The BIBLE VIEW #870 — Good Works Cannot Save

In This Issue:
The Law Cannot Save
Only Faith
Not By Good Deeds

Volume: 870     August 8, 2022
Theme:  Good Works Cannot Save

Sign-up to receive the free DAILY VIEW e-mailed devotion at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/a26cc9M.  It includes a KJV chapter, a short explanation of something in the day’s reading, and more spiritual food for the hungry soul!


 The Law Cannot Save
Bill Brinkworth

The laws of the Old Testament were more than the commonly known Ten Commandments.  There are hundreds of them (Some say 603.  Others claim there are 613) covering morality, proper worship, social behavior, punishments for violations, and dietary restrictions.  No one could ever go to Heaven by obeying the laws.  No one could ever keep them all. 

There was a reason God gave us those laws, though. They:
1. showed man what sin is,
2. helped man see he is guilty of sin, and
3. because of his sin, man cannot justify himself.

God’s law is our teacher (Galatians 3:24) to show us that we are not only sinners, but we cannot please God by “perfection.”  When Jesus came, He was the one-time sacrifice that paid for all man’s sins.  Trusting Christ’s payment for all our sins by faith (Gal 2:16) is the only way anyone can be pardoned from sin.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Gal. 3:24
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Gal. 2:16

No one can be justified by keeping the works of the law!  The laws help us better understand God’s mind, but just keeping them will get no one into Heaven.  In the early church, Paul had to battle that false belief, which is also faced today.

It is natural for man to want to earn God’s favor.  This feeling is behind false religions and worship.  People are always trying to do something to reach Heaven.  Their works include: “being good,” performing some religious ceremony, abiding by church ordinances, trying not to sin, and the list goes on.  Most have an innate feeling that if their good deeds outweigh their wrong-doings, God will let them into Heaven.

The law came to show man that there was no way to please God.  However, there was a wonderful day when the impossible became possible.  That day was when Jesus died on the cross and paid for ALL men’s sins.  When they accept His sacrifice by faith as payment, they can then be justified.  By accepting Christ as Saviour, one can have God’s promise of Heaven.


Only Faith
Bill Brinkworth

To early believers, obeying the Old Testament laws was part of their life and upbringing.  If they were Jews, the commandments were drilled into them much of their life.  Those laws were even a part of the gentile’s upbringing.  The morality of those laws had done what God introduced them for, to teach many what was right and wrong (Gal. 3:24).  Even today, with few even attending church or reading their Bible, the law has still done its work in many hearts.  It still convicts many to know what is right and what is not.

When Christianity started spreading, its message was different.  Instead of the strict enforcement of the law, its message had much to do with “faith.”  The people had to believe something that was not written at the time, was talked negatively about in their temples, and could not be seen or proven.  It was an “invisible” trust on their part.

Faith was an old concept, but many never realized it was part of Old Testament lives.  When it was emphasized in the early church teachings, there were some questions and doubts.  The Jews did not quite realize that much of what Abraham (Gal. 3:9), Moses, and other Old Testament figures did was done by faith on their part.  Those saints had to step out and follow God without clear direction or signs.  Their faith that the Almighty would deliver or help them allowed them to get closer to God and to be used by Him.

The early Christians had to step out and trust what Jesus said and commanded them to do.  They had to believe that His words were also God’s commandments.  With the pull of what they used to do for hundreds of years, by sight and obedience to the law, they now had to understand that it was more important to trust Jesus’ finished work on the cross (Gal. 3:26).

I imagine their feelings were much like those of one saved from an unbiblical religion today.  Those people may have been used to lighting candles, reciting prayers, telling their sins to a man in a confessional, and following other church teachings.  After they got saved, they realized that those practices were not scriptural, and that they were not to do them anymore.  They had to step out by faith, believe Jesus’ words, trust Him, and forget what they had done in the past.

Faith in Christ can be difficult for some to trust alone.  Laws seem more secure for many to follow.  That is why so many try to hang on to both sides.  They try to follow the rules they learned previously and try to live by faith.   It cannot be both.  Trusting in something other than faith is not faith (Gal. 3:12).  We can only be justified (“pardoned or cleared of sin’s guilt”) by faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:27).

Faith without following is folly.”  — Barbara Brinkworth


Not By Good Deeds
Bill Brinkworth

In Ephesians 2, Paul addressed converted gentiles (Eph. 2:11), reminding them of the most important points of how they became Christians.  Those crucial steps have eluded many religions, even some “Christian” denominations.

