GALATIANS 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is Crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
1 COR. 1:18 For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the Power of God.
23 But we preach Christ Crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.
1 COR. 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified.
GALATIANS 2:16 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.
EPHESIANS 2:8-9 For by Grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
If a Believer will cease from all his works, (any works which we as Christians may do must not be our own works Col. 3:17) exactly as Paul says here, and place his Faith and Trust entirely in the Finished Work of Christ, he will find himself getting closer and closer to the Lord.
What does it mean for one to cease from all his works?
Does it mean quit going to Church? Quit giving any of our financial resources to the Work of the Lord? Quit praying? Quit witnessing?
Of course not!
However, it definitely does mean, and in capital letters, that even though these things mentioned, plus many not mentioned, are indeed very important, the idea is, that we are not to depend on them whatsoever as earning us any merit with God. We do these things because we are close to the Lord, and not in order to get close to the Lord. We do these things not to get victory over the world, the flesh, and the Devil, but because Christ has already given us victory over the world, the flesh, and the Devil.
One of the reasons this is so complicated, is because most Christians love their “works!” They relish in these works! Also, works are an investment of their time. No one likes to lose on an investment. These works are also the labor of their hands, and very precious in their sight, exactly as Ishmael was precious in the sight of Abraham, and because that boy was the product of Abraham’s ingenuity. But that means, if something is the product of our efforts, then it’s not the product of God’s efforts.
Many times Christians seem to grow angry at hearing these statements. Why would they do that? The answer is really quite simple.
They get angry, because as stated, they love their works. They like to feel that doing these things, and, yes, trusting in these things, earns them something with God. But even beyond that, it makes them feel superior. In other words, I do this or that, while others don’t so I’m superior to them.
Remember-------- God does not give Victory to Fallen Man
But only to His Son Jesus Christ.
His Victory becomes our Victory at the instant we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. What gets us into trouble is when we try to create our own victory through any form of works. What actually happens at that point is that the Christian is placing his faith in something other than Christ and what he accomplished at Calvary. The Church is the Bride of Christ and to make anything other than Christ and him Crucified the object of our faith is to commit Spiritual Adultery.
I do not believe the failure of Christians as it regards sin, is nearly as noxious to God, as is the rebellion against his redemptive plan, (and when we have an object of faith other than Christ and Him Crucified we are rebelling against his redemptive plan) which actually brings about these failures.( If you see someone sinning on a regular basis and you can see they definitely have a problem with some particular sin, then you should know assuredly that they are placing their faith in some kind of works and not exclusively in Christ and his finished work) This is what angers God! And this should surely be understandable, considering the great price that He paid in order to give us this glorious and wonderful Redemption.
The only way to get someone to stop sinning (sinner or Christian) is to get that person to make Christ and Him Crucified the only object of their Faith. That is because ALL of what we receive from God comes through Christ and the Cross. Including, the receiving of freedom from any kind of sin problem.
If we as Christians will keep our eyes continually (and I mean every day) on the Cross of Christ (this means all that was done by Christ at Calvary), this will give the Holy Spirit the Latitude to work in our lives and we will see miraculous things take place. The Holy Spirit simply will not work in an atmosphere of self indulging works.
(Much of the above, has been borrowed from JS Ministries Commentaries)
An addendum
James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? (This presents the fact that proper faith will always produce proper works) Can faith save him?
James 2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
James 2:16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? (This refers to claimed faith which blesses no one, because it is not true faith. True faith will help the person)
James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (As stated, proper faith will produce proper works. If not the Holy Spirit is saying here that it is dead faith.)
James 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (This proclaims the fact that the profession of a lifeless Faith is profitless.)
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble! (Simply believing there is a God says no more than what demons believe. Proper Faith will accept the Lord as one’s Saviour.)
James 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James is bluntly saying that anyone who trusts in an empty Faith has, in effect, an empty head.)
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?(Did he not offer his son on the alter because of his faith? (James 2:21) Any Faith that doesn’t have the Cross of Christ as its proper Object of Faith is dead Faith. The Holy Spirit had James choose this example of Abraham offering Isaac to portray one of the most vivid illustrations of the Sacrifice of Christ.)
James 2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? (James is making it clear that he is not talking about works as the sole source of Abraham’s Justification as Verse 21, if taken out of context, might lead one to believe. Abraham’s Faith and his actions were working together.)
James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
James 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.(Could be better understood by saying,’You see then, how that by works a man’s Justification is proven,” This must be understood in the context of the entire Passage. The Apostle is merely saying that no one can claim Justification on the basis of a Faith which produces no qualifying works. Such an individual is deceiving himself.)
James 2:25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? (This is one of the most beautiful stories of Faith found in the annals of human history. This was proper Faith, which produced proper works.)
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (Faith in the form of declaring a dogma or confessing a creed, which fails to produce life and labor according to the Word of God, will condemn you. I remind you however that works without dynamic living Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ cannot produce Salvation or
Victory.) (the above Expositions have been borrowed from the Expositors Study Bible, produced by JS Ministries)
Galatians 5:13 For brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (We are at liberty because Christ nailed the Law and Sin to the Cross with him. We as believers have liberty because we believe this fact. Now; what will we do with that liberty? Love our brother. We are set at liberty in order that we may live our lives in word and deed [Colossians 3:17] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.) (thus we see the works which accompany faith)
14 For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbour as yourself.(This can be done and, in fact will be done, providing the Believer ever makes the Cross of Christ the object of his faith. The Holy Spirit will then provide the power for us to do what we should do.)
(the above exposition was borrowed from the Expositors Study Bible produced by JS Ministries)
In closing: One may perform all the good works in the world but if that persons faith is anchored in those works, he will not have Victory, which is afforded him only through Faith in Christ, and the Holy Spirit will be hindered from working in his life. We have works because of faith not faith because of works.
One last thought: Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, Brethren, by the Mercies of God, that you present your bodies a Living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Presenting our bodies to do good works is simply our reasonable service. Which we do because Jesus Christ has set us at liberty through the Faith which we have in his redemptive finished sacrifice.)
