A question on grace.

[Carbon]

In other words, it is God who convicts, God who draws, God who forgives, saves, and regenerates. And every one of those acts are gracious in nature.

Doug

If it is all of God as you say, as God said He will have mercy on who He will have mercy. Then what part does man play, if any?

 

[TibiasDad]

Covenant of redemption.

Okay; I would say the plan or protocol of salvation.

I believe we sin because we are sinners.

Quick explanation?

These two are related. Your position is that when Adam sinned, all humanity, all individuals that would be born afterward, actually sinned personally and are thus personally guilty.

Whereas I assert that Adam’s sin brought on him both personal guilt and corruption of both physical and spiritual nature.

His guilt is his alone, because he alone ate the forbidden fruit. We did not do anything period, for we did not exist to think and choose to disobey personally. The children do not die for the sins of their fathers! The soul that sins shall die! (Ezk 18) Adam’s soul is not my soul, nor can it be, for we are not the same person anymore than the persons of the Godhead are the same person. Thus, Adam’s personal guilt is not passed on, for that is impossible! However, his physical and spiritual condition is transferred from Adam to all his progeny: physically by DNA, and spiritually through separation from God by the broken relationship between God and mankind as a whole due to the sin of all the humans in existence at the time, and thus the whole of the human race.

The absence of God’s presence in relationship with man is what gives the corruption of sin in man’s nature to gain full power over man.

The questions are obvious.

There are four questions, I don’t know which one I am not answering!

Indeed.

Yes, come. I recommend it. However, salvation isn't something that is an opportunity to choose or not to choose. Scripture teaches that, nowhere.

Josh 24: 15…I think that is somewhere.
Acts 17:27… I believe is another one
Matt 23:37…I think refusal to do something that God wants to do necessitates choice!

If we are saved by Grace, we had nothing to do with it. Absolutely nothing. God, changes the nature from a spiritually dead person to one alive in Christ. The works we then do, were already designed and created in eternity past. Eph 2:10. That's grace. God is doing all the work, all of it. Glory to God alone, not glory to God and us.

This is the differential in our thoughts, my brother:

The absence of our responsibility or role in something is not what determines if it is Grace, but rather whether the act of salvation is deserved or not! It is not by works because works cannot produce worthiness or make us deserving. If we cannot ever be deserving, then God’s positive actions toward us are undeserved and thus graciousness, or by means of God’s grace.

I again assert that the adulterous husband can never do anything that obligates the wife to reconcile with him, no matter what he does or how much he begs; all the power and rights are on the wife’s side of the ledger! She alone can choose to allow him back into the relationship. Her desire and will are in full control, and his efforts are useless and meaningless with her consent! If she lets him return, it is not because he has earned it, but because she has graciously accepted back in love. No deserving, all of her being gracious.


Doug

 

[TibiasDad]

If it is all of God as you say, as God said He will have mercy on who He will have mercy. Then what part does man play, if any?

Are we not to act in confession of sin, repentance from sin, and acceptance of him through believing in him? Are these not human requirements commanded of us by God.

God has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and that is those who believe!

You’re cutting your nose off despite your face if you deny the commands which require human action. We are condemned because we do not believe in him and are saved because we do believe actively.

The question to both Peter and Paul was “What must we do to be saved?” And they said ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!’ That is a human role, a human act, a human responsibility to be accomplished in order for salvation to be given.

Doug

 

[ReverendRV]

This is a question asked elsewhere, but it's such a great question I have to post it here. Here it is.


Please take some time to think about your answer before you just shoot it off half-cocked. Here goes.

Scripture says we are saved by grace. How does grace save us? Is it really grace that does the work? Or is it just a decision by God that sets everything else in motion? If it is just a decision, what are the steps for our salvation to be completed?

Grace is the Power of God that powers the Gospel; which is the Power of God unto Salvation. What would the Gospel of Jesus Christ be without Jesus? If Atheists are right, and Jesus is dead; the Gospel is Powerless, and we're to be most Pitied. Who knows where the Spirit comes from and where he goes during Regeneration; if there is no presence of the Holy Spirit, the Gospel is Powerless. One man Sows the Gospel, another Waters it; but God gives the growth. If God doesn't "GIVE" it the growth; the Gospel is Powerless. If the birds carry away the Gospel, what Power was in that Gospel Presentation without God's Grace behind it?

