Not by Love or Works but by Faith

The lovers don’t enter heaven. The doers don’t enter heaven. Only the faithful do.

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)

Not his love of God. Not his works for God. But his faith and belief in God were counted for righteousness.

Only the righteous enter heaven. But man is forever carnal, depraved, and sinful. In short, he’s forever unrighteous. This is why God gave His only Son to be our covering, our propitiation, to be our righteousness, for it is impossible to do it on our own.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

“for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

If whatever is not faith is sin, and sin is the opposite of righteousness, then our faith in Jesus becomes our righteousness and salvation.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:20-25).

It is not by love or works, but only by faith in Jesus Christ. Love and works are a result of our faith, but that’s a topic for another time. Just keep in mind for now that to be saved we must have faith in the power and promises of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Bill Hitchcock