"NOT OF WORKS!" Ephesians 2:9
Don Fortner
Grace, salvation and
eternal life in Christ are altogether independent of the works of men. This
fact should be obvious to anyone, whose mind has not been perverted by false religion.
Even the best works of the best of men, performed in the best manner possible,
are entirely without merit before God. All the works of unregenerate men and
women, their best deeds of charity, benevolence and religious duty, are utterly
abhorrent to a holy God (Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:4-9; Luke
In order for our works
to be meritorious with God, deserving of his favor or obligating him to be
merciful, they would have to be profitable and beneficial to God; and that is
impossible (Job 22:2; 35:7; Psa. 16:2). Does God lack anything? Can man, God's
fallen creature, give his Maker anything, or contribute anything to his
Creator's happiness, majesty, glory and satisfaction? Preposterous! How then
does any man hope to place the infinite, eternal God under obligation by his
works?
Our works can never earn anything from God,
simply because perfect obedience is due to God; and we cannot expect God to
reward us for doing imperfectly what we are duty bound to do perfectly (Luke
The works of men cannot
be meritorious with God, because God himself gives us the strength to perform
them (John 15:5). We cannot expect God to reward us for what God himself
performs in us and through us.
And the works of men
cannot be meritorious with God, because there is no proportion between the
works of men and the merciful favor of God. Can austerity of life make
atonement for sin? Can tithe money purchase the bliss of heaven? Can eternal
life be earned by dead ritualism? Can mercy be won by mortification? Can
salvation be gained by separation? Can heavenly rewards be earned by earthly
labor? Nonsense! See that you clearly understand this fundamental truth taught
throughout the Word of God: Good works have absolutely nothing to do with the
accomplishment, preservation, or consummation of salvation.