Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Since humanity's fall into sin, the only way any person has been able to be declared truly "blameless" before God is through that individual's faith in God (Hebrews 11). Where the Biblical account makes it seem that individuals' actions saved them, those actions were an expression of their underlying faith, rather than an indication of any innate "holiness" of their own apart from that faith. 

The purpose of any of the rules of the Law given by God in the Old Testament was twofold: first, to provide God's standard for achieving righteousness in His sight, and, second, to convict humans of their universal failure -- and, indeed, inability -- to meet that standard and save themselves. Any seeming exceptions to that rule (as in the case of Enoch and Elijah) were pre-emptive actions based purely on God's grace through faith. (If humans could have generally saved themselves, Christ's incarnation, sinless life, atoning death, and resurrection would not have been necessary.)

But, although good works or obedience to the requirements of the Law do not and cannot save us, those who have received the gift of eternal life through faith in Christ should strive to fulfill the two great commandments of the Law (Matthew 22:34-40) out of gratitude to God for that gift, and also as a basis of rewards from Him in eternity.

July 19 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

Jesus Christ did all the "measuring up to" that was required on our behalf. The righteousness of God is imputed unto us upon having faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood (Romans 4:6). 

We are MADE the righteousness of God upon belief (2 Cor 5:21). This is not because of any acts of righteousness that "we must measure up to" (Titus 3:5). It is when we submit that we are not capable of measuring up to God's standard on our own accord that we then are submitting to the righteousness of God:

Romans 10:1-4
"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

Titus 3:3-7
"3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 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;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Proverbs was written directly to Jews and prior to the death, burial, and resurrection of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. The shed blood of Jesus Christ was the sufficient payment made for the forgiveness of all our sins today. Jesus Christ was punished for us so that we, by faith in Him, will NOT be blamed for our iniquities or face the wrath of God. Salvation is now the free unmerited gift of God's grace through our faith in Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8-9).

This understanding is fundamental to salvation. Are we trusting in ourselves and our own works of righteousness for acceptance by God, or are we trusting in Jesus Christ, His righteousness, and the work that He completed on the cross for us? We either have a savior in Jesus Christ, or we do not.

July 19 2023 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report