Does God count any of our good works for Salvation?
Answers to Bible Questions
Scriptures are from the King James Bible
(Q) Does God count any of our good works for Salvation?
(A) The short answer is NO, not today, because we are all under God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8-9: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Galatians 2:21 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Paul is pointing out that one would deny the grace of God by accepting Christ’s atonement and then viewing His atonement as having little value reverting back to the law (or good works); in order to secure salvation. Paul does not attempt to nullify God’s grace by doing good works or keeping the law for salvation.
Below are seven more verses showing that today we are not under the law or works for salvation:
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Romans 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Romans 9:31-32 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore; Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone.
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.
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.
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,
itus 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.
Salvation is not of works today, but after salvation, then God wants us to do good works, Ephesians 2:10-13: 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Man has inherited Adam’s sin nature from the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when they disobeyed God’s command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So, sinful man cannot do any good works or law keeping that will pay the penalty for their sins. Only Christ who was God in the flesh could pay the penalty for our sins by shedding His Holy precious blood for the remission of our sins, Ephesians 1:7: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Forgiveness means separating the sinner from his sin. This was accomplished at Calvary by Christ when He died for our sins, transferring our sins to Himself at the Cross and giving us His Holy Righteousness.
Our part today is not doing good works or keeping the law, but believing the gospel as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
Epesians 1:13-14: 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Titus 3:5-7: 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; 6 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.
Romans 5:8-10: 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 5:17: 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Romans 5:19::19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
II Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Ephesians 2:13-16: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Colossians 2:14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.
We are living in the dispensation of God’s grace today, not under works or law keeping. Paul was given this new message by God to give to us for the last two thousand years, Ephesians 3:1-9: 9 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Our Churches are not teaching these things, so no wonder very few believe what God is really telling us through His real Word, the truth through the KJB bible.
If you believe you are going to heaven because of your good works, you have not being reading the bible as it tells us to do, II Timothy 2:15. You can look this verse up for your self and put into practice what it say’s.
Have a wonderful and blessed day.
John