Just Can’t Give Up The Works Based Salvation

The title of the sermon is “JUST CAN’T GIVE UP THE WORKS BASED SALVATION.”

Do you know how many people call themselves Christians and believe in a works based salvation? I want to be clear that you are not a Christian if you believe a work saves you. I want to be clear that you are not a Christian if you think you can lose salvation. I want to be clear that you are not a Christian if you don’t believe in once saved always saved.

And yes, I know most of the so-called Christians will now hit the x button before they hear me say anything else. They are stiffnecked and won’t listen to the word of God. Of course they won’t listen to me. Hit that close button and queue up that nasty email to josh@truewordbaptist.org. Go ahead.

Defining “Works”

Let’s define works since the so-called Christians don’t understand the definition of a work. Repenting of sin is a work. Getting baptized in water is a work. Going to church is a work. Being a good person is a work. Living your life for Jesus is a work. Following Jesus the rest of your life is work.

Forsaking sin is a work. Not lying is a work. Not stealing is a work. Reading your Bible is a work. Studying the Bible is a work. Following the Catholic way to heaven is work. Following the Mormon rules to get to heaven is work. Following the Southern Baptist way is work. All of these religions just can’t give up the works based salvation.

Seeing It in Jonah 3:10

Is this difficult to understand that all of these things are works? Repenting of sin is a work. The Bible directly says so, but Scripture is completely ignored.

Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Now, can you clearly see that turning from sin is a work? Look at the beginning of the verse. “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way.” This verse has it all. Turning from sin is hard work. Stopping sin is a good work. They turned from their evil way and God says HIMSELF that He saw their WORKS.

And we know for sure that salvation is not of works in any way, shape, or form because God says this too. Let me repeat this. The salvation of your soul does not rely on any works at all. NOTHING. And here’s the real problem I have that I want to discuss in this sermon today.

Mixed Messages on Works

I am going a different direction with this today. People will agree with what I just said. They will say salvation is not of works. But you continue to ask them questions, and they will reveal that they believe salvation is of works. They are confused and deceived, and I want to write this sermon to wake people up.

You cannot say that you believe we are not saved by works and then tell me that we have to do works to be saved. This is what people are doing out there everywhere today. The Christian hotlines do this. I watched a video from the Baptist Bias where they called Christian hotlines. Each and every one of the people I listened to preached a works based salvation to them. I didn’t hear the whole broadcast, but I heard a few of them. All works based salvation preachers.

I preached the full Gospel to a Mormon the other day. He proceeded to tell me that he believed what I was preaching to him. I was preaching faith alone to him. So I asked him, “Do you believe it’s faith alone that saves you?” He says yes. “Do you believe works have to be done for salvation?” He says, “Yes, good works are required for salvation. Faith without works is dead.”

Contradictions in Belief

MIND BLOWN when people do this. The vast majority of so-called Christians do this. Or some of them even attempt to say that water baptism isn’t a work. They say repenting of sin isn’t a work. They say you will do good works once you’re saved. I usually ask them if they believe you can lose salvation and they say yes.

MIND BLOWN. I thought it was faith alone that saves you. They agreed with that. But then in the next sentence they contradict themselves and tell me that works are required. Very frustrating, but this is something that is now in the majority of so-called “Christians.” When people do this, this tells me immediately that they are not saved. They do not understand the simple definition of faith IN Christ.

We need to do a better job of convincing these people that they believe in a works based salvation. This is our job as Gospel preachers. This is our job as soul winners. Today, I want to give you more ammunition to help convince these people. The first thing you should do is pray for God’s help in convincing these people.

Romans 3:3-4 – More Scriptures for Soul Winners

Pray for the wisdom to say the right things to each person as each person is different. And then keep the Scriptures and the points that we’re going over today. You are going to need these if you want to win souls to Christ. Let’s do this. We need to get into the heads of these people who think they believe in Jesus Christ. They don’t.

Romans 3:20-23
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. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. What are the deeds of the law? Many people will say that repenting of sin and getting baptized is not a deed of the law. What are they then? There are deeds of the law, which are works, and then there is faith. There’s works or faith.

Categorizing Water Baptism

Is water baptism a work or is it done in your mind? Faith in Christ is equal to believing IN YOUR MIND that Jesus is the Christ or Savior of the world. So, let’s categorize water baptism. Is water baptism faith or is it works? If you answer faith, you’ve lost your mind. Getting baptized in water is not done in your mind. You actually physically get baptized in the water. This is a work.

Believing in Jesus Christ is not equal to getting baptized in water. You are supposed to get baptized in water because you’ve believed in Christ alone. You aren’t supposed to get baptized in water if you believe the work is going to save you. Same thing with repenting of sin. You continuously sin throughout your life in this flesh. You would never know if you were going to be saved. You might die before you repented of sin.

Without the Law = Righteousness

Verse 22 says “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We don’t have the righteousness required to get to heaven with our works. Our works have proven to be evil. If we break one law, we’ve broken the whole law. We have failed.

