Breaking Through the Works Wall

By Lindsey Adkins

During a recent evangelistic encounter with a neighbor, I experienced a common, yet dangerous barrier to salvation, the idea of a scaled system of judgement where our good and bad deeds are weighed in a divine balance to determine our eternal destiny. Spanning all socioeconomic classes, cultures, religions, and age groups, this belief in a scaled system of judgement creates a wall of works… a wall made of individual good works carefully mortared together in order to convince the builder that he or she is right with God. Unfortunately, once constructed, this wall can become a barrier keeping the wall’s builder from believing in Jesus for the free gift of eternal life. How can this works wall be breached?

Identifying the Wall

Identifying a works wall won’t always be as easy as someone saying, “I hope my good works outweigh my bad,” or “I am trusting in my own works to save myself.” It is often much more subtle, like my neighbor who believes God will see she has a good heart and tip the scales of justice in her favor. Within Christendom, these works are often bonded together with the mortar of fear, bad teaching and verses taken out of context. Regardless of how cleverly it is hidden, this particular wall has an essential identifying feature, good works designed to gain, keep, or prove God’s favor.

Jesus’ Example

Jesus provides a multitude of examples on how we can breakdown the works wall; when we learn from Him, you and I bringing the explosive power of Scripture.

John 6:27-29— When the crowds chase Jesus across the Sea of Galilee and ask, “What shall we do that we may work the works of God” (John 6:28)?[10] Jesus gets straight to the point. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). For those who have simple misconceptions, there is no one better to bring them to than Jesus. If a person is willing to listen, if he or she has ears to hear, Jesus gives a simple direct answer to set them straight. However, sometimes the person’s wall is more complicated and difficult for them to perceive.

Matthew 19:16- 24— A rich young man asks, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life” (Matthew 19:16)? Does he understand that Jesus is God? Jesus asks: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God. If you wish to enter into life keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). Like bricks mortared into a wall, Jesus identifies keeping the commandments as this young man’s works wall (Matthew 19:18-19): The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack” (Matthew 19:20)?

The route to salvation the young man pursues requires perfection, and his conscience betrays the truth, what do I still lack? Jesus’ reply exposes any illusion he may have had: “If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). This young man was seeking glory, honor, and immortality (eternal life) by means of patient continuance in doing good works (by keeping the law). And, if this is the path he was taking, he had to be flawless. The young man … went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:22).

Matthew 5:20-48— Some, even in Christendom, act like they set the bar very high: “You must fully submit to the Lordship of Christ.” Or, “it costs you everything.” But they have actually lowered the bar to match their human capability. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus warns that the righteousness of the law practiced by the scribes and Pharisees will not save anyone: For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).

Matt. 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

Matt. 5:22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, “Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:21-22)

Jesus intensifies the requirements of God’s command against murder to show that the bar is in fact so high, it is completely out of reach. After showing the impossibility of perfectly obeying God’s commands regarding adultery (Matthew 5:27-30), divorce (Matthew 5:31-32), oaths (Matthew 5:33-37), retaliation (Matthew 5:38-42), and love (Matthew 5:43-47), Jesus concludes:

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). This is the standard for kingdom entrance for those relying on their good works. Jesus’ warning should alarm all individuals who are aware of their own imperfections. Only the righteousness Jesus gives us when we believe in Him for eternal life satisfies God’s righteous standards.

To follow Jesus’ example, we should dismantle subjective rating systems based off of personal opinion and establish the biblical viewpoint from Scripture. God does not grade good works on a curve. If a person is going to build a works wall, he or she must do so completely without sin.

The Apostle Paul’s Teaching

The Apostle Paul frequently shared God’s perspective regarding man’s inability to please God by doing good works.

Romans 3:10-18— Paul taught the hopelessness of trying to do good works to get to heaven: both Jews and Greeks… are all under sin (Romans 3:9) and to make his point emphatic he goes to the Old Testament.

3:10 As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;

3:11 There is none who understands;

There is none who seeks after God.

3:12 They have all turned aside;

They have together become unprofitable;

There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3)

3:13 “Their throat is an open tomb;

With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;

“The poison of asps is under their lips”; (Psalm 5:9, 140:3)

3:14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” (Psalm 10:7)

3:15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;

3:17 And the way of peace they have not known.” (Isaiah 59:7-8)

3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Psalm 36:1)

No one can build a wall of good works sufficient to please God. (W)e are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away (Isaiah 64:6).

