary to obtain eternal life, Mormons (along with Muslims, Jews, Catholics, and every other false religion) blaspheme the perfect redemption that Christ came into the world to accomplish.  Such man-exalting thinking renders God the Son’s work imperfect.  To say this implies that He is not God, which is the very thing one must believe to be saved. 

And so we ask, did Christ die in vain?  Was God’s plan from eternity past flawed and tainted with error?  Despite whatever one may believe, the Bible alone must be our source of truth in any and every issue: 

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.  He shall see the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:10-15, KJV). 

Christ’s blood was not shed in vain.  In the great wisdom of God, this was the only way that He has ordained for sinful people to be justified in His sight.  As foreshadowed in the Old Testament sacrificial system (cf. Hebrews 10:1), death was required to atone for sin before one could experience forgiveness and fellowship with the LORD who alone is holy and separate from sinners.  Despite the false teaching of Mormonism, there is only one High Priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:17), who offered up once-for-all His own body, that He might “see His seed” justified.  It is only through Christ’s sacrifice that His seed is set apart for God, or sanctified (Hebrews 10:10).  Anyone who believes that Christ’s sacrifice was not sufficient must seriously take heed to these sobering words: 

“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace…it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:29, 31, KJV). 

Anyone who denies the sufficiency of Christ’s death to redeem His own renders Him less than God, and thus blasphemes His glorious name.  God’s plan of salvation has always been by faith alone in His gracious promises, and not by works.  Those who try to earn their salvation deny the only way God has ordained to save them! 

What is the one ‘work’ that Jesus requires of us?  He tells us very plainly in John 6:29 – “This is the work of God, that ye believe in Him whom He hath sent.”  Believing in Christ is simply resting in Him alone to forgive you of your sins; it is trusting that by His sacrificial death and resurrection, He has done what we could never do - atone for sin.  

Why has God ordained that salvation be obtained by faith alone in His Son?  Paul tells us, 

“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” (Ephesians 2:8-9, KJV). 

God has created all things to display His glory and greatness, including human beings.  We display His glory and greatness most when we humbly accept the gift of His Son, trusting in His sovereign power to do all that He has promised us.  God is ferociously jealous for the glory of His name.  Indeed, He will not share it with another (Isaiah 42:8), which includes you or me. 

And so I ask, to whom will you give all the glory to on judgment day?  Will you boast in your own works of ‘righteousness,’ or will you with gratitude declare ‘the Lord Jesus Christ is all my righteousness’?  The Bible is clear which one the Holy Judge will accept. 

Will you not call upon His name even now to forgive you of your sins and pride?  Behold, He holds out His nail-pierced hand that you might believe in Him and be saved.  

Jesus Christ can save you right now!  Cry out to Him, and He will hear: 

Lord Jesus, I believe that Your Word is truth and life.  I believe that You are the promised Deliverer of God’s people.  I believe that You came into the world to die for my sins, and that believing in Your perfect life, brutal death, and glorious resurrection is the only way that sinners like me can be saved.  You alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and I believe that no one can come to the Father except through You.  I accept Your gift of eternal life.  Please forgive me of all my sins and pride.  I come to You with empty hands and a broken heart.  Save me Lord, for I am yours! 

If this study has been a help to you, of if you have any comments, please email us at: info@LethbridgeBaptist.com 

Be pleased O LORD, to save many wavering souls by the power of Your Holy Spirit and the truth of Your Word.  May You alone receive all the honor, glory and praise.  Hear the prayer of your servant and answer according to Your perfect will.  I ask in the name of Your glorious Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord, Amen. 

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