So we need the righteousness of God to be saved. We get this by faith of Jesus Christ when we believe IN Him. Believing in works is not believing in Jesus.

Romans 3:24-26
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Faith Alone in Jesus

Obviously, if you’re giving the Gospel and someone won’t give up their works based salvation, go to Romans Chapter 3. We are justified freely by His grace. Grace means we don’t deserve salvation. Why? Because we’ve sinned against God. Now we must be justified freely by His grace.

God set forth His Son Jesus Christ to take our punishment. He died, was buried, and arose from the dead. And now we are to declare HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and HIS WORKS. Not our own. It’s pure evil to believe in a works based salvation. I would say there’s nothing more evil in existence.

“To declare, I say, at this time HIS righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” How could one ignore all of these Scriptures? You are there to convince these people. Do a good job. Focus on verse 28 coming up if you need to make this simpler.

Romans 3:27-28
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

This Law of Faith

The law of works won’t save you. The law of faith saves you. God says to believe in Jesus Christ. Do it or die and go to hell. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Are you really going to try to say the works that you preach for salvation are not deeds of the law?

Which ones? Baptism in water is a commandment from God. It is a work of the law. Circumcision is and was a work of the law. Repenting of sin is a commandment from God. Repenting of sin is a good work that won’t save your soul. IT IS A WORK.

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Clarifying Ephesians 2

We are talking about the salvation of your soul right here. You are only saved by grace through faith. Salvation is not of yourselves. IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. God has a free gift for you that you don’t deserve. You do not work for a gift. Again, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. Not of works. Salvation is not of works.

We are His workmanship. We are saved by Jesus Christ so we can do good works. We SHOULD walk in them. There is not a statement there that says we must do good works to be saved. But some of these evil people will attempt to ignore NOT OF WORKS there and use verse 10 to say we must continue in good works to be saved.

Romans 4 for Another Witness

Absolute madness. Crazy. Psycho. Are you serious, man??? I believe all of verse 8, 9, and 10. We are to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ FIRST. Then we are to do good works. Then we are to preach the Gospel. How will you preach the right Gospel when you aren’t even saved?

So these people who tell me that good works are going to save them aren’t doing any good works. NONE. But they stand there and tell me that good works will save them. Not good news for them. If salvation is of works, we’re all going to hell. UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT NOW.

I’ll be in hell, and you’ll be in hell. But thank God salvation is not of works. If Romans Chapter 3 wasn’t enough to convince these people, you can go to Romans Chapter 4. God continues to drive in the point that salvation is not of works in any way, shape, or form.

Romans 4:1-2
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Faith of Abraham

Are you better than Abraham out there? No way. Abraham had an actual meal with Jesus Christ. Abraham knew Jesus face to face. Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus Christ in Genesis Chapter 18. When you bring your works based salvation, you’re acting just like the Jews who killed Jesus Christ.

When you won’t believe in Jesus Christ, you might as well be saying that you would kill Him too. You aren’t a better person than Abraham. What did he find?

“For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory but not before God.” Do you really think you can stand up in front of God and bring your works up in front of Him? Do you really think you can say, “I believe in Jesus Christ AND here’s all the good works I did for salvation.”

The Folly of Works for Salvation

Do you think He’s going to be pleased with your offering, Cain Junior? Your offering is SIN. Why? Because you didn’t put your faith in Jesus Christ. Instead you said, “Look at my wonderful works.” Then Jesus professes, “I NEVER KNEW YOU.” You were never saved because you didn’t believe in Him. You professed that you believed in Him, but you didn’t. If you think any work saves you, then you don’t believe.

Romans 4:3-4
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Add your works to salvation and you are just in further debt than ever before. Dispensationalists attempt to say that Abraham was saved by his works. What fools. Blind fools. Serpents. Vipers. PURE EVIL. SCUM OF THE EARTH.

Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Do you know what Abraham did? He ONLY BELIEVED and was saved from death and hell. He didn’t add his works to salvation. If he did, he would be in hell. But he’s not.

Salvation by Faith Alone

God preached the Gospel unto Abraham, and Abraham believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:43
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Abraham was a prophet. WAS HE NOT? Are you serious if you say no he wasn’t? He 100% was a prophet. He knew that he would only be saved through the Savior that God would send. He knew to believe in that Savior to receive remission of sins. And he did it. Abraham was a sinner. He was only saved by grace through faith in THE CHRIST that God would send.

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

Faith is Counted for Righteousness

You can have all the good works for salvation, and I’ll just have faith for salvation. You’ll be in hell because you thought you were good. And I’ll be in heaven because I know Jesus is good. That’s the difference out there. I don’t profess to be good. The works based salvation people profess that.

Or, they are saying they’re going to hell and they would be right. They are their own witness. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” FAITH COUNTS for salvation. WORKS DO NOT COUNT for salvation. It really is that simple.

So remember: Get to know Romans Chapter 3 and 4 and use them during soul winning. You will run into people with a works based salvation. If someone says they are Christian, most likely they believe in a works based salvation. Here’s a bonus in Romans Chapter 4 for you.

