I believe what the Apostle Paul believes, what Martin Luther believed, and what many other Christians have forgotten, “That by grace you have been saved and not of yourself. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9.

  Salvation cannot be worked for, it is a free gift. So many people are working so hard for God and not giving thanksgiving because they are trying to purchase favor with God instead of believing in God. As it says in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is.” Paul stated that there was a battle of two gospels in Galatians 1:6-8. One is the true gospel, the gospel of faith, and the other is the gospel of works and the law. He even asked the Galatians this question in chapter 3:1, “who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth.” In verses 1-6, he clearly separates faith, the law, the flesh and the Spirit. In Galatians 3:10, Paul states that those who are of the works of the law are under the curse and vs11, he declares that no man can be justified by works of the law, but that those who are just live by faith.

  Many people struggle with Christianity because they see people speaking about doing many works, but not living justly or uprightly. The truth is belief in Jesus Christ and is based on faith in Him. Then whatever works we do come out of a living relationship with the living God, and not out of trying to keep some law by the power of our own flesh or our own will.

  In Romans 4:2-5, Paul gives an extremely clear description of faith vs. works declaring that works did not justify even Abraham. And in vs. 4 he states “The man who works his reward is not reckoned of grace but it owed to him by debt.” In vs. 5 he says “A man who doesn’t work, but believes on Him (Christ), it is his faith that justifies him and he is counted righteous because of his faith.”