Define the Key Terms of God’s Plan• Gift = Salvation is a gift of God

− God’s gifts are often conditional (Josh. 6:1-5; Acts 27:22-31)− Gifts that have conditions are still free gifts

• Works = Actions of obedience required by God− The Bible uses the word “works” in a variety of ways

• Works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21)• Works of the Law (Rom. 3:27-28; Gal. 2:16)• Works of Merit (Rom. 4:2-9; 10:1-3; Eph. 2:8-9)• Works of Righteousness (Acts 10:34-35)• Good Works (Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 2:10; Eph. 2:10; Titus 3)• Works Befitting Repentance (Acts 26:20)• Works of Obedience (James 2:14-26)

Define the Place of Works in God’s Plan• The Bible emphatically teaches that salvation is NOT by

faith alone (Jas. 2:24; Jn. 1:11-13; 3:16; 8:30-44; 12:42-43)• The Bible emphatically teaches that salvation requires

“doing” (Mt. 7:21; Lk. 6:46 + Ac. 2:37; 9:6; 16:30 + Heb. 5:9)• The Bible emphatically teaches that salvation requires

obedient faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26; Jas. 2:14-26)− Faith without works is…futile, hypocritical, demonic, dead and

cannot save (Jas. 2:14-26)− Faith and actions of obedience are inseparably tied by God− The N.T. repeatedly commands to believe and have faith;

therefore, faith is an action of obedience to a command of God

Define the Place of Works in God’s Plan• The Bible emphatically teaches that faith is an essential

work of salvation (John 6:27-29; Rev. 2:26; Eph. 2:8-9)• The Bible emphatically teaches that repentance is an

essential work of salvation (Matt. 12:41 + Jonah 3:10)• The Bible emphatically teaches that baptism is an

essential work of salvation− Baptism is not a work of human merit (Tit. 3:5)− Baptism is commanded by God for salvation (Acts 10:48; 2:38)− Baptism is a “working of God” for salvation (Col. 2:12)− Baptism is equally as essential to salvation as faith (Mk. 16:16)− Baptism is in Ephesians 2:8-9

• We are not saved by works of merit but by works of God!