Romans: Can Good Works Save?

October 23, 2022

When it comes to God, there are only two sides, obedience or disobedience.

There is no “middle of the road” when it comes to God.

He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.Luke 11:23

We will serve the gods of this world or we will serve the living and true God.

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.Joshua 24:15

Christians who think they can live for the world and live for Jesus are fooling themselves and dishonoring God.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.James 4:4

You will either love God or love the things of this world, but you cannot do both.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.1 John 2:15

Does Paul say we can get eternal life through doing good?

No, the only ones who have the capacity to do good are those who have been saved.

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.Mark 10:18

No, our flesh has nothing good to be offered.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.Romans 7:18

No, our good works are filthiness to God.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.Isaiah 64:6

No, we cannot be justified by the works of our flesh.

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.Galatians 2:16

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.Romans 3:20

No, the works of the flesh are anything but good.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.Galatians 5:19-21

Our only capacity to do good comes from the work of the Holy Spirit in each believer.

Good works will be evident in the lives of genuine believers.

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.Matthew 7:17-18

These good works do not constitute an earning of salvation, but are evidence of a salvation already given.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.James 2:26

All sin will be punished.

Because God is just, He cannot turn a blind eye to sin, for any reason.

God’s final punishment for sin is death and Hell.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.Revelation 20:13-15

The Jew’s covenant relationship with God is not enough to spare them from coming judgment.

Jews will skip to the head of the line. First, for salvation, but also first for wrath.

Universal sin creates a universal need for a Savior.

Everyone needs Jesus.

The only thing we can bring to our salvation is faith and repentance.

Genuine faith will bring about genuine good works.