Friday, June 12, 2009

Bible Contradiction on Grace and Works?

Rev. 20: 12-13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 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.

Matt. 16: 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Col. 1: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

2 Tim. 1: 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Tim. 4: 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

Titus 3: 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

1 Pet. 1: 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Rev. 2: 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Rev. 18: 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Rev. 22: 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Rom. 4: 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Rom. 11: 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Rom. 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Some of these talk about being rewarded by works and others say we have been saved by grace and not works. What is going on here? It issue here is that the salvation spoken of is in past tense. Therefore, the Salvation is speaking of is the present state of justification and salvation by which the Lord's righteousness is imputed to us. Without justification by grace alone, we could never merit the sanctifying presence of the Holy Ghost.

However, the reward and judgement to come is speaking of the future. When that future judgement comes, we will have had to have been empowered by Christ to sactification and to the good works that Christ will work in us. Therefore, notice that saved by grace and not by works is speaking of the present, born again, saved state. But the judged and rewarded by works speaks of the future where sactification is expected to have occured.

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