Salvation by Grace, not Works

Salvation by Grace, not Works Introduction

Do you know for certain that you would go to heaven if you were to die this very instant?

Review

Jesus’ Authority and Divinity

Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross

Jesus’ Resurrection from the Dead

Means of Salvation: How Am I Saved?

 If you were to die tonight and give account of your life before God, what would you say in your defense?

Religions of “do” vs. “done”

Am I Saved by What I Have Done? /Am I Saved by What Jesus Did?

Matthew 5:43–48 ““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Matthew 5:43–48 is a powerful passage that deepens the contrast between “religions of do” and the “religion of done.” It’s part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He redefines righteousness—not as external rule-keeping, but as radical, heart-level transformation.

🔍 The Passage in Focus

Look at the bookends of this passage, Jesus says:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” — Matthew 5:43–44

He then concludes:

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” — Matthew 5:48

🧠 How This Fits the “Do vs Done” Framework shows us 3 things.

1. Exposes the Limits of “Do” Religion

Mere rule-following can’t produce the righteousness God requires. Jesus raises the bar far beyond external obedience. Loving enemies isn’t just hard—it’s humanly impossible without divine help. This passage shows us that . If salvation depended on our ability to “do” this perfectly, I think we would agree that we’d all fall short.

2. Reveals the Need for Grace

The command to “be perfect” isn’t a motivational slogan—it’s a diagnostic. It reveals our need for a Savior.

In the “done” gospel, Jesus fulfills this perfection on our behalf . He loved His enemies perfectly—even dying for them (Romans 5:8).

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

3. Transforms the Heart Post-Salvation

Once we’re saved by grace, this passage becomes a portrait of the life we’re empowered to live.

Loving enemies isn’t how we earn salvation—it’s how we reflect the character of the One who saved us.

🪞Summary: Not a Ladder, But a Mirror

Matthew 5:43–48 doesn’t give us a ladder to climb to heaven—it gives us a mirror to see our need for grace. It shows that true righteousness isn’t about doing more, but about being transformed by the One who has already done it all.

As we continue to let scripture answer the question Am I Saved by What I Have Done? Lets see what Paul told the church in Rome.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

This foundational verse in the Christian understanding of sin and salvation.

🔍 What It Means

No one is exempt. This levels the playing field—Jew and Gentile, religious and irreligious, moral and immoral. Everyone stands guilty before God. “All have sinned”

God’s standard is His own perfect holiness. Falling short doesn’t just mean we’re imperfect—it means we’re incapable of achieving the righteousness God requires on our own.“Fall short of the glory of God”

🧩 How It Connects to “Do vs Done”

Romans 3:23 is the death knell of “do” religion. It declares that no amount of doing can bridge the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. It sets up the need for the “done” gospel:

“...and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 3:24

So Romans 3:23–24 together form a one-two punch:

Verse 23 We’re all guilty.

Verse 24 But grace is available—not earned, but freely given its not a work of our own.

The church in Galatia struggled with faith alone in Christ alone. Paul writing to the church in Galatia has some helpful information to help us answer this question Am I Saved by What I Have Done? Take a look at

Galatians 3:10 “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.””

Galatians 3:10 is a thunderclap in Paul’s argument against salvation by works.

🔍 What It Means

Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 27:26, which pronounces a curse on anyone who fails to keep all the commandments. His point is sharp:

“All who rely on works of the law” — Anyone trying to earn God’s favor by obeying the law.

“Are under a curse” — Because the law demands perfect obedience. One failure brings condemnation.

.“Cursed be everyone…” — The law doesn’t grade on a curve. It’s pass/fail—and we’ve all failed.

🧩 How It Fits the “Do vs Done” Framework

Paul’s logic is airtight: if you want to be justified by the law, you must keep all of it, always. That’s not good news—it’s a curse. But the gospel says:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…” — Galatians 3:13

🪞In Summary

Galatians 3:10 demolishes the illusion that we can “do” our way to God. It drives us to the cross, where the curse we deserved was taken by the only One who ever truly “did” it all.

4. Jesus brother James helps us to finish answering our question of Am I Saved by What I Have Done?

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”

James 2:10 delivers a piercing truth about the nature of law and guilt.

🔍 What It Means

This verse emphasizes the unity and indivisibility of God’s law. It’s not a checklist where partial credit is given—it’s a single, seamless standard of holiness. Breaking one commandment is like shattering a single link in a chain: the whole chain fails.

“Keeps the whole law” — Even if someone obeys 99% of the law.

“Fails in one point” — One sin, one failure, one lapse.