Not only is Grace the Unmerited Favor of God, its God's Riches At Christ's Expense; it's a positive outpouring of what we need from God. Grace is God Working; God Works in us to Will and do his Good pleasure. God's Riches at Christ's "Exertion". God's Work is him going above and beyond his Favor. Grace is his Expenditure. God Graciously Favored us before he Graciously Worked on the Cross...

In a sense, Grace comes to us in the Positive and the Negative. Unmerited Favor comes to us in the Negative; for no reason we know of. But God's Riches come to us in the Positive; as a Gift. Grace pre-Faith, and Grace post-Faith. I suppose it's this differentiation that your OP is about. The answer is that Grace is both God's decision to Save us, and his efforts to Save us...

What are the Steps? In my Gospel Tract titled "The Salvation Equation", I rounded it down to Grace + Faith - Works = Salvation. Anything else that can be said to be required, fits into this Equation somewhere. For instance; the Perseverance of the Saints is a Doctrine of Grace, and fits in the Grace Integer. Christ Alone fits into Grace, etc. Since I'm a Fundamentalist, and a Lowest Common Denominator kind of guy (a Minimalist); I like to keep things simple...

@Rockerduck @TibiasDad

 

[ReverendRV]

It looks like I finished off this Thread

 

[TibiasDad]

Grace is the Power of God that powers the Gospel; which is the Power of God unto Salvation. What would the Gospel of Jesus Christ be without Jesus? If Atheists are right, and Jesus is dead; the Gospel is Powerless, and we're to be most Pitied. Who knows where the Spirit comes from and where he goes during Regeneration; if there is no presence of the Holy Spirit, the Gospel is Powerless. One man Sows the Gospel, another Waters it; but God gives the growth. If God doesn't "GIVE" it the growth; the Gospel is Powerless. If the birds carry away the Gospel, what Power was in that Gospel Presentation without God's Grace behind it?

Not only is Grace the Unmerited Favor of God, its God's Riches At Christ's Expense; it's a positive outpouring of what we need from God. Grace is God Working; God Works in us to Will and do his Good pleasure. God's Riches at Christ's "Exertion". God's Work is him going above and beyond his Favor. Grace is his Expenditure. God Graciously Favored us before he Graciously Worked on the Cross...

In a sense, Grace comes to us in the Positive and the Negative. Unmerited Favor comes to us in the Negative; for no reason we know of. But God's Riches come to us in the Positive; as a Gift. Grace pre-Faith, and Grace post-Faith. I suppose it's this differentiation that your OP is about. The answer is that Grace is both God's decision to Save us, and his efforts to Save us...

What are the Steps? In my Gospel Tract titled "The Salvation Equation", I rounded it down to Grace + Faith - Works = Salvation. Anything else that can be said to be required, fits into this Equation somewhere. For instance; the Perseverance of the Saints is a Doctrine of Grace, and fits in the Grace Integer. Christ Alone fits into Grace, etc. Since I'm a Fundamentalist, and a Lowest Common Denominator kind of guy (a Minimalist); I like to keep things simple...

@Rockerduck @TibiasDad

The thread isn’t done yet, RV:


My favorite definition of grace is from Dr. Doug Carter, missionary, and President of my Alma Mater, Ohio Christian University when I was in college. He said, “Grace is grace, because the one being gracious didn’t have to be!”

I too am a minimalist, and see this, like a coin, as simply a two sided issue: One side says “we don’t deserve anything good from God”; and the other side says “God doesn’t have to do anything good for us!”

These two axioms are like a mathematical constant: They cannot and do not change!

Since we can never deserve anything from good from God, then at human efforts to accomplish such merit are impossible and thus futile. It is not by works because works don’t work! It is not a matter of an accumulated record of sufficient actions being meritorious, nor that such actions can earn our release from the penalty due us. There is no human currency that heaven’s bank accepts. Works are worthless, and our debt cannot be repaid!

The only means is forgiveness of that debt, not fulfillment of it. God, the offended party, is the only one capable of forgiveness, and he is under no obligation to do so—thus, forgiveness is a gracious act, and all that follows in the wake of such is equally gracious.

Now it’s done….


Doug

 

[Soyeong]

Grace is the Power of God that powers the Gospel; which is the Power of God unto Salvation. What would the Gospel of Jesus Christ be without Jesus? If Atheists are right, and Jesus is dead; the Gospel is Powerless, and we're to be most Pitied. Who knows where the Spirit comes from and where he goes during Regeneration; if there is no presence of the Holy Spirit, the Gospel is Powerless. One man Sows the Gospel, another Waters it; but God gives the growth. If God doesn't "GIVE" it the growth; the Gospel is Powerless. If the birds carry away the Gospel, what Power was in that Gospel Presentation without God's Grace behind it?

