God’s way of salvation for His people is often misunderstood, especially when “works righteousness” is emphasized. The propagandists of this erroneous doctrine deny the nature and work of salvation of Jesus and ignore that there can be no other way than through Jesus Christ and righteousness by grace based on faith. In order to clarify the fallacy of “righteousness by works,” the principle of the way of salvation is examined in more detail.
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Death is the inevitable consequence of sin
The consequence of sin is death (an inevitable consequence, a quasi “law of nature,” just as water can always flow downward and not upward). God does not change, nor does He change His laws. Our Creator and His justice are thus an absolutely reliable “constant.” Adam and Eve, created in God’s image, degenerated into fallen, sinful beings due to their disobedience to God. Both of them passed this lack of justice on to subsequent generations, for what is no longer present cannot be inherited. However, this is not the Catholic “original sin,” for each person is responsible for their own sins.
Because death is inevitable even after a single sin, there is no salvation for the sinner due to the immutability of God’s laws. Death (final death, or the second death) is (actually) inevitable. Nor is it possible for humans to pay for sin vicariously through another of God’s creatures. Parents do not pay for the sin of their children, and children do not pay for the sin of their parents. Thus, humans do not pay for Adam’s sin either (the doctrine of “original sin” is erroneous).
God will set His laws (commandments) for those through the Word (Joh. 1,1-5) not change the created perfect world, just as little as the “law of nature” of water always flowing downwards. A change in the physical laws of nature, for example, would render the (perfectly designed) world as it now exists incapable of continuing to exist. Therefore, the world created by God in perfect harmony cannot be disturbed by any transgression of His established laws. Man has a choice, but transgression leads to his death.
The (only) way to salvation
Satan has broken the law. He rebelled in heaven (sin was found in him). The (provisional) consequence: He was cast out of heaven and down to earth. If Satan causes humans to sin as well, then he creates a reason for his accusation. If humans have sinned, they too must die, and possibly all of earthly creation as well.
So why special treatment, why pay the price for sin, if humans could just get away with it? Where would the justice be in this? One must not forget that Satan hates humans with a passion. He has been a murderer from the very beginning, according to Jesus Christ about the adversary. But Satan is also cunning and devious. He will use every trick in the book to send humans to their ruin.
All people are (inherited) descendants of Abraham, Noah, down to Adam (1st generation of sinners). Where is Adam from? Like everything else, he was created by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Word and the Son of God. All of humanity has its origin in Jesus Christ. He, the Son of God, becomes man himself (1 .John 5:6-13, KJV – Info). He becomes man through Mary, begotten through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ took human form, so Philippians 2:5-8: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.“. Jesus Christ was thus fully human with all attributes and potential weaknesses.
The Son of man is indeed God-man, but with the qualities of a man. Jesus Christ lived an absolutely sinless life and was baptized by John. He even wondered why Jesus wanted to be baptized by him. John countered that he needed to be baptized by Jesus. Jesus replied: “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.!” (Matthew 3:15)
Jesus lived without sin, He had perfect faith, He had perfect justification and therefore also perfect baptism. There were no spots or wrinkles on Him. And not to forget, He was still human in flesh and blood.
The vicarious death for the sinner
Jesus was crucified and died. He died without a single prior transgression of the law. In return, Jesus took all our sins upon Himself and, together with the humanity inherent in Him, died the death of sin (second death). But death could not hold Jesus, for He Himself remained without sin. Jesus Christ is immortal; He has life within Himself. However, Jesus did not rise (only) as a spiritual being, but as a human being and thus in flesh and blood (body). Nevertheless, Jesus Christ, together with the humanity inherent in Him, suffered the full punishment for sin, death.
This makes justification through Him possible by virtue of His grace. Conversely, His resurrection from the dead is also proof of His sinlessness. Otherwise, His resurrection in flesh and blood would not have been possible. This is what the unchanging law of God stipulates. Sin results in separation from God and thus in death.
With this path of redemption, Jesus Christ, Creator and Owner, has (at a high price) purchased humanity. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20) and “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” (1 Corinthians 7:23).