Romans 4:6-8
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

God imputeth righteousness without works. The works based salvation people believe you must do works to get the righteousness needed for salvation. Not so.

Past, Present, Future

Look at verse 7 closely. There are 3 parts to that verse. 1) Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven. This is past tense. If salvation were of works, how would you already be forgiven? 2) Whose sins are covered. Present tense. Your sins are already covered. 3) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Future tense. God won’t count future sin.

In your soul, you are already forgiven. God seals you unto the day of redemption. How could salvation be of works that you must do in the future? Salvation is not of works. You cannot mix God’s grace to be saved with your works for salvation. The Bible says so.

Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

If salvation is by God’s grace, then is it no more of works. Otherwise grace is no more grace. Grace can’t be grace if it is works. They are opposites. If it be of works, then is it no more grace. Otherwise work is no more work. We are only saved by God’s grace. From eternity to eternity. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Clarity in 2 Timothy 1:9

If someone says they still believe that we must have works to be saved, you can continue to give them more. But, if that’s not enough, you might just end the conversation there. I want to show you more because you might use different Scriptures in different situations.

Romans 9:11
(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;)

Election or being saved by God is not of works but of him that calleth. “Whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? Believing is not a work.

The book of Galatians is another good book to use to show the people who just can’t give up the works based salvation.

Galatians 2:16
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.

The law of God doesn’t save us but shows us that we aren’t good. We don’t do everything God asks us to do or not to do. We sin against God daily. “For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

2 Timothy 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,

Giving Us a Free Gift

The Bible says this to people already saved. PAST TENSE. “Who hath saved us.” “And called us with an holy calling.” Since we are already saved, he now wants us to do good works. But they don’t save us. “And called us with an holy calling, not according to our works.” “But according to his own purpose and grace.” We see God’s grace again. NOT OF WORKS.

Everyone is saved the same way. “Which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” How could this be given to us before the world began and before you did any works at all? Good or evil. Salvation is not about you doing good works or doing evil works.

Titus 3:3-5 – Another Clear Text

Titus 3:3-5
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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;

God loves us so He sent His Son for us. Without His Son, we have no chance. OUR SAVIOR appeared. God our Savior appeared. Thank God! “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” He washed us. He cleansed our soul from sin. He gave us the gift of the Holy Ghost. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done.” Remember Titus Chapter 3 verse 5. Use it.

Now We Do Good Works

Titus 3:6-8
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

There’s God’s grace again. “Being justified by His grace.” And then we are to be careful to maintain good works. Who? “They which have believed in God.” Preaching the right Gospel is a good work. The works based salvation people can’t do this. They are doing evil works and proving more and more that they are evil.

Doing good works are good and profitable unto men. Without the right Gospel, God says to let them be accursed. The Book of James is written to the saved. The Book of James is an awesome book. Faith without works is dead means you aren’t profiting anyone else. Maintain good works and profit others. Your faith, WITHOUT WORKS, is not helping anyone else.

Revelation 3 and Works

Jesus says to love thy neighbor as thyself. How? By doing what He says. He says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” His commandment is to go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. Why? This work of preaching the Gospel doesn’t save us but saves others. This is good and profitable unto men.

One more example of something you can use that I’ve heard lately from the people who just can’t give up the works based salvation. They love to say that the churches in Revelation prove that you must do good works to be saved. When I first heard this, I was shocked. The works based salvation crowd comes up with anything.

Let me show you an example you can use.

Revelation 3:14-16
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Lukewarm Church, Not Works for Salvation

Look closely at verse 15. “I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot.” This is Jesus Christ speaking here. What does He say next? Look closely. “I would thou wert cold or hot.” He is saying that He would rather them be COLD or HOT. They are in the middle. He says that he would rather them not do any good works.

Let me say this again. He says, “I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot.” “I would thou wert cold or hot.” If works were required for them to be saved, why would Jesus say that He would rather them have none? Do you see that? Are you telling me He doesn’t want that church to be saved?

The truth is they are already saved. They are His church. They are already IN Jesus Christ.

Jude 1
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

We are already sanctified or saved by Jesus Christ. We are in Him. This is why everlasting life is forever. This everlasting life is in Jesus Christ. We sin in our flesh, but He doesn’t sin. And He never will sin. He cannot sin. This is why we have everlasting life. WE ARE IN HIM. Preserved “IN” Jesus Christ. We are not preserved “IN” ourselves through our works.

Once Saved Always Saved

Once you’re saved, you’re always saved. Once you’re saved, you have everlasting life. Jesus says, “I give unto them everlasting life.” Does He take it away? If so, it wouldn’t be everlasting. Please use all or any of these points when winning souls to Christ.

If you’re out there listening to this and still believe in a works based salvation, something is very wrong. We are not justified by our works in front of God. We are justified by our works in front of men. Men can’t see faith. God can see faith. The Bible says, “When Jesus saw their faith.” He can see faith.

Salvation is not of works and this is taught throughout the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Let’s pray.