It is commonly taught amongst so-called Christian circles, that Salvation is through Grace alone (sola gratia), and that works have no bearing on our salvation. And like many pernicious false teachings, this is a combination of Truth and error. It is perfectly true to say that we cannot earn salvation through works: in the often quoted passage, Paul teaches that: “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” (Eph. 2:8). But Paul does not end there, he continues: “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”. So it is that in the very passage cited to disparage good works, the apostle specifically states that we need to “walk in them.”
The truth of the matter is that a believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ is not at liberty to please his/herself in the way that they live their lives. Not that they can earn salvation by works, but rather that they should conduct themselves in a way appropriate to being disciples of Christ. This is plainly taught in our New Testament reading for today:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation build an house upon the earth: against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (Lu. 6:46-49).
Here is a warning to the sola gratia apologists: there will be those who profess the Lordship of Jesus, who he will reject (Mat. 7:23). As cited above, he will ask: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Lu. 6:46).
Notice that the basis for their rejection is the fact that they “do not” the things which he says. This is precisely the situation of those of whom we speak: they acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, but deny the necessity of doing the things he commands, for his approval. And according to the Lord in that day, he will deny any relationship with them: “I never knew you”.
This parable of the Lord which immediately follows on from these words, was given to make this very point. The man who built his house upon earth is he that “doeth not” the things Christ said, and the man who built his house upon a rock is he that “doeth them”. The one survived, the other suffered the ruin of his house, which “was great”. Hence it is important to “do” the commandments of Christ!
LAYING THE FOUNDATION
It is much easier to lay a foundation upon the earth than to dig down into the rock. But that which is the easiest option in life is often the least wise – as evidenced by the outcome of each housebuilder. So it is, that to dig down into the rock is necessary to lay “a good foundation against the time to come” (1 Tim. 6:19). There are various aspects to this foundation. The writer to the Hebrews exhorts: “therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Heb. 6:1). Hence we learn that laying a foundation is one of the first principles to be followed, and that it involves repentance and faith.
Again, Paul describes the ecclesia:
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:19-22).
Here, the foundation is that of the ecclesial house (cp. Heb. 3:6), rather than a personal dwelling, as in the parable of Christ. But the same principle holds true: the foundation is the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets – and the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence it is also written:
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:10-11).
Notice the two aspects: the foundation is that which is laid by the Apostle (as per Ephesians 2, cited above), yet it consists solely of Jesus Christ. Sometimes our adversaries take us to task, as our Statement of Faith (the BASF) states this as the Foundation clause:
“That the book currently known as the Bible, consisting of the Scriptures of Moses, the prophets, and the apostles, is the only source of knowledge concerning God and His purposes at present extant or available in the earth, and that the same were wholly given by inspiration of God in the writers, and are consequently without error in all parts of them, except such as may be errors of transcription or translation” (The Foundation, BASF).
Hence it is said that this is wrong, Jesus Christ is the only foundation, not a doctrine of inspiration. But this misses the point entirely! Yes, Jesus Christ is the only foundation, as per above. But the only source of knowledge that we have about that fact, is in the inspired Scriptures! This is how on the one hand, the only foundation is stated to be Jesus Christ only, and on the other, it is also described as “the foundation of the apostles and prophets” – this latter aspect is true because the doctrine of the apostles and prophets testified the truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. The point of the Foundation Clause of the BASF is that the Foundation is what the Scriptures teach concerning the Lord Jesus Christ!
A similar principle is illustrated by Messiah’s words concerning the confession of Peter:
“Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my ecclesia; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mat. 16:16-18)
Here, Jesus said to Peter that “upon this rock” would his ecclesia be built – and the “rock” is evidently his testimony and witness that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. Hence it is the testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning Jesus that comprises the foundation laid – and our Statement of Faith follows the same principle. So the ecclesial house is built upon an impregnable Rock!
THE NEED FOR DILIGENCE
As we mentioned above, to dig down to the rock is more difficult than to build upon the earth. And on a superficial level, there would appear to be no difference – the foundations are unseen until the storms come. On a sunny day, both houses will look identical – yet when the weather changes, there is no endurance for the sand-based house to withstand the stormy winds. So it is that great diligence is required of the disciple of Christ to dig deep:
“without faith it is impossible to please him [i.e. God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).
Again, Paul exhorted:
“we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises …” (Heb. 6:11-12).
Those who see no need for works in the grand scheme of salvation are slothful, and do not exercise diligence to dig deep to reach the rock bed. Supposing that all the work is done for them, they by their own confession do nothing. That is the easy way, yet the outcome will demonstrate how foolish it really is. To dig deep implies an intentional effort: one will not reach the rock by chance: it requires a focused resolve to shovel away the dirt and rubble, in order to build an enduring edifice upon the uncovered rock.
THE TESTIMONY OF JAMES
James has much to say in his inspired Epistle regarding our subject. Consider the following:
“yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas. 2:18-20)
And again:
“but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (Jas 1:22).
These words are so contradictory to the sola gratia mantra, that Martin Luther famously called the entire book a “right strawy epistle” (compared to the “gold” of other epistles) in his 1522 preface to the New Testament, and rejected its apostolic authenticity. However, we believe that rather than to reject those passages of Scripture which do not accord to our beliefs and preconceptions, it is far better to correct what we believe. As Brother Thomas wrote: “Investigate everything you believe: if it is the truth, it cannot be injured thereby; if error, the sooner it is corrected the better”. The only standard by which beliefs can be determined to be true or false is the Bible: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa. 8:20).
Those self-confessed do-nothings who think it not necessary to set their hand to working the plough (Lu. 9:62), are builders upon earth, or sand (Mat. 7:26). Rather than being firmly founded upon the Apostolic testimonies concerning Messiah, they position themselves on the shifting sands of men’s opinion, and so do not have the strength to endure hardships for Christ’s sake. So the Lord taught in his parable of the Sower:
“some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away” (Mat. 13:5-6).
And the interpretation is given:
“he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended …” (Mat. 13:20-21).
The metaphor is different, but the lesson similar: it is necessary to dig down to the rock, or be deeply rooted, in order to survive the onslaught of adverse circumstances. James also uses the same figure:
“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways” (Jas. 1:9-11).
The days are near when the wrath of God shall be manifested in His judgment of the kingdom of men. When the stormy winds fulfil His Word (Psa. 148:8), those who have not laboured to build the house appropriately will be overthrown. The people of Israel were condemned for their lack of building commitment:
“Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace, and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar; Say unto them which daub it with untempered mortar, that is shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones shall fall, and a stormy wind shall rend it” (Eze. 13:10-12).
In the day of coming judgment, every man’s work – or lack thereof will be laid bare to Divine scrutiny. Those who the Master never knew will fall, whereas those who laboured to build deep, will be preserved. As it is written: “the fear of the wicked shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation” (Prov. 10:24-25). It is not enough to be inactive hearers of the Word, we must be doers also, lest we deceive our own selves (Jas. 1:22). Only those who are doers of the work “shall be blessed in his deed” (Jas. 1:25), and only they are those who the Master will acknowledge, and invite into his kingdom.
Christopher Maddocks
