Working It Out

Psalm 62:12 (KJV) Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

(Proverbs 16 also read)

Last Sunday the pastor was in Romans 4 and waxing strong on how we are not saved by works.  Well and good.  If you have read your Bible you know that your skill, hard word and talent will never be enough to pay for your sin and bring you eternal life.  Only the death and shed blood of Jesus on the cross are adequate for that.

At the same time you come across this statement by David about our “work”.  Jesus makes the same type of statements.  It seems a contradiction but it isn’t.  If you read Paul when he is condemning, you will notice that he seems to usually us the plural, works.  He also seems to focus almost exclusively on circumcision.  You need to understand that he is not saying obedience is not necessary.  He is saying that slavishly followed rituals will not save you.

So?  Live in righteousness as an expression of your love and faith.  Neither faith nor obedience are options.