Salvation is NOT Jesus Plus Works
The seriousness of adding to what Jesus Christ has accomplished is something that most Christians are unaware of! It determines whether a person is saved or not. It is what separates heaven from hell.
It is by grace that God has made salvation possible through Jesus Christ. According to Ephesians 2:8–9;
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Acts 15:11
“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”
A person’s actions, demeanor, or conduct do not grant, obtain, or maintain eternal life. We are saved by grace through faith. Most Christians believe that they have to add to what Jesus Christ has accomplished. If we were good enough to lead a sinless life, then why would we need a Saviour? God knew this; he understood that we are completely incapable of saving ourselves.
Because God loves you and does not want to see you suffer in sin and be condemned to hell for eternity. God graciously sent His only Begotten Son to this earth to be a sacrifice for the sins of man, past, present, and future.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
There is no salvation with Christ plus deeds! Scripture makes this formula very evident. For instance: Christ plus church attendance does not equate to salvation; Christ with baptism does not constitute salvation; Christ plus the Christian life does not mean salvation; and so on.
The tragedy is that individuals who are teaching this fallacy, and those receiving this wrong, think that they are more secure in their salvation as a result of their works. Satan has blinded their minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). The Scripture is quite plain on this subject, yet this error of ‘Christ plus’ still persists.
“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). To whom is it speaking? We are told within the verse that it is addressed to “…whosoever of you are justified by the law (works)…” The Scripture is quite plain on this subject, yet this error of ‘Christ plus’ still persists.
Most people who are in the ‘Christ plus’ category will stand before Jesus on judgment day. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works (Matthew 7:22)? “Notice these are ‘Christ plus’ people.
“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23). Jesus said to this ‘Christ Plus’ crowd, “I never knew you.” Not, “I once knew you, and I lost you,” but “I never knew you.” Jesus also referred to their good deeds as iniquity. Why? It is because, in addition to their faith in Christ, they were relying on those things to keep them from hell.
Getting saved and avoiding eternal damnation in hell requires no human effort at all. The Lord views your work as iniquity since it was already completed.
If you think that your salvation is contingent upon your actions during your lifetime, you are not really saved.
Jesus paid the price for your sins already; God graciously, through His love, sent Jesus to save you. Jesus died, was buried, and rose three days later to pay for the sins of the world; you cannot save yourself. The penalty of adding to what Jesus Christ has accomplished will condemn you to an eternity in hell.
Your Brother in Christ
Brother Randy
