Law or Grace — You Cannot Have Both!

Galatians 5:4

 

Most religious people attempt to mix manŐs works of obedience to the law with GodŐs works of grace for sinners, making salvation a mixture of works and grace. Fallen men have been attempting to mix law and grace since the days of Cain and Abel. Very few are the blasphemers who openly assert, ŇSalvation is by works;Ó but almost everyone believes it. When salvation by GodŐs free grace alone is plainly declared, lost religionists cling to and defend their works, denouncing the one who dares to affirm that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone as a promoter of licentiousness and a vile antinomian, Yet, the truth must be declared in plain, unmistakable terms.

 

Mutually Exclusive

 

Grace and works are mutually exclusive. They annihilate one another. If we are saved by our own works in any way, to any degree, in whole or in part, then we are not saved by the grace of God. If we are saved by the grace of God alone, then we are not saved by our own works of obedience to the law of God (Romans 11:6). The doctrine of Holy Scripture is unmistakable. — The whole work of salvation (election, redemption, regeneration, sanctification, preservation and glorification) is by the grace of God alone (Romans 8:28-30; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:8-9}.

 

Heretical Doctrine

 

All churches, religions and systems of doctrine which teach salvation by the works of the law are heretical. I mean to be understood. I am saying that any teaching that says sinners are justified, given favor with God, sanctified, preserved, or shall inherit the reward of heavenly glory upon the basis of their own personal obedience to the law of God is legalism, anti-christ and damning to all who receive it (Galatians 5:1-4).

 

Sanctification Too

 

This gospel doctrine of salvation by grace alone does, most certainly, extend even to the believerŐs sanctification in Christ. To be sanctified is to be set apart by God for holy service, declared to be holy and actually made holy. If, as all agree, sanctification is that without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14), then sanctification can no more be a matter of works than justification. That is precisely what the Word of God declares. The Bible nowhere presents sanctification as a conditional thing, depending upon the believerŐs works. Like every other aspect of salvation, sanctification is an unconditional work of grace, performed for us and in us by the triune God (Jude 1, Hebrews 10:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). — ŇBy grace ye are saved!Ó — ŇSalvation is of the Lord!Ó

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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