There are potentially two ways to have everlasting life. A person can believe in Jesus, or live a perfect life, never sin, and obtain it that way. An almost perfect life without Jesus is not good enough, and will result in condemnation. The Apostle Paul says it best: … by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight… (Romans 3:20).

Galatians 2:11-16— The Apostle Paul even rebuked a fellow apostle for engaging in hypocrisy: I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews” (Galatians 2:14)? Even for an apostle, the works wall can be highly subjective when applied to others, but Paul is emphatic: (A) man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified (Galatians 2:16).

The Apostle James’ Teaching

James 2:8-11— Paul’s message is James’ message. Outside of Jesus, no one has kept the law perfectly.

2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

2:11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (James 2:10-11)

If we have failed in one point, then we are accountable for the whole of the law… and who hasn’t failed on at least one point of the law?

Works Matter!

Because my neighbor accepted the inerrant claims of the Bible, she accepted the truth of these verses. Yet, still as we spoke, she made comments that revealed she was relying , if only partially, on her own good works. She knew her works mattered, and what I was presenting was being pitted against this correct conviction of hers.

Now, our works absolutely do matter! They matter here and now, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Galatians 6:7). Like Zane Hodges would say, we are still subject to the laws of sowing and reaping. We can still be chastised for bad behavior. As we see in real life, there are consequences to our actions. Works also matter for eternal rewards. At the Bema Seat, we want treasure to remain after our foundation is winnowed with fire. This is a different judgement, not one where our eternal destination is determined,[11] but where we are given rewards for faithfulness. Good works matter because what is sown is reaped, and all believers will be judged for reward at the Bema Seat.

The Bait and Switch Paradox

Because we know our works matter, we are inherently susceptible to a works righteousness way of thinking about salvation. It is natural for us to feel like we must do something to contribute. One of the most challenging works walls is a bait and switch: “Faith and Repentance are the flip side of the same coin.” “It’s not faith plus works, but faith that works that saves.” Or, “Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone.” These statements condemn works righteousness, while affirming it in the same breath. Sadly, instead of recognizing the contradiction, a lot of us assume we are the ones missing the point and allow a seeming paradox or mystery to explain away the contradiction in a fog of subjectivity.

Looking to our fruit to determine if we are eternally saved is not believing in Jesus for eternal life. Instead, it is taking our eyes off of Jesus, His work, and His promise—and looking to ourselves. If we must have, or will have good works when attempting to enter the narrow gate, does that not make them a requirement? Will we not be working for our salvation? Regardless of how subtle, this works wall inevitably sets us on the wide path of working for our salvation. How could our works prove we are regenerate, if we still sin? This is a subjective game not worth playing. What proves that we have been born again? We believe the objective truth of Jesus’ promise to us of eternal life. Jesus gained it; Jesus keeps us; His promise proves it!

Who Then Can Be Saved?

Matthew 19:16- 24— After the rich young man realized the futility of his good works and walked away from Him, Jesus made the following observation to His disciples: “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23-24). Breaking through the works wall is impossible for man to do… especially a rich man. The disciples ask, “Who then can be saved” (Matthew 19:25)? Jesus reaffirms that with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Only God and His word are able to breach the works wall. When a person sees himself as God sees him, hopelessly lost in sin, Jesus and His promise of life become the narrow way and the only life line by which to be eternally saved.

Summary

People build works walls by mortaring together good works. Ultimately, they are condemned by the very barrier they erect to justify themselves before God.

· Jesus’ example instructs us to share with those caught up in their works, the impossibility of satisfying God by doing good works.

· Both the apostles, Paul and James, consistently and emphatically taught the impossibility of being justified before God by keeping the law or doing good works.

· Good works matter, because of the law of sowing and reaping. However, even subtle attempts to weave good works into our eternal salvation fail when they create needless paradoxes and mysteries. Faith alone in Christ alone excludes the possibility of doing good works for our eternal salvation.

· Lastly, Jesus tells His disciples that only God can breach the works wall and save man: with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Conclusion

Let’s set the gospel free by setting the bar unreachable high. Let’s come lowly of heart knowing that our imperfect works contribute nothing to our justification. When we seek to enter by our own efforts, the scales of justice will never tip in our favor… but when we believe in Jesus, we will never be turned away. Let’s break through the works wall by taking God at His word and believing in Jesus for everlasting life!

Copyright © 2021 by Lindsey Adkins

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