I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      For many years, men have debated over the role of works in Christians’ lives, and this debate has been characterized by two extreme viewpoints.

                                                             1.      One extreme viewpoint is that works do not save us, so they are of no value regarding salvation.

                                                             2.      The other extreme viewpoint is that Christ will judge us for our works, so obedience to Him is all that matters.

B.      Our concern should not be about the opinions of man, but rather we should consult the word of God.

                                                             1.      Christ said, "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48).

                                                             2.      When we receive the word of Christ, then we will clearly understand the role of works in our lives so that we can stand prepared for judgment at the last day.

II.      NOT SAVED BY WORKS

A.      First of all, we need to understand what salvation means.

                                                             1.      Salvation implies a need to be saved.  It means that one is in danger and needs to be rescued.

                                                             2.      Regarding our spiritual state, salvation means a rescue from the danger to our souls that exists because of our sin.  Because "the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23a) and "the soul who sins will die” (Ezek. 18:4), we need someone to rescue us from death.

B.      With that understanding, we see that we cannot save ourselves by any means and therefore need a Savior.

                                                             1.      Anytime a person is in danger and can save himself, he will do so.  However, if he cannot save himself, then he cries out for someone else to save him.

                                                             2.      No one can save himself from death.  Thankfully, God has given Christ Jesus as the only Savior who can rescue us from the danger of death through sin.  Consider a small sampling of Scripture passages that testify of our Savior Jesus.

a.       "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

b.       "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” (Heb. 2:14-15)

c.        "We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1John 4:14)

                                                             3.      Because we cannot rescue ourselves and Christ is the Savior we need, our salvation is completely dependent upon the grace of God, which led to the Savior’s coming, and our trusting faith that He can and will rescue us from death.  Notice a few passages to this point:

a.       "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

b.       God "has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2Tim. 1:9).

III.   JUDGED BY WORKS

A.      Although our works cannot save us, the Bible emphasizes that they will be the centerpiece of each person’s judgment before Christ.

                                                             1.      The importance of our own words and deeds in the judgment is undeniable.  The Scriptural evidence is overwhelming and must not be overlooked.

                                                             2.      All of the following passages of Scripture emphasize our works as the basis of judgment by Christ at the resurrection in the last day.

a.       Matthew 7:21-23 – False claims of allegiance to Christ and great works in His name will be met with rejection by the Lord.  Instead, Christ says, "he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (v. 21) will enter the kingdom of heaven.  See also Luke 6:46.

b.       Matthew 25:31-46 – Those who serve Christ by feeding His hungry and thirsty brothers, sheltering His homeless brothers, clothing His naked brothers, visiting His sick brothers, and coming to His imprisoned brothers will inherit the kingdom and eternal life.

c.        Luke 13:24-30 – Simply having an acquaintance with Jesus will not be enough to enter the house of God.  He will say those who simply claim to have known Him, "I do not know where you are from; depart from me, all you evildoers” (v. 27).

d.       Romans 2:1-11 – God "will render to every man according to his deeds” (v. 6).  The "judgment of God falls upon those who do such [evil] things” (v. 2).  Those who do good will be rewarded (vv. 7, 10), but those who do evil will be punished (vv. 8-9).

e.        Romans 2:12-16 – The "doers of the law will be justified” (v. 13) and their conscience will bear witness (v. 15) on the day when "God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus” (v. 16).

f.        2Corinthians 5:10 – "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

g.        Ephesians 6:7-8 – "With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.”

h.       2Thessalonians 1:6-10 – "Those who do not know God and…do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (v. 8) will receive retribution and "the penalty of eternal destruction” (v. 9) when Christ "comes to be glorified in His saints on that day” (v. 10).

i.         James 2:12 – "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.”

j.         1Peter 1:17 – "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.”

k.       2Peter 3:1-15 – When Lord returns and this world is destroyed in fire, we must be found in "holy conduct and godliness” (v. 11) and "in peace, spotless and blameless” (v. 14).

l.         Revelation 20:12 – "And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”

B.      Notice a few points regarding the works for which we are to be judged.

                                                             1.      Our works must comply with God’s will rather than our own will.

a.       We cannot do as we please and then be rewarded as if we have acted by the Lord’s authority.  "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Col. 3:17)

b.       It is God’s will and design for us in Christ Jesus that we do these good deeds.  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

                                                             2.      Our works must be our own and not those of others.

a.       All of the passages above deal with what we have done personally.  We will stand on our own records and no one else’s.  We cannot ride anyone’s coattails into heaven.  Our destiny is not determined by the works of our parents, grandparents, or anyone else.

b.       None of the passages above describe whole churches being judged together.  Therefore, membership in a faithful, local church is not a guarantee of heaven.  Each member will stand in judgment by his own deeds.

                                                             3.      Judging the works of others is not a work itself.

a.       Many of us have become experts in identifying the errors of others’ works, yet not many of us are experts in performing the works correctly ourselves.  Will the Lord have more tolerance for those who accomplish good through the wrong means or those who do no good at all?

b.       Let us remember the words of James 1:27 – "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      The bottom line is that we cannot save ourselves by any works we do, but we will be judged according to whether or not we do the works Christ expects of His followers.

B.      Therefore, the debate over works is settled.

                                                             1.      Let those who want to dismiss works learn that they will be judged by their works.

                                                             2.      Let those who try to be saved by works learn to say, "We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done” (Luke 17:10).