“And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34a)
But not into it.
Pick and choose is the path of those who say that the Law, the Ten Commandments, at least some of the Mosaic Law, and perhaps a sprinkling of the Levitical Laws are necessary requirements for salvation, and Paul would say the exact same thing to them that he said to the Galatians.
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Gal. 3:1)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
If you will spend time contemplating the Scriptures, listening to the Holy Spirit reveal its truths to you, while at the same time not only look back through history, but at the days we live in, you will see that in all reality the only weapon that Satan has against salvation by grace through faith is salvation by works, either solely by them or as an added necessity to grace. And it really is all he needs, for the pride of man needs only a little nudging to accept that lie.
Nearly every book of the Word of God states that only by grace through faith can a man be justified, that no works can be added to His grace that will be counted as worthy, yet nearly every church preaches that some work is required. At the least baptism, perhaps Sunday being set aside as a special day of rest, not forsaking the assembly together, much less those who profess that adherence to the Ten Commandments is a requirement for salvation.
“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” (Gal. 4:9)
It matters not which one these you choose to adhere to, pick any one of them or pick them all, if you believe this lie of works, you will be the same as the one our Savior spoke to that day, you will not be far from the Kingdom of the Almighty, but you will not enter into it.
Every single work that man attempts to justify as necessary for his salvation is nothing less than saying that the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ was not enough, that He alone could not bear the entirety of our sins, that His sacrifice was not sufficient for our salvation, and that the Most High will not accept His work on the cross until we add something to it.
Blasphemy in the extreme.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18)
Everyone in hell knows these truths, everyone there thought that they were doing something in this life that the Living God would accept, and everyone there today realizes that Jesus paid it all.
But people do not like the word grace, it keeps them out of the equation, it removes every attempt of theirs to add to the Lord’s sacrifice and leaves them completely at His mercy. It is the only option left to our adversary, and the pride of man makes his work in this area much easier.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22)
Read that verse again, what do you see? “We.” Pride. Works.
Those who have been born-again have cast themselves at the foot of the cross, the blood has covered them, not one work of theirs shines through that blood, not one deed done, completely at the mercy of His grace.
Those who will not believe these truths, those who believe that a work, any work, must be performed by them for their salvation have little other choice than to believe this lie also, that there is some work, some deeds that they must continue performing throughout the entirety of their lives, or that salvation that they believe that in some part was earned by them will be lost or removed.
Grace or works. Your choice.
