Commentary on the Gospel of John

                                 Chapter Seven

                                                                                                                                                Verses 50-53 continued

Some maintain that the Apostle Paul and the Apostle James are at odds with each other about this question of salvation by grace. Some contend that the Apostle James taught that a believer must do good works to maintain their salvation by grace. Romans 4:1-4; Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:14-26. But a careful reading of James' epistle reveals that he actually agreed with Paul about salvation by grace being a free gift from God. Any gift from God lasts forever. Romans 11:29. In James 2:18, he admits that his faith which God has given to his inner being engenders the good works that he does. James also admitted in James 2:21-23 that Abraham already had the gift of righteousness that he needed to be saved by grace when he performed his good works. James actually taught that a believer's good works results from a faith which that believer already has, which faith provides that believer with an eternal salvation by grace, which grace causes that believer to inevitably do some good works as a witness to others that that believer has been saved by grace. James actually agrees with Paul's teaching that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers saved by grace recreates that believer's inner nature which causes that believer to desire to be like Jesus and to do good works. I Corinthians 2:15-16; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22-24. Besides all this, the Word of God clearly teaches that Christ has already accomplished everything that a believer needs for their salvation by grace, and therefore, nothing happens to be left for a person to do but repent and believe that Christ has already saved them. John 6:28-29; I Corinthians 15:1-4; Hebrews 1:1-3.

If inner faith does not provide a believer with eternal salvation by grace, then all secret believers who live in dangerous places where they could be persecuted, or even killed, if they openly profess their faith in Christ would lose their salvation by keeping it a secret. But when others see their changed natures that they have become much more loving and compassionate, then that will be the believers' witness that they have been saved by grace. If others ask them why they have been changed, then that believer should confess their faith in Christ. I Peter 3:15. But if because of fear of persecution, that believer fails to confess that believer's faith in Christ, then that believer still cannot lose their salvation by grace. The Holy Spirit will cause that believer to repent, and God will forgive that believer. Matthew 26:74-75; I Timothy 2:12-13. God's complete sanctification of His Church is as certain and inevitable as any other eternal work of God. All of God's creative works can only be eternal. Ecclesiastes 3:14; I Thessalonians 3:12-13; Ephesians 5:25-27. In accordance with Matthew 10:33, the person who absolutely denies Christ never had faith to begin with.

Some who profess faith in Christ actually happen to be apostates in the Church because they lie about their profession. When pressed about their faith, they often admit that they do not believe that Christ is God or that He was born of a virgin or that He has any power to save anyone from sin and evil. Such false believers will protest to Christ that their good works give them the right to be saved by grace. Matthew 7:21-23.

The simple truth of the matter is that God saves by His grace for His own purposes. Romans 8:28; II Timothy 1:9. God even saved Lot by His grace. II Peter 2:6-9; Matthew 19:30. Any person saved by God's grace will know it because the Holy Spirit within them will tell them that they are so saved. I John 3:24.