Simple Faith Baptist Church Oceanside California

From Adam to Today: Justification by Grace Through Faith Endures

Good morning, Christian friends,

Below is another article I recently produced, debunking the modern myth of “dispensational salvation”—a false teaching concerning different “plans” or “methods” God employed for the salvation of souls prior to Christ’s incarnation and after.
Defenders of this theory often point to earlier writers with their fully established charts and commentaries on the matter, such as John Nelson Darby. However, after further research into some of their writings, such as Darby’s, notice his clear position on the matter from the following quote:
“Grace from the beginning was, through the introduction of sin, the only means of remedy, and shall be to the end”; “Nor, though all saved are saved by grace,”
—The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, Critical Writings section, Collected Writings.

I’ve personally read the ancient church fathers’ commentary related to this topic, as well as those renowned from the era famously dubbed the “Reformation era,” and almost universally, this topic is conclusively in harmony: that God always saved sinners by His grace, through their faith in the revelation dispensed (or given, presented) to them at their time of existence—not of works, nor a part of works, or supplemental works with faith.

With love,  
Brother Carlos

The Scriptures clearly teach that neither the Law delivered by God to Moses for governing Israel (the Mosaic Law, including its ceremonies, sacrifices, and commands) nor any human-devised laws, traditions, or religious systems created by Gentiles (or anyone else) can atone for sin, justify the sinner before God, or produce eternal life-saving results.

The Law reveals sin and brings knowledge of it but has no power to remove guilt or save. Justification and salvation come only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ—not by any works or deeds.

 

On the Mosaic Law and Its Deeds/Works Cannot Justify or Save

• Romans 3:20 — “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
• Romans 3:27-28 — “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
• Galatians 2:16 — “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
• Galatians 2:21 — “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
• Galatians 3:10-11 — “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
• Galatians 3:21 — “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”
• Acts 13:38-39 — “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
• Romans 9:31-32 — “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.”
• Hebrews 7:19 — “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”
• Hebrews 10:1,4 — “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. … For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

 

On General Works/Deeds (Including Any Human Righteousness) Cannot Save or Atone:

• Ephesians 2:8-9 — “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
• Titus 3:5 — “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.”
• 2 Timothy 1:9 — “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
• Romans 4:2-6 (Abraham’s example, pre-Mosaic Law) — “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. … But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”
• Romans 11:6 — “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
• Philippians 3:9 — “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

 

On Laws/Ordinances/Traditions Created by Gentiles for Religions/Societies

These cannot produce atonement or life either; they are “rudiments of the world” or “commandments of men.”

• Colossians 2:20-23 — “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”
• Mark 7:7-8 (Jesus on human traditions, applicable broadly) — “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men…”

The Bible’s Unified Teaching on Human Works or Efforts to Atone for Sin

The King James Version teaches one consistent message from Genesis to Revelation: No human works, deeds, efforts, religious rituals, moral achievements, self-righteousness, or attempts to cover, remove, or pay for sin can ever atone for (cover or reconcile) humanity’s guilt before a holy God. Such efforts are always insufficient, rejected, or described as worthless, unclean, or “dead.”

They diagnose the problem of sin but cannot cure it. Atonement is God’s provision alone, received only by faith in His appointed sacrifice—ultimately the blood of Jesus Christ. Human attempts either precede faith (and fail) or seek to supplement or replace Christ’s finished work (and frustrate grace).

This teaching spans every era: pre-law, under the law, and in the gospel age.

1. Earliest Examples of Failed Human Covering (Pre-Law)

• Genesis 3:7 — “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”
  (Human attempt to cover shame/sin with own effort—rejected as inadequate.)
• Genesis 3:21 — “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
  (God alone provides covering that requires shed blood—foreshadowing atonement.)
• Genesis 4:3-5 — “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.”
  (Cain’s works-based offering of the cursed ground rejected; Abel’s blood offering accepted by faith—Hebrews 11:4 confirms: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice…”)

2. Prophetic Condemnation of All Human Righteousness

• Isaiah 64:6 — “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
• Psalm 49:7-8 — “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever.”
• Proverbs 20:9 — “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”
• Jeremiah 2:22 — “For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.”
• Micah 6:6-8 — “Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? … He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
  (Even multiplied sacrifices or moral efforts cannot atone without the heart God requires.)

3. The Mosaic Law’s Works and Sacrifices Cannot Atone Permanently

(The law itself is God-given, yet any attempt to use its deeds for justification or atonement fails.)

• Romans 3:20 — “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
• Galatians 3:21 — “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”
• Hebrews 10:1,4 — “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
• Hebrews 7:19 — “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did…”
• Acts 13:38-39 — “…through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

4. “Dead Works,” “Own Righteousness,” and All Human Efforts Explicitly Rejected

• Hebrews 6:1 — “…not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.”
• Hebrews 9:14 — “How much more shall the blood of Christ… purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
• Romans 10:3 — “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.”
• Philippians 3:9 — “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
• Isaiah 64:6 (repeated above) and Romans 9:31-32 — “…
  Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.”
• Galatians 5:4 — “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

5. New Testament Declarations: Salvation and Atonement Are Never by Human Effort

• Ephesians 2:8-9 — “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
• Titus 3:5 — “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”
• 2 Timothy 1:9 — “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace…”
• Romans 4:2-6 — “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God… But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”
• Romans 11:6 — “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.”
• Galatians 2:16,21 — “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ… for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified… I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

 

6. Specific New Testament Examples of People Attempting Works-Based Atonement/Justification

• Luke 18:9-14 (Pharisee and publican) — The Pharisee: “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are… I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” Jesus: “this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.”
• Matthew 19:16-22 (rich young ruler) — “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Jesus exposes the impossibility of keeping the law perfectly.
• John 3:1-7 (Nicodemus) — A ruler of the Jews seeking by knowledge/position; Jesus: “Ye must be born again.”

Expressive scriptures depicting human works

• Isaiah 64:6: “filthy rags” = metaphor (literally menstrual cloths—extreme uncleanness; justifies figurative because literal rags cannot be “our righteousnesses”).
  “Fade as a leaf” = simile.
  “Iniquities… have taken us away” = personification/metaphor (sin as active force carrying away).
• Genesis 3:7 “fig leaves” = symbol/metaphor (self-made covering vs. God’s).
• Hebrews 6:1 & 9:14 “dead works” = metaphor (works without spiritual life/faith, like a corpse—useless for atonement; grammar contrasts with “faith toward God” and “blood of Christ”).
• Romans 10:3 “going about to establish their own righteousness” = metaphor (human effort as frantic journey that misses God’s way).
• Galatians 2:21 “Christ is dead in vain” = hyperbole/irony (if works could save, the cross becomes pointless—strong antithesis).
• Ephesians 2:8-9 “not of works, lest any man should boast” = literal with antithesis (grace/faith vs. works/boasting). 

These verses collectively show the Law (Mosaic or human) diagnoses sin but cannot cure it; only Christ’s finished work does.