Not only is Grace the Unmerited Favor of God, its God's Riches At Christ's Expense; it's a positive outpouring of what we need from God. Grace is God Working; God Works in us to Will and do his Good pleasure. God's Riches at Christ's "Exertion". God's Work is him going above and beyond his Favor. Grace is his Expenditure. God Graciously Favored us before he Graciously Worked on the Cross...

In a sense, Grace comes to us in the Positive and the Negative. Unmerited Favor comes to us in the Negative; for no reason we know of. But God's Riches come to us in the Positive; as a Gift. Grace pre-Faith, and Grace post-Faith. I suppose it's this differentiation that your OP is about. The answer is that Grace is both God's decision to Save us, and his efforts to Save us...

What are the Steps? In my Gospel Tract titled "The Salvation Equation", I rounded it down to Grace + Faith - Works = Salvation. Anything else that can be said to be required, fits into this Equation somewhere. For instance; the Perseverance of the Saints is a Doctrine of Grace, and fits in the Grace Integer. Christ Alone fits into Grace, etc. Since I'm a Fundamentalist, and a Lowest Common Denominator kind of guy (a Minimalist); I like to keep things simple...

Works can't be subtracted from the Gospel (1), from grace (2), from faith (3), or from salvation (4).

(1) In Matthew 4:15-23, Jesus began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, which was a light to the Gentiles, and God's law was how his audience knew what sin is (Romans 3:20), so repenting from our disobedience to it is a central part of the Gospel message. Likewise, in Romans 15:18-19, Paul's Gospel involved bringing Gentiles to obedience in word and in deed. Moreover, Romans 10:16, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, and 1 Peter 4:17 all speak against those who do not obey the Gospel. In Titus 2:14, Jesus gave himself to redeem us form all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people of his own possession who are zealous for doing good works, so becoming zealous for doing good works in obedience to God's law is the way to believe in what Jesus accomplished through his ministry and through the cross (Acts 21:20).

(2) In Psalms 119:29-30, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey His law, and he chose the way of faithfulness by setting God's law before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace through faith. In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching to walk in His way that he might know Him and Israel too, in 1 Kings 2:1-3, God taught how to walk in His way through his law, and in John 17:3, eternal life is knowing God and Jesus, which again is the only way of salvation by grace through faith. In Genesis 6:8-9, Noah found grace in the eyes of God, he was a righteous man, and he walked with God, so God was gracious to him by teaching him how to walk in His way in obedience to His law and he was righteous because he obeyed through faith. In Romans 1:5, we have received grace in order to bring about the obedience of faith. In Titus 2:11-14, our salvation is described as being trained by grace to do what is godly, righteous, and good, and to renounce doing what is ungodly, so God graciously training us to do these works is itself part of the content of His gift of salvation.

(3) Obedience to any set of instructions is about putting our faith in the one who gave them to us to rightly guide us, which is why Jesus said in Matthew 23:23 that faith is one of the weightier matters of the law. In Romans 3:31, our faith upholds God's law. In James 2:18, he would show his faith by his works. In Revelation 14:12, those who kept faith in Jesus are the same as those who kept God's commandments. In John 3:36 obeying Jesus is equated with having faith in him. In Hebrews 11, every example of faith is an example of works. In Numbers 5:6, disobedience to God's law is referred to as breaking faith. in Hebrews 3:18-19, unbelief is equated with disobedience. God is trustworthy, therefore His law is also trustworthy (Psalms 19:7), so relying on what God has instructed is the way to have faith in God while it is contradictory for someone to think that we should have faith in God, but not in what He has instructed. In Proverbs 3:5-7, we have a choice of whether we are going to lean on our own understanding of right and wrong by doing what is right in our own eyes or whether we are going to trust God with all of our heart by doing what He has instructed, and He will make our way straight, and this is what it means to have faith.

(4) Our salvation is from sin (Matthew 1:21) and sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4), so while we do not earn our salvation as the result of having first obeyed it, living in obedience to it is intrinsically part of the concept of salvation from not living in obedience to it. According to Titus 2:11-14, we do not earn our salvation as the result of having first done those works and we do not do those works as the result of having first been saved, but rather God graciously teaching us to do those works is itself the content of His gift of saving us from not doing those works.

