The Contrast Between Faith And Works In The Pauline Epistles

• Paul's Epistle To The Romans:

          -A freely received gift and an earned wage are mutually exclusive concepts (Romans 4:4). A man who works receives only what is owed to him for the time that he gives.

          -Justification in the sight of God is not earned as a result of what one has done, but is received by those who have no good works to prove claims of personal merit (Romans 4:5).

          -Abraham was declared righteous on the basis of his faith rather than his circumcision (Romans 4:9-12). Faith is contrasted with circumcision, which is a type of good work.

          -The promise of God to Abraham and his descendants comes not through the Law but by faith (Romans 4:13).
          -The promises of God to those who have faith would be made of no effect, if righteousness came through the Law (Romans 4:14).

          -Faith is consistent with grace in order that the promises of God to Abraham and his descendants be brought to fulfillment (Romans 4:16). The Law brings forth condemnation (Romans 4:15).

• Paul's Epistle To The Galatians:

          -The Holy Spirit is received by faith, not "works of the Law" or "the flesh" (Galatians 3:2-3). Him residing in a believer's heart is not a product of one's own labor.

          -Those who depend on faith, not works of the Law, are regarded as children of Abraham in the sight of God (Galatians 3:6-9).

          -Dependence on works of the Law for salvation brings about the curse of eternal condemnation (Galatians 3:10-14).

          -The inheritance that we receive through the promises of God depends on His grace, not Law (Galatians 3:15-18).

• Paul's Epistle To The Ephesians:

          -We have been saved by grace through faith, not as a result of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Paul used the terms "works" and "works of the Law" interchangeably, thereby giving them both the same meaning.

• Paul's Epistle To The Philippians:

          -We serve God in the Spirit, placing no confidence in the flesh or our own efforts at getting right with Him (Philippians 3:3).

          -Even though the Apostle Paul could point to the deeds of the flesh that he performed in his days as a Pharisee (Philippians 3:4-6), he gave all that up for faith in Christ (Philippians 3:7).

          -Paul regarded his fleshly works done under the Law as rubbish in order that he be known by Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:8).

          -We receive righteousness from God on the basis of faith, not by deeds performed under the Law (Philippians 3:9).

• Paul's Second Epistle To Timothy:

          -We are saved and called to serve God by His grace through our faith in Him, not because of our own righteousness (2 Timothy 1:9). When He commissioned Paul to a life of divine service, it was not because of anything that he did to deserve that position. In fact, his persecution of the people of God made him a most unworthy candidate for working among them. Divine grace played a role in his life, and often works in ways that we would not expect. Zechariah 4:6 says, "...Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty."

• Paul's Epistle To Titus:

          -We are saved by the grace and mercy of God, not on the basis of good works (Titus 3:5). It would only make sense for the apostle to make that statement here because he emphasized godly living, and would not want his message to be confused with that of the legalists.