“Guilty of all” — The law is violated as a whole, not in parts.

🧩 How It Fits the “Do vs Done” Framework

James 2:10 is a devastating blow to “do” religion. It shows that trying to earn salvation by law-keeping is a doomed strategy, because:

Perfection is required —not effort, not sincerity, not improvement.

One failure condemns —no matter how much good precedes or follows it.

This drives us to the “done” gospel:

“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” — Romans 10:4

In the “done” framework:

We don’t rely on our law-keeping.

We rely on Christ’s perfect obedience and substitutionary death.

🪞In Summary

James 2:10 is a mirror, not a ladder. It shows us our inability to “do” enough and points us to the One who has “done” it all. It’s not meant to crush us into despair—it’s meant to crush our self-reliance and lead us to grace.

We have looked a 4 passages to scripturally answer this question of Am I Saved by What I Have Done? Our passages have taught us that we are not saved by our own merit. There is nothing you could have done to be saved. Jesus did it all. So, Am I Saved by What I Have Done? Absolutely not. Jesus did it all.

What is God’s standard?

Mark 7:20–23 is Jesus’ piercing diagnosis of the human heart and showing us Gods standard. It reads:

“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” — Mark 7:20–23 (ESV)

🔍 God’s Standard in This Passage

God’s standard is not merely external obedience, but internal purity. Jesus dismantles the Pharisaic focus on ritual cleanliness and exposes the deeper issue: the heart is the source of defilement. We need a heart change!

Key Implications:

Sin is not just what we do—it’s who we are apart from grace.

God’s standard is holiness from the inside out.

External religion (“do”) cannot cleanse internal corruption.

🧩 How It Fits the “Do vs Done” Framework

Mark 7:20–23 shows that the real problem is deeper than behavior—it’s the heart. And that’s precisely why the gospel is not about doing better, but being made new, you must be born again!

🪞In Summary

God’s standard is perfect holiness, not just in action but in intention. Mark 7 exposes the futility of “do” religion and drives us to the “done” gospel, where Jesus doesn’t just forgive sin—He transforms the sinner.

Am I saved by What Jesus Did?

🌿 What Is Grace?

Grace is God’s unearned, undeserved favor. It’s not just a concept—it’s the very heart of how God relates to us in Christ.

Here’s how grace works:

The law says “do this and live”. Grace says “It is finished — now live in Me!

The law says “come and earn your place.” Grace says “I give you my place!”

The law says “you must measure up.” Grace says “I measured up for you!”

Grace means:

God gives us what we don’t deserve—forgiveness, righteousness, adoption.

God withholds what we do deserve—judgment, condemnation.

God empowers us to live a new life—not by fear, but by love.

Romans 5:20 says:

“Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”

Grace doesn’t excuse sin—it overcomes it. It’s not a license to sin, but the power to live free from it.

Romans 1:17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.””

Let’s break it down:

🔍 Key Phrases Explained

“In it” — refers to the (see verse 16). The gospel is the vehicle through which God's righteousness is revealed.

“The righteousness of God” — not just His moral perfection, but the righteous status He gives to sinners who believe. It’s a righteousness from God, not earned by us.

“Revealed from faith for faith” — a phrase that emphasizes the all-encompassing role of faith. It begins and ends with faith—faith is the entry point and the ongoing posture.

“As it is written…” — Paul quotes , anchoring the gospel in Old Testament prophecy. “As it is written…” from Habakkuk 2:4

“The righteous shall live by faith” — this is the heartbeat of the gospel: those who are declared righteous by God live—not by works, but by trusting Him.

🧠 Theological Significance

Romans 1:17 was the spark that lit the Reformation. Martin Luther wrestled with this verse until he realized that “the righteousness of God” was not a standard to achieve, but a gift to receive by faith. That realization changed his life—and the course of church history.

The righteous living by faith is grace. Its not earned nor is it deserved. Its revealed and given by God.

Romans 3:21–23 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

🧱 Verse-by-Verse Breakdown

📌 Verse 21: “But now…”

This marks a dramatic shift—from condemnation under the law (Romans 1:18–3:20) to the good news of grace.

“Righteousness of God” apart from the law is now revealed —meaning it’s not earned by obedience.

“the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it” Yet it’s not a new idea: —the Old Testament pointed to this all along.

📌 Verse 22: “Through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe”

This righteousness is received by faith, not achieved by works.

It’s for all who believe! —Jew or Gentile, religious or irreligious.

There is no distinction —because the ground is level at the foot of the cross.