 

[Soyeong]

The thread isn’t done yet, RV:


My favorite definition of grace is from Dr. Doug Carter, missionary, and President of my Alma Mater, Ohio Christian University when I was in college. He said, “Grace is grace, because the one being gracious didn’t have to be!”

I too am a minimalist, and see this, like a coin, as simply a two sided issue: One side says “we don’t deserve anything good from God”; and the other side says “God doesn’t have to do anything good for us!”

These two axioms are like a mathematical constant: They cannot and do not change!

Since we can never deserve anything from good from God, then at human efforts to accomplish such merit are impossible and thus futile. It is not by works because works don’t work! It is not a matter of an accumulated record of sufficient actions being meritorious, nor that such actions can earn our release from the penalty due us. There is no human currency that heaven’s bank accepts. Works are worthless, and our debt cannot be repaid!

The only means is forgiveness of that debt, not fulfillment of it. God, the offended party, is the only one capable of forgiveness, and he is under no obligation to do so—thus, forgiveness is a gracious act, and all that follows in the wake of such is equally gracious.

Now it’s done….


Doug

God never gave His law for the purpose of providing a way to earn our salvation, but that doesn't mean it is worthless to obey it for the purposes for which it was given. In Romans 3:27-31, the faith by which we are justified does not abolish our need to obey God's law, but rather our faith upholds it.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

This is a question asked elsewhere, but it's such a great question I have to post it here. Here it is.


Please take some time to think about your answer before you just shoot it off half-cocked. Here goes.

Scripture says we are saved by grace. How does grace save us? Is it really grace that does the work? Or is it just a decision by God that sets everything else in motion? If it is just a decision, what are the steps for our salvation to be completed?

Grace (unmerited favor) is why we weren't IMMEDIATELY DESTROYED when we first sinned, and came under sentence of death. Grace is whay we were permitted to continue living in order to have the opportunity to be saved, and be given the power to become the "Children of God".

In short, Jesus "BLOOD" is the Door into life, "FAITH" is how we can enter that door, and "Grace" is how we survived long enough, and were gifted to have FAITH.

 

[TibiasDad]

God never gave His law for the purpose of providing a way to earn our salvation, but that doesn't mean it is worthless to obey it for the purposes for which it was given. In Romans 3:27-31, the faith by which we are justified does not abolish our need to obey God's law, but rather our faith upholds it.

Welcome to our community!

I’m not sure I understand what you are saying in relation to my post, but I don’t think I’ve said anything contrary to what you have stated.

Doug

 

[Soyeong]

Welcome to our community!

I’m not sure I understand what you are saying in relation to my post, but I don’t think I’ve said anything contrary to what you have stated.

Doug

Thank you. You said that our works are worthless because they can't repay our debt, however, the reason why God commanded His people to do good works was never for the purpose of repaying our debt, so that is an incorrect reason to think that they are worthless. God is not a worthless God who commands who commands worthless works, so it is valuable to do works for the purposes for which God commanded them.

 

[Soyeong]

NT

 

[TibiasDad]

Thank you. You said that our works are worthless because they can't repay our debt, however, the reason why God commanded His people to do good works was never for the purpose of repaying our debt, so that is an incorrect reason to think that they are worthless. God is not a worthless God who commands who commands worthless works, so it is valuable to do works for the purposes for which God commanded them.

I said they are worthless as to gaining salvation. We are not saved by works, human effort. I have not said, nor am I saying that good works, or living according to the principles of the law are worthless.

Doug

 

[Ladodgers6]

Thank you. You said that our works are worthless because they can't repay our debt, however, the reason why God commanded His people to do good works was never for the purpose of repaying our debt, so that is an incorrect reason to think that they are worthless. God is not a worthless God who commands who commands worthless works, so it is valuable to do works for the purposes for which God commanded them.

You need to under stand Paul that works that are performed incur a debt to be paid. Something is earned for the services rendered. But how can a sinner who is already condemned under the Law, fulfill it's requirements?

Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

 

[Ladodgers6]

God never gave His law for the purpose of providing a way to earn our salvation, but that doesn't mean it is worthless to obey it for the purposes for which it was given. In Romans 3:27-31, the faith by which we are justified does not abolish our need to obey God's law, but rather our faith upholds it.

