Grace Without Works?
Grace without faith or works is a false doctrine that was not taught by Jesus or His apostles. We are saved by grace through faith, which includes works. If we were saved by grace without faith or works many of Christ's parables would have been very different. Below is an example of one parable which I have modified to teach the false principle of grace without works. Please compare to the unmodified version to see where the importance of works come into play with regards to salvation, represented in this parable as "enter[ing] into the joy of [the] lord".
The gospel of grace without works:
Matthew 25:14-30 (modified from the original)
14 ¶For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to ... their lord's desire ...; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went ... about doing no work but lived off of the ... five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also ... lived off of the ... two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came ... to receive ... other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I ... am thankful for those five talents and have need of ... five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and ... thankful ... servant: thou hast been ... thankful for ... a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I ... am thankful for those two talents and have need of ... two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and ... thankful ... servant; thou hast been ... thankful for ... a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and ... unthankful ... servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have ... used ... my money ... with thankfulness ..., and then at my coming I should have ... given more....
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ... been given ... ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the ... unthankful ... servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
See some of my other posts on grace:
Grace Defined
Pattern of Grace
Does Grace Realy Save You?
The Plan of Salvation Through Pole Vaulting
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