In this way, Jesus Christ automatically stands between the Father and men as justifier, advocate, representative and intercessor. Therefore, there can be no other way for man to God except through Jesus Christ. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Joh. 14:6).
Thus, Jesus Christ automatically stands as justifier, advocate, representative, and intercessor between the Father and humanity. Therefore, there can be no other way for humanity to God except through Jesus Christ. “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me!” (John 14:6).
This also explains the senselessness of the (presumptuous) scholarly righteousness by works, which, incidentally, is a characteristic of virtually all pagan religions. What they have in common is that salvation (for whatever reason) can always be achieved through some kind of personal effort, work, and merit.
But this path is completely useless. Good works do not change the fact that sin leads to death. Even mountains of good deeds won’t help. Man is incapable of paying the price for his sins through “good works” himself. Death through sin remains, and therefore the only way is through Jesus Christ and His grace or His righteousness! Therefore, (sinful) man cannot be “made” righteous, but can be declared righteous and be granted the righteousness of Jesus. This is only possible through a quasi “indwelling” in Jesus Christ (His righteousness).
Only Jesus Christ, because of His sacrifice (“Lamb of God”), is logically able and also “authorized” to place His own righteousness around sinful man (“garments of righteousness”). He is our Advocate. What must man do for his own salvation? Believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and in salvation through Him, and consequently also keep His commandments.
For example: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” (Joh. 6:47) and “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Rev. 22:14)
This doesn’t mean, however, that good works are superfluous and can be omitted. These works are simply not to be understood as a path to justification (meaningless), but rather as a consequence of walking in Jesus Christ. Walking in His mind, in His character, automatically leads to good works (deeds) and is thus proof of true faith.
In addition to justification by works, another doctrine of the Catholic Church is very popular, which is essentially a doctrine of Satan. The “immortal soul” is such a lie of the serpent, even immediately before the first fall into sin. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:“, so the serpent’s words to Eve (Genesis 3:4). The second lie followed immediately. The divinity of humans. “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5).
The understanding of good and evil resulted, among other things, in the teachings of “human reason” within the framework of “humanism.” This culminated in the French Revolution with the establishment of the “Goddess of Reason.” Thus, the learned justification by works is a consequence of Satan’s accusation that no one can pay for the sins of another. The sinner must accomplish this himself. This learned justification by works states that man must, or can, pay for his sins himself and thereby achieve justification. This resulted in the conclusion that Jesus Christ died completely “meaninglessly,” and certainly not to wash away all our sins.
Business idea purgatory
Purgatory is one of the “exclusive creations” of the Catholic Church. This is the place where the “residual price” must be paid after balancing it with “good works.” According to the Roman Church, this is how justification is achieved. In such a case, sins are already “forgiven” by the Catholic priest’s own authorization. God must submit to the priest’s decisions (according to the Catholic Catechism: “He confirms the priest’s decisions”).
What a wrong doctrine. This idea “quite incidentally” opened up a lucrative business based on the sale of indulgences. Living relatives could buy a letter of indulgence for their deceased loved ones to shorten their time in purgatory at face value. A real big deal. These letters of indulgence are “fed” by the “treasure of good works” (the works of Jesus, Mary and many “saints”). This treasure chest is exclusively available to the Pope.
In Revelation 13 the ambitions, motives and motivations of the Catholic teachings clearly stated. “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13,4).
Path to salvation was clear from the beginning
The Adversary knows a great deal and is exceedingly powerful, but he is not omniscient and certainly not omnipotent. It may be that he never anticipated that God would send His Son, Jesus Christ, through whom He created everything and thus also carries humanity within Himself, to earth as a human being and let Him suffer true death as a result of the sins He took on (those of humanity).
On the other hand, God’s path of redemption was already established from the very beginning. After the first Fall, God announced to the serpent: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15).
“He” meant none other than the future Jesus Christ as a human being at this point in time. In the times of the prophet Isaiah there was more plain text. The entire chapter 53 of Isaiah announces the ministry of Jesus. It is “the righteous” (Isa 53:11) and “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isa 53:5).
“and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” (Isa. 53:10). Today we know it was a success. Now it’s time to heed the final warning.
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