The distinctions that separate a lost, even though a “religious person,” from a saved person are that:

  • A person is saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8 ) because Jesus died on the cross and paid for their sins.  Grace is “free, unmerited love” from God.  A person is saved not because one is good-looking, worthy of salvation because of superior intelligence, or an exceptional person.  All are saved because God is good, He loves us, and it has nothing to do with who we are. 

    If we make the first step in believing Jesus died for our sins, God’s love will do the rest.  We have to go first, not wait to have proof but do as a child does when he believes what his parents tell him.  The child simply believes and obeys, so must we do and trust what God has told us.
    “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8
  • We are saved because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  There is nothing we can do to earn God’s approval (Eph. 2:9) other than trusting Christ as Saviour.  No amount of good works, kindness, or religious mumbo-jumbo will get us higher than the coffin lid.  We cannot earn our way because the ticket has already been paid.  Trying to do something to earn salvation negates the trusting by faith we must do.
    “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9

    However, doing deeds according to what Scripture commands, doing what we can do for the cause of Christ, or bringing honor to God after we are saved is the right thing to do (Eph. 2:10).  A born-again person is to serve Him, not just to sit and soak up God’s goodness.


Many nod their head in agreement with Ephesians 2:8-9 but do not connect what it says to what they may be doing or believing.  The whole point of the two verses is there is nothing we can do to earn Heaven.  We must only trust what God has already done for us. 

Even biblical doctrines have been turned into good works people hope will make them worthy of Heaven.  Countless people and religious leaders have clarified their salvation as “Of course, I am going to Heaven, I have been baptized,” “I tithe,” “help the poor,” “live a good life,” or “I obey the rules of my church.” They are good works that will please God after one is saved, not good works to get one saved and to Heaven.  Those deeds become conditions added to what God said to do in Eph. 2:8-9.  It is only faith that will get one God’s promise of Heaven.  You cannot add anything to it.

“It is grace or works.  The Bible says it is only God’s grace that saves anyone.”

The Bible View #855 — Ephesians 2:8-9

In This Issue:
Is There Something More I Can Do?
Saved Only by God’s Grace
You Cannot Work Your Way to Heaven

Volume: 855    April 18, 2022
Theme: Ephesians 2:8-9

The FREE printable versions (bulletin insert, large print, and e-mail versions) of this Bible View and many others can be found at https://openthoumineeyes.com/newsletters.html.

Are you reading the Bible every day?  If not, have the FREE Daily View Devotion e-mailed to you.  Learn something taught in a KJV chapter from a short commentary, read the chapter, and more spiritual “meat” for the hungry soul. Sign-up at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/a26cc9M to start receiving it.

I would like to have an upcoming Bible View featuring some of the greatest experiences soul-winners had when witnessing to others. If you have led someone to the Lord and remember it as one of the most memorable opportunities where God did something special in a person’s life (or yours), could you share it with me (brinkworth@frontier.com). It may encourage others to tell others how to be saved. Please keep it under 600 words and do not mention names.

Is There Something More I Can Do?
Bill Brinkworth

A rich man came to Jesus unintentionally admitting he committed the same mistake that most would not dare confess.  He confessed to having the same philosophy that sends most lost people to Hell.  The man’s misunderstanding is also where most churches and religions err.  His false belief was in his question, “… what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life” (Matthew 19:16).

This ruler (Luke 18:18) tried to work his way to Heaven by doing all he could to earn himself a place there.  He and most religions believe if you do enough good things, that good will outweigh the bad, and God will let you into Heaven.

False religions teach that obeying and following traditions, rules, catechisms, rites, sacraments, pillars of the faith, or their religion’s teachings will get them to Heaven.  Wrong!  Unbiblical!  That thinking distinguishes man-made religions from real Christianity!

True Christianity is the only “religion” that teaches one does not have to do anything to get to Heaven except believe what Jesus did for them and ask for salvation from Hell.  One does not have to “pay” for salvation by doing good works because it already has been paid for them by Jesus Christ’s sacrificial deed.

After receiving salvation, one will want to do all one can to please and obey God and His commandments out of love and gratitude.  However, those good acts have nothing to do with getting saved.

All have sinned.  All do not only commit iniquity but were born sinners.  Because of sin, no one can get higher than the coffin lid after death.  That is the bad news.

