AMAZING GRACE
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF WORKS
"And if by grace, then it is no longer of works;
otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works,
it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work,"
Rom 11:6.
This passage explicitly says that we cannot mix
faith and works. Grace and works do NOT go together. They
are not partners. Grace and works are not a team. They
will not "yoke-up" in any kind of teamwork. Whatever is of
grace is not of works, and whatever is of works is not of
grace. Grace and works will not mix any more then sin and
righteousness will mix.
BUT WHAT KIND OF WORKS IS THE PASSAGE ADDRESSING?
Are all works the same? Are all works bad? Are
there any good works?
"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it
is day; the night is coming when no one can work," Jn
9:4.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that
we should walk in them," Eph 2:10.
"This is a faithful saying, and these things I want
you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in
God should be careful to maintain good works. These things
are good and profitable to men," Titus 3:8.
Obviously, there are TWO KINDS of works:
1) The works of MAN.
2) The works of GOD.
And it makes a world of difference WHICH KIND OF
WORKS we are talking about. The works of man and the works
of God are not yokefellows. They will NOT pair-up and work
as a team. Whatever is man's works is not God's works, and
whatever is God's works is not man's works.
However, "GOD'S WORKS" and "GOD'S
GRACE" do go together. God's works and His grace
are the same. Whatever is God's works is God's grace, and
whatever is God's grace is God's works. Whatever God works
in and through us is God's grace, whether it be salvation
from hell initially or any act of service to God according
to the Great Commission, Mt 28:18-20.
WHAT KIND OF WORKS IS ROM 11:6 TALKING ABOUT?
The context is clear that Rom 11:6 is speaking of
the works of the Law Covenant, which covenant when applied
to sinful men always produces "flesh works," "our works,"
or "man's works," Rom 10:1-3.
"What then? Israel has not
obtained what it seeks......" (Rom 11:7),
because they did not seek it "by faith," Rom 10:1-4.
Israel pursued the works of the Law Covenant according to
the flesh which always produces flesh works, and flesh
works will never mix with grace.
WHAT KIND OF WORKS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
Whatever is God's works is not man's works,
otherwise the work is not God's work; and whatever is
man's works is not God's works, otherwise the work is not
man's work. This is not a play on words, but stating a
clear fact as is done in Rom 11:6.
A. MAN'S WORKS, God will not accept the works of sinful
man.
1. Flesh works, Gal 3:3; 5:16-18; Rom 7:4-25.
2. Our works, Rom 10:1-3; Titus 3:5; Isa 64:6.
3. Law works, Rom 3:20; Gal 2:16; 3:10-12.
4. Dead works, Heb 9:14; II Cor 3:7; Rom 7:7-25.
B. GOD'S WORKS, God will always accept His own works, and
His works are the works of the Holy Spirit which are the
works of His grace or grace works.
1. Holy Spirit's Works, Gal 3:2-5; 5:16-17; Rom
8:1-15.
2. Faith Works, Rom 9:30-33; 10:1-17; Rom 4.
3. Grace Works, Eph 2:8-9; Rom 4:16; 5:2; 6:14.
4. Good Works, I Tim 2:20; 5:10,25; 6:18; II Tim 3:17;
Titus 2:7,14; 3:1,8,14; Eph 2:10; et al.
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