Making Sure

We are not saved by works. It is one of several distinctives between Christianity and every other religion. We are saved by faith apart from works through grace apart from any merit in Christ and Christ alone. There is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). This is a fact. While all other religions rely on good works and personal merit to get to the "great beyond" (whatever that is to their religion), Christianity alone stands on salvation apart from works.

"So," some people conclude, "works have nothing to do with it." These folks are often "antinomians" -- the belief that there are no rules. Pauline Dispensationalists declare a stark distinction against anything "works" related. Jesus said, "You will recognize them by their fruits" (Matt 7:20), but Jesus was before Paul. John wrote, "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning" (1 John 3:9), but John was not Paul. "No, no," they declare absolutely, "works have nothing at all to do with being a Christian." Are they right?

I affirm (again, just for clarity) that we are not saved by works. No question. On the other hand, I affirm that faith without works is dead faith (James 2:17). If you strike a match and light a fire, you will get smoke. The smoke is not the cause of the fire, but it is a necessary result. In the same way, a person who has died with Christ (Rom 6:6) and become new (2 Cor 5:17) with God at work in him/her (Php 2:13) is not saved by works, but works are the unavoidable result. To put it another way, works do not bring about salvation, but salvation does bring about works.

So what? Why does it matter? Well, it matters for a few reasons, not the least of which is that God says it is so. It matters because our works are a demonstration that we are changed and God is glorified (Matt 5:16). Beyond this, Peter says it is very important. "Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election," he says (2 Peter 3:10). Now that is important. We want assurance. We want to be confident of our salvation. How is that done? How do we confirm it? "If you practice these qualities you will never fall" (2 Peter 3:10). What qualities?

Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

That's some list. He adds, "If these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:8). So these qualities in increasing amounts can assure you that you are called and chosen.

That actually sounds daunting at the outset, but the original thinking Peter based it on is an astounding claim.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Did you see that? He has already granted it to us. "All things that pertain to life and godliness." It's ours. And He cannot fail because of His "precious and very great promises." By His divine power we "become partakers of the divine nature." Wow! No, that doesn't mean we become divine -- "little gods." It isn't pantheism or panentheism. It isn't even polytheism. It simply means that we are "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom 8:29). It means that we partake of His power and glory by His work in us. It means that we sacrifice all that we are and gain all that He is.

We come to Christ on the basis of grace through the medium of faith. "Not of works" (Eph 2:8-9). In this new relationship we are adopted as His children (John 1:12) and empowered by His Spirit (1 Cor 12:11) and we are changed. In this -- His work in our lives, manifested by changed actions and attitudes -- we can gain confidence that we actually did become new. He has already provided it (Eph 1:3ff). We can be sure -- confident. God says so.