In assembly life, how should we conduct ourselves? Should we exhibit conduct as though we were given faith whereas others were not to puff ourselves up? Or should we realize that God has given us faith by our being made in His image having the right to have the faith to believe unto the cross according to God's drawing and calling? In orther words, do you want to fellowship like Presbyterians or do you want to fellowship as Christians without the pride?
Not Faith Plus Good Works
Some may feel that, being a sinner, he ought to have good works. It is too cheap a thing to be saved simply by believing in Jesus; he should do good as well as believe in Jesus; only in this way shall his salvation be guaranteed. But this is not the teaching of the Bible. Unquestionably, the aim in God saving us is to have us to do good subsequently; for is it not stated that "we are . . . created in Christ Jesus for good works" and that we are "prepared unto every good work" (Eph. 2.10; 2 Tim. 2.21)? Do let us remember that what the Bible tells us is that good works follow salvation. It is not good works toward salvation, nor is it that faith plus good works is salvation. Do consider the fact that a little child is not able to walk before he is even born. In like manner, we must be born again before we can do good. If anyone expects to do good before he is even born, he should be shown plainly that no such possibility exists anywhere in the entire world.
"Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works" (Rom. 4.4-6). He who works earns the wages; his wages cannot be reckoned as grace but as his due. But he who does not work and yet believes—let us underline the word "believeth"—in God who justifies the sinner, has his faith reckoned to him for righteousness. Here it is no work, only faith—not faith plus something else. Keep well in mind that faith alone is sufficient. Hence David pronounces blessing upon the man whom God reckons as being righteous apart from works.
"By grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2.8-10). Verses 8 and 9 tell us that we are saved by grace and through the faith which God has given us, not at all by our own works. Then verse 10 tells us that God has saved us in order that we may do the good works which He has prepared for us beforehand. So we are saved by grace through faith; and after being saved we should do the good works which God has earlier prepared for us.