However, there is good news.  There is a person who never sinned.  His undeserved death on the cross is the sole payment God will accept to cover anyone’s sin.  It is Jesus alone, God’s only son, that was worthy enough to pay for our transgressions.
“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.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Trying to do good “works” to earn Heaven is not accepting Christ’s finished work on the cross.  That rejection shows disbelief that Christ’s sacrificial payment was not enough to cover a person’s iniquities

Like the rich ruler, doing good deeds and living the way one thinks is right is not enough to earn eternity in Heaven.  That man had done “right” his whole life, yet he was still looking for one more thing to do to guarantee eternal life.

Good deeds never satisfy God because they are not enough.  Trusting that one loves us so much that He gave his life so that we can live eternally is the only way God will accept.

Are you 100% certain that you would go to Heaven if you were to die today, tomorrow, or a hundred years from now?  You can be sure because the “tickethas been paid for.  All you must do is believe and accept God’s wonderful gift!
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”  II Timothy 1:9
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Saved Only by God’s Grace
Bill Brinkworth

In Ephesians 2, Paul addressed converted Gentiles (Ephesians 1:1) and reminded them how they became Christians.  This crucial action has eluded many religions, even some “Christian” denominations.

The distinctions that separate lost, even religious, people from the saved are:

  • A saved person is saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 1:8) because Jesus died on the cross and paid for their sins.

    Grace is “free, unmerited love” from God.  A person is saved not because one is good-looking, of superior intelligence, or a good person.  All are saved because God is good, He loves us, and it has nothing to do with whom we are or what we have done.
  • If we make the first step to believe Jesus died for our sins, God’s love will do the rest.  We must go first, not wait to have proof, but do as a child does when doing what his parents tell him to do.  The child believes and obeys. We must do the same and trust what God has told us.
    “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8
  • We are saved because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  There is nothing we can do to earn God’s approval and allow us to go to Heaven other than trusting Christ as Saviour.  No amount of good works, kindness, or religious mumbo-jumbo will get us higher than the coffin lid.  We cannot earn our way because Jesus has already paid our “ticket” to Heaven.  Trying to earn salvation is negating the trust by faith we must have.
    “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9
  • However, doing deeds according to what Scripture commands, doing what we can do for the cause of Christ, or bringing honor to God after we are saved is the right thing to do for Him (Ephesians 1:10).  A born-again person should want to serve the Lord, not just sit and soak up God’s goodness.

Many nod their head in agreement with Ephesians 2:8-9 but do not connect what it says to what they may do or believe.  The two verses’ whole point is there is nothing we can do to earn an eternity in Heaven.

We must trust what God has already done for us.  However, even biblical doctrines have been turned into good works people hope will make them worthy of Heaven.  Countless people and religious leaders have justified their salvation because “I have been baptized,” “I tithe,” “I help the poor,” “I live a good life,” or “I obey the rules of my church.” They are good works that will please God after one is saved, not good works to get one saved.  Those deeds become conditions added to what God said to do in Ephesians 2:8-9.

It is only faith that will get one God’s promise of Heaven.  One cannot add anything to it.

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Titus 3:4-5


You Cannot Work Your Way to Heaven
Bill Brinkworth

It seems natural to many people that if they do good deeds, God will be pleased and let them into Heaven.  Although there are many scriptures encouraging people to be less selfish and concentrate on meeting the needs of others, nowhere is it mentioned that those good acts will get anyone to Heaven.  The Bible declares that there is nothing we can do but trust Christ as Saviour to have a heavenly home.
“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.” Ephesians 2:8-9

God’s way for us to see Heaven is that innocent blood had to be shed to have our sins forgiven.  The only payment God will accept for all of a sinner’s transgressions is the sacrificial death of God’s only son, Jesus.   No one can achieve Heaven for what they have done, but because of what Christ did for them.  Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Although good works will get no one to Heaven, a Christian is to do good deeds.  He is to do them, not to earn Heaven, but to be a good Christian example.  We should be a blessing to others because we love the Saviour and want to be obedient to His commandments.  When we shine our Christian “light,” others may see God’s goodness and will also turn to Him.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Mat.  5:16
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable unto men.” Titus 3:8
Also: Heb. 10:24, I Tim 2:10, I Tim.  5:10, I Tim.  6:18, II Tim. 3:17, Titus 1:16.

“I am not a Christian because I am strong and have it all figured out.  I am a Christian because I am weak and admit I need a Saviour.” — Author Unknown