I beg to differ. The Covenant of Works that the first Adam broke with his One Act of Disobedience brought death and condemnation upon all. Christ the Last Adam fulfilled the broken Covenant of Works with his One Act of Obedience that brought Life and justification. The reason why the Law cannot bring Life to us, is because we are condemned Law-Breakers in Adam. And convicted sinner cannot fulfill what condemns their very nature. Our only hope is in God's Grace and Mercy, the Promise he made to Adam and Eve, Abraham. And this is only by Grace apart from any works.

When Christians talk about “grace alone” in the context of justification, we mean with Scripture that a sinner is justified before God apart from works. A sinner is justified not by works but by God’s grace alone (Rom. 3:24; Titus 3:7).

"Not only the works that we do in our own strength, or that we do before regeneration, or that we do without the merits of Christ, but all works, of whatever sort, are excluded from justification. This is so repetitively certain in Scripture that proof is almost superfluous. Galatians 2:16 reads, “… nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by law-works [ἐξ ἔργων νόμου].” In no way is the reference here to works prescribed by one or another specific law, because the article is missing. All law-work as such is excluded from justification. According to Paul, faith and works form an absolute contrast in the matter of justification (Rom 11:6). This must be maintained against the Roman Catholic teaching about the instrumentality of works in justification, as well as against Pelagians, Rationalists, and Remonstrants. The first two mentioned, the Pelagians and Rationalists, maintain that Scripture excludes only the works of the Jewish law, that is, the ceremonial law, but that the moral law certainly has to be observed by us for justification. The last, the Remonstrants, go one step further, and in place of the moral law in all its severity put a lighter form, the law of the obedience of faith. They speak of a fides obsequiosa [submissive faith] and of an obedientia evangelica [evangelical obedience], which, while in itself not perfect, is accepted by God as perfect."-Vos

So to trust in your works ,be it, fides obsequiosa or obedientia evangelica, instead of trusting in Christ and his merits, is not understanding what is Promised in the Gospel. To rely on anything inherent is not (human efforts), the Gospel Promise, but exhortation (Law-Keeping). This is why it's crucial for our understanding on what actually saves us.​

 

[David1701]

The thread isn’t done yet, RV:


My favorite definition of grace is from Dr. Doug Carter, missionary, and President of my Alma Mater, Ohio Christian University when I was in college. He said, “Grace is grace, because the one being gracious didn’t have to be!”

I too am a minimalist, and see this, like a coin, as simply a two sided issue: One side says “we don’t deserve anything good from God”; and the other side says “God doesn’t have to do anything good for us!”

These two axioms are like a mathematical constant: They cannot and do not change!

Since we can never deserve anything from good from God, then at human efforts to accomplish such merit are impossible and thus futile. It is not by works because works don’t work! It is not a matter of an accumulated record of sufficient actions being meritorious, nor that such actions can earn our release from the penalty due us. There is no human currency that heaven’s bank accepts. Works are worthless, and our debt cannot be repaid!

The only means is forgiveness of that debt, not fulfillment of it. God, the offended party, is the only one capable of forgiveness, and he is under no obligation to do so—thus, forgiveness is a gracious act, and all that follows in the wake of such is equally gracious.

Now it’s done….


Doug

The only means is forgiveness of that debt, not fulfillment of it.

Sorry, wrong answer! This is a false dichotomy.

The debt was paid, by the Lord keeping the law (fulfilling its commands and bearing its punishments for the sins of the elect) and, thus, fulfilled. We (the elect) are forgiven, because the Lord paid the price for our sins.

Matt. 5:17 (MKJV) Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Is. 53:4-6 (MKJV)
4 Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, each one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

1 Pet. 1:18,19 (MKJV)
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;

 

[TibiasDad]

I beg to differ. The Covenant of Works that the first Adam broke with his One Act of Disobedience brought death and condemnation upon all

To be fair, I think he meant the Law was referring to the Mosaic law, the 600+ laws of Judaism. That is what the NT refers to as the Law.

Doug

 

[TibiasDad]

We (the elect) are forgiven, because the Lord paid the price for our sins.

If the price is paid, there is no need for forgiveness. The master that forgave his servant did not receive the debt owed, but accepted the loss, and released the debtor from obligation to repay.

If Jesus actually paid, then the Father has received the payment for that debt, and I have nothing for which to be forgiven.

Doug

 

[David1701]

If the price is paid, there is no need for forgiveness. The master that forgave his servant did not receive the debt owed, but accepted the loss, and released the debtor from obligation to repay.

If Jesus actually paid, then the Father has received the payment for that debt, and I have nothing for which to be forgiven.

