First, let it be stated plainly: grace is the antithesis of works. Grace is so God-filled and saturated that there is no room for man's works, and it is an insult to God to even hint at including them in salvation.
Why?
1. The abuse of grace condemns the preacher who proclaims it.
If a preacher (or even an angel) preaches a gospel mixed with man's works, Paul says in Galatians 1:6-9 that such a preacher has perverted the gospel and should be accused - sentenced to hell. Why would Paul give such a major pronouncement to a false preacher? Because that false preacher is leading other people to hell, and to Paul, it would be better for one person (the preacher) to be eternally separated from God than many persons who might be persuaded by his preaching.
Man's works will not lead him to Heaven, they lead to hell. And even grace with a mixture of works will do the same because anything added to grace causes grace to no longer be grace.
2. The abuse of grace nullifies faith, which is necessary for salvation.
Paul used Abraham as an example in Romans 4 that he was not justified by his works, but by his faith. And then Paul says in verse 4, "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt." If you work for something, you don't consider payment for that work to be grace, but instead what was owed to you.
People can try to make deals with God. Let my sick grandmother live, and I will live for you. Heal my body and I will live for you. God does not make deals.
When a person realizes they are a sinner incapable of producing any good, then when God saves that person totally on the basis of the redemptive work of Jesus, then whatever that person receives in life is received with joy and patience because it is more than they deserve.
And when you make deals with God, it nullifies faith. Romans 4:16 "Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace..." If you believe, even the smallest of man's works brings salvation, then your faith is in your works, not fully in the cross of Jesus Christ.
3. The abuse of grace gives glory to man and away from the cross of Jesus Christ.
I hear people say things like:
* I accepted Jesus Christ when I was young.
* I found Jesus
* I was saved forty years ago.
What is the common denominator of all of those statements? "I" -
The story of salvation is not about us but about Jesus Christ. All glory and praise go to Him and not to us.
Isaiah 42:8 "My glory I will not give to another."
God does not share His glory with man.
Paul said in Galatians 6:14, "But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ..."
In Heaven, the only persons who will be there are those who will give glory to "the Lamb seated on the throne." No one will be able to declare or boast of their work, position, or profession that earned them the right to be in Heaven.
Blessings;
David
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