Why I Believe Salvation of Faith Plus Works is Still Salvation by Works
Just right now, I've begun another study on Galatians for the nth time. There is the known history of people called the Judaizers. The Judaizers were trying to inject faith plus works doctrine into the community. They appeared to be saved people but demanded that people must do good works too in order to be saved. This has been an ongoing subtle deception where you've got people who say, "We believe in God's saving grace and that Jesus died for our sins!" However, they also say stuff like, "You can't be sure that you're saved. You must still do good works!" That would be trying to mix the worldly gospel of self-preservation and God's preservation. Such a doctrine is commonly taught in pseudo-Christian groups such as Roman Catholicism and Seventh Day Adventism (SDA). Both Roman Catholicism and the SDA organization may rival each other but both are rooted in the same heresy of faith plus works. You also have other quack preachers like Daniel Corner of Evangelical Outreach who does a lot of double talk and double-mindedness too. Corner is a guy who just can't make up his mind!
Why do I think that faith plus works salvation would still be work salvation overall? Consider Ephesians 2:8-10. True, Ephesians 2:10 says that Christians are equipped to do good works. However, there's a difference between equipped unto good works vs. salvation by good works. Consider the fact Ephesians 2:8-9 says you are saved by grace through faith and it's not of good works. Good works are the natural consequence of salvation by grace through faith. Titus 2:11-14 shows true salvation results to good works. Titus 3:15 says it's God's mercy that saves. 1 Corinthians 6:11 states that such were some of the Corinthians before they were saved. If you think of using 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 to justify works salvation then consider Romans 3:10. Nobody is righteous. James 2:10-11 says that you can't even work for your salvation. Romans 11:6 says that salvation is either of faith or of works - it can't be both.
Those who adhere to the doctrine says that eternal security brings to use the doctrine of Antinomianism. Well, there's a problem with Antinomianism and its twisted view of eternal security. The Antinomian thinks that salvation exempts them from following the law. However, true eternal security as taught is better known as the preservation or perseverance of the saints. The perseverance of the saints teaches that true believers can't fall away. I used to struggle with the doctrine of eternal security thinking it's possible to renounce your faith. Then I thought maybe yes and maybe no. Then I thought of re-reading the pamphlet I received about eternal security that true believers never depart. 1 John 2:19 shows that true believers stay and that sit-ins will reveal themselves ultimately. The likes of Corner (and many other conditional security teachers) have read that verse yet refuses to renounce his arrogance-based doctrine. True eternal security teaches that true Christians will endure to the end even if they're not yet perfect.
Those who adhere to the doctrine says that eternal security brings to use the doctrine of Antinomianism. Well, there's a problem with Antinomianism and its twisted view of eternal security. The Antinomian thinks that salvation exempts them from following the law. However, true eternal security as taught is better known as the preservation or perseverance of the saints. The perseverance of the saints teaches that true believers can't fall away. I used to struggle with the doctrine of eternal security thinking it's possible to renounce your faith. Then I thought maybe yes and maybe no. Then I thought of re-reading the pamphlet I received about eternal security that true believers never depart. 1 John 2:19 shows that true believers stay and that sit-ins will reveal themselves ultimately. The likes of Corner (and many other conditional security teachers) have read that verse yet refuses to renounce his arrogance-based doctrine. True eternal security teaches that true Christians will endure to the end even if they're not yet perfect.
This also goes for the doctrine of conditional security too. If my salvation depends on how I live then that's works salvation. If my salvation results in changing the way I live then that's salvation by faith. So why am I still doing good works if I believe in the doctrine of eternal security? It's because I may not be perfect but there is the grace of God. I have been saved from a life of sin. I have the gratefulness that makes me wish I could get rid of all my sinful desires. If good works were necessary to keep one saved then it still is works salvation. It would nullify Jesus' purpose of defeating sin on the cross so you can be saved from it. Should I mention that conditional security is a license to the sin of arrogance? The Christian's perseverance is nothing to do with getting saved or staying saved. Rather, the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is the fruit of salvation.
The big problem of faith plus works is once again rooted in pride and double talk. Roman Catholicism and other pseudo-Christian cults try to present themselves as a Christian church yet they are full of lies. How often is the Lenten season celebrated announcing Jesus died as a sacrifice for sins yet refuses to believe in the penal substitution atonement which is biblical? How often did Roman Catholicism teach salvation of faith plus the sacraments and the priests who cannot save anyone for eternity? It was pride that caused Satan to fall from Heaven. It was pride that caused Haman his neck on the gallows. It was pride that caused the Pharaoh of the Exodus to lead his army to drown into the Red Sea. The doctrine of faith plus works is no different from the doctrine of self-salvation. It's already taught in pagan religion for centuries where people must have faith in their gods but must also good works to get saved. What's worse is that many people who add works to faith end up living like Antinomians instead.
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