Doug

On the contrary, the price having been paid was absolutely necessary for our forgiveness, because God is just. Your view would have God forgiving us, without his justice having been satisfied.

 

[Soyeong]

You need to under stand Paul that works that are performed incur a debt to be paid. Something is earned for the services rendered. But how can a sinner who is already condemned under the Law, fulfill it's requirements?

Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Grace is a gift and gifts can't be earned as a wage, so grace is incompatible with works done for that reason, however works can be done for any number of other reasons that are compatible with grace, which is why there are many verses that show that God is gracious to us by teaching us to obey His law (Psalms 119:29-30, Exodus 33:13, Genesis 6:8-9, Romans 1:5, Titus 2:11-14).

I beg to differ. The Covenant of Works that the first Adam broke with his One Act of Disobedience brought death and condemnation upon all. Christ the Last Adam fulfilled the broken Covenant of Works with his One Act of Obedience that brought Life and justification. The reason why the Law cannot bring Life to us, is because we are condemned Law-Breakers in Adam. And convicted sinner cannot fulfill what condemns their very nature. Our only hope is in God's Grace and Mercy, the Promise he made to Adam and Eve, Abraham. And this is only by Grace apart from any works.

When Christians talk about “grace alone” in the context of justification, we mean with Scripture that a sinner is justified before God apart from works. A sinner is justified not by works but by God’s grace alone (Rom. 3:24; Titus 3:7).

"Not only the works that we do in our own strength, or that we do before regeneration, or that we do without the merits of Christ, but all works, of whatever sort, are excluded from justification. This is so repetitively certain in Scripture that proof is almost superfluous. Galatians 2:16 reads, “… nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by law-works [ἐξ ἔργων νόμου].” In no way is the reference here to works prescribed by one or another specific law, because the article is missing. All law-work as such is excluded from justification. According to Paul, faith and works form an absolute contrast in the matter of justification (Rom 11:6). This must be maintained against the Roman Catholic teaching about the instrumentality of works in justification, as well as against Pelagians, Rationalists, and Remonstrants. The first two mentioned, the Pelagians and Rationalists, maintain that Scripture excludes only the works of the Jewish law, that is, the ceremonial law, but that the moral law certainly has to be observed by us for justification. The last, the Remonstrants, go one step further, and in place of the moral law in all its severity put a lighter form, the law of the obedience of faith. They speak of a fides obsequiosa [submissive faith] and of an obedientia evangelica [evangelical obedience], which, while in itself not perfect, is accepted by God as perfect."-Vos

So to trust in your works ,be it, fides obsequiosa or obedientia evangelica, instead of trusting in Christ and his merits, is not understanding what is Promised in the Gospel. To rely on anything inherent is not (human efforts), the Gospel Promise, but exhortation (Law-Keeping). This is why it's crucial for our understanding on what actually saves us.​

In Psalms 119:29-30, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey His law, and he chose the way of faithfulness by setting God's law before Him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Moreover this means that the Mosaic Covenant is a covenant of grace, and in Jeremiah 31:33, the New Covenant involves God putting His law in our minds and writing it on our hearts, which means that it is a covenant of works. Grace alone apart from works fundamentally misunderstands how God is gracious to us and is not grace at all.

If we break the law, then we can repent, which is why there are many verses that say that God's law brings life. Anyone can repent and fulfill the law by correctly doing the things that it instructs, which is the way to put our hope in God's grace and mercy, and the promise made to Adam and Eve and Abraham.

While there are no works that we need to do first in order to result in becoming righteous, someone becoming righteous by faith means that we are becoming someone who practices righteousness by that faith. God's law is His instructions for how to practice righteousness, not for how to become righteous. While Paul denied that we can earn our righteousness as a wage by our works (Romans 4:1-5), he also said that only doers of the law will be declared righteous (Romans 2:13), so there must be a reason why our righteousness requires us to choose to be doers of the law other than in order to earn it as a wage, namely faith insofar as the faith by which we are declared righteous is also expressed through being a doer of the law (Romans 3:31).

God is trustworthy, therefore His law is also trustworthy (Psalms 19:7), so the way to trust in God is by obediently trusting in what He has instructed, it is contradictory to think that we trust in our own works by obediently trusting in what God has instructed, it is contradictory to think that we should trust in God, but not in what God has instructed, and it is contradictory to think that we should trust in God's word made flesh, but not trust in God's word.