📌 Verse 23: “For all have sinned…”

This is the universal diagnosis: Everyone has sinned.

To “fall short of the glory of God” means we fail to reflect His holiness and perfection.

This verse silences all boasting. No one can say, “I’m good enough.”

🕊️ Theological Weight

This passage is the hinge of the gospel in Romans. It teaches:

Justification is by grace, not law.

Faith is the only means of receiving righteousness.

All are equally in need—and equally invited.

As one commentary puts it, “This is the greatest answer to the greatest question: How can a sinner be made right with God?”.— Grace!

Galatians 3:10–14 “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”

This passage teaches that relying on the law brings a curse, but Christ redeemed us by becoming a curse for us—so that by faith—Grace, we receive the blessing promised to Abraham and the gift of the Spirit.

🔍 Key Themes and Meaning

The Curse of the Law (v.10):

Paul quotes Deuteronomy 27:26 to show that the law demands perfect obedience. Anyone who fails at even one point is under a curse.

Justification by Faith (v.11):

Paul cites Habakkuk 2:4—“The righteous shall live by faith”—to prove that right standing with God has always been by faith, not law.

Law vs. Faith (v.12):

The law operates on a principle of (“The one who does them shall live by them”), while faith operates on trusting. These are fundamentally different paths.

Christ Became a Curse (v.13):

Jesus took the curse upon Himself by dying on a cross (referencing Deuteronomy 21:23). This is the heart of substitutionary atonement: He took our curse so we could receive His blessing

Blessing of Abraham (v.14): The result? Gentiles (non-Jews) are included in the promise to Abraham—not by law, but by faith. And we receive the Holy Spirit as the seal of that promise.

✝️ Theological Impact

This passage is a thunderclap in Paul’s argument:

Law-keeping cannot save. It only exposes our failure.

Faith in Christ brings redemption. He bore the curse we deserved.

The gospel is for all people. Jew and Gentile alike are justified by faith and receive the Spirit.

This is the gospel in motion: from curse to blessing, from law to grace, from exclusion to inclusion—all through Christ.

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

🧠 What It Means

These verses are a theological cornerstone of the gospel of grace. Let’s unpack them:

“By grace” — Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It means He saves us not because we deserve it, but because He is kind.

“You have been saved”— Salvation is a completed action. It’s not a future hope or a reward—it’s a present reality for those who believe.

“Through faith”— Faith is the means by which we receive salvation. It’s not a work; it’s trust in what Christ has done.

“Not your own doing… not a result of works” — Paul is emphatic: salvation is not based on human effort, religious performance, or moral achievement.

“It is the gift of God”— Like any true gift, it’s freely given and cannot be earned.

“So that no one may boast”— This levels the playing field. No one can claim credit for their salvation—it’s all God’s doing.

As the bible has shown us we cannot save ourselves! Its only because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross that we can be saved.

So, do works or good deeds even matter? 

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

🧱 What This Verse Teaches

Ephesians 2:10 follows the declaration that salvation is by grace through faith (vv. 8–9), and it completes the thought by showing the result of that salvation:

“We are His workmanship”— The Greek word used for workmanship (poiēma) means “masterpiece” or “work of art.” You are handcrafted by God, not mass-produced.

“Created in Christ Jesus”— This refers to the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). You’ve been spiritually reborn with a new identity and purpose.

“For good works” — These are not random acts of kindness. They are divinely appointed tasks that reflect God’s character and extend His love.

“Which God prepared beforehand”— Your good works are part of God’s eternal plan. He’s already laid out the path—you’re invited to walk in it.

“That we should walk in them”— This is a call to daily obedience. Not to earn favor, but to live out the grace you’ve received.

🔁 Grace and Works: The Right Order We work because of the grace we have been shown, we don’t work to obtain Grace.

Good works are the fruit, not the root, of salvation. They matter because:

They (Matthew 5:16)glorify God

They (Galatians 6:10)bless others

They (2 Peter 1:10)confirm your calling

They (James 2:17)demonstrate faith

Conclusion

“Every day of our Christian experience should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone...Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.  And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.” – Jerry Bridges

If you’ve been carrying the weight of “doing enough,” let this be the moment you lay it down. The gospel isn’t a call to climb higher—it’s a call to come closer. Not by effort, but by faith. Not by performance, but by grace.

Jesus didn’t come to improve your resume. He came to take your place.

So whether you feel unworthy or self-assured, the invitation is the same: Come to the cross. Rest in what’s been done. Walk in what’s been prepared. If you would like to know how you can rest in Jesus finished work come see me afterward.