Salvation by works or by grace?

Salvation by works or grace?

How can we be saved, by works or by grace? St. Paul ( Eph. 2: 8-9 ) assures us that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, but by St. James ( James 2: 12-26 ) points out that our faith is worth nothing without works. Who should we listen to and whom to believe? Or maybe we are making a mistake in the question itself, maybe we should not oppose grace to our deeds, treating them as two opposite poles? Maybe these are concepts that interpenetrate and we really save ourselves by works? When I read carefully the text of the Gospel ( Matt 7: 21-27 ) I learn from Jesus that without works I cannot be saved. It is clear in this text that Jesus describes the final judgment through the prism of works and does not mention grace at all. The only objection that he has to the defendants is the lack of deeds, small but specific actions, i.e. simply deeds – because what is giving a cup of water or visiting a sick person if not by deed. Unfortunately, I am not convinced by the slogan – “Hallelujah and forward”, or by predestination. The topic that I took up is long and requires a detailed analysis, but without major complications, it can also be concluded that works are a kind of a condition of salvation and it agrees with the text of Jacob that faith without works is worth nothing. This is also confirmed by Jesus in the passage mentioned above ( Matthew 7: 21-27). Here we see very clearly people who confess the name of Jesus, perform great miracles in His name, and are sure of their salvation. Recently I talked to some liberated Baptists for a while – I don’t know what the new Protestant faction is, but that’s what they called themselves (no matter what the rest) asked me if I was sure of salvation. I replied that the topic was not simple and asked them the same. As expected, the gentlemen were sure of their salvation because they gave their lives to Jesus, confessed His name and used power. I quoted the above Gospel passage to them, and they said that this is the evidence of salvation without works, because it is not because of healing or miracles that you can be saved. I am glad that I spoke to them because I realized the source of the problem. They mistook works for gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit are not works, a gift is a gift, if I get it, I can use it, if I don’t get it, I won’t be able to use it even if I want to. It is completely different with works. I think this difference is crucial and explains everything. The gifts are given to help us build the church, they are often spectacular, and even if more hidden, they are always accompanied by the temptation to feel unique. Everyone with God’s gift grapple with this temptation (though not everyone succumbs to it). Gifts, therefore, are what we willingly use, and without going into intentions – whether it is a desire to exist in the church or a simple desire to help others, always using the gifts of the Spirit will be accompanied by pleasure. For who, having God’s gift, will not use it with joy? It is different with works, works require love. Love as we learn from the Scriptures is effort, toil ( 1 Thess. 1: 3) and without love we are unable to selflessly do the smallest thing for another human being. That is why the Church calls this phenomenon works of mercy, because works are directly connected with love. It is not about some form of sentimental pseudo love with which we should do something for others, nor is it about any emotional elation – that a deed from God is given with feeling and sincere willingness. Works performed in God are ordinary everyday life, damn effort often paid with reluctance. It is our own contribution to generating love from ourselves. Love is a daily murderous struggle with oneself (“ Who struggles harder than the one who tries to overcome himself ” T. of Kempis), Love is this effort based on an act of will that we make to fight our selfishness, weaknesses, and finally be able to give something to someone without looking for benefit, without counting on gratitude or a sense of joy, give it to him because he needs it, and that’s why. In this parable, Jesus makes a very clear distinction between gifts and works, and it is works that he makes as the cause of salvation. It is enough to see the attitude of the judged: both were surprised by the Lord’s decision, the first was sure of his salvation – he says … Lord Lord, I used your gifts – where is my reward? Jesus replies, go away, you who do iniquity do not know you. Jesus says to the other one – welcome, enter into the joy of your Lord, He replies – how, why? – because when I was in practical need, you helped me. Oddly enough, Jesus does not mention grace at all, He does not care whether someone used His gifts or called Him Lord, only the usual little things such as a cup of water, clothes, a piece of bread, a visit to the hospital, prison, It is important not only listen, but most of all perform. Does this mean grace is unnecessary? Well, no, grace is even necessary, it is the basis of salvation, it is practically everything, without God’s grace we would not even be able to dream of salvation. I think that grace and works are opposed to a misunderstanding of what grace is. When someone tries to separate grace from deeds, it means that grace is something of a destiny for him – “ you are already saved, do what you want, you only have to listen to me, your sins are forgiven just repeat every day that I am your master “. This is the thinking that justifies the rejection of works as an unnecessary burden on the way for an already saved, sanctified, singing Christian. Unfortunately, grace does not work like that, grace is an opportunity, it is a gift that must be reached, it is everything at the same time, but it requires our effort and action. Therefore grace is not predestination, it is not assigned to one and not to another. Grace has been placed before every person, God has spoken to every person through Christ’s cross, I want to save you, I open the door of my house for you, I invite you to a feast. But the presence of grace does not settle everything, because we learn from the next parable ( Matt 22: 11-14 ) that when such a wedding guest enters a feast without a wedding garment, the host says – hey … what are you here are you doing Are you naked shoving in here? Get out of here. Grace is everything, because God, out of love, keeps this world in existence, and it is this grace that gives possibilities from existence in general to salvation, everything depends on it, but not without our participation, it is therefore a possibility, not a guarantee. Grace does not select, does not provide anything, and does nothing itself. Just because you are invited to the feast does not mean that you will be welcome. In the same way, works cannot become by themselves an opportunity (an invitation) for a twenty-four hour of grace, without an invitation the most beautiful wedding garment will do nothing. Therefore, you cannot oppose grace and works, they must be combined so that they permeate each other, we need an invitation and a robe, because one without the other leaves us behind the heavenly feast. So I can say that by works alone I cannot be saved, but by the lack of works I can be condemned – therefore salvation is from Ł U A CZ S Y K N I KÓW

I once heard a story told by a priest that carried with it a simple truth that all Christians know, but when I heard this story, this truth somehow reached my consciousness and stuck (I hope) Permanently.

It was happening somewhere in India. A nun looked after a leper on the street, the sight of this man was disgusting, not to mention the smell. A Hindu saw the whole incident and asked a nun why she was doing it and if she knew that Indian women would not want to do it for any money. The nun replied that she would not like to do it for any money either. The Indian asked why are you doing this then? Because in this man Christ suffers.

I have always tried to see Jesus in another person, or rather, I tried to see Him in the behavior of that person. Somehow I missed the idea of ​​seeing Jesus Christ in human suffering, and in general that He could participate in this suffering. That is why the works of mercy are so important, because bending over to the suffering and needy Christ requires faith and love, which are expressed in practical actions that cost effort.

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