Why Adding Works to Grace Means No Salvation, No Assurance, and No Peace
Dear brothers and sisters, and any guests with us today,
We come this morning to the most vital truth in all the universe: the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is only one true gospel—the one preached by the Apostles—and every counterfeit robs people of eternal life, assurance, and peace. I want you to examine your beliefs to make sure they align with what the Apostles taught the early Church, and are not what men have taught since then. I am an Ambassador for Christ. You are going to hear God crying out through me for you to be reconciled to Him, and He is going to give you the faith you need to be able to believe.
Today the Holy Spirit speaks to three groups among us.
Group 1. To the Sinner Who Has Never Trusted Christ
Perhaps you are here today without Christ. You may think you are a good person, or you may already know deep down that something is missing. The Bible gives us a way to examine our own hearts honestly: compare your life to God’s perfect standard, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20).
If we are truly honest with ourselves, every one of us will see that we fall far short of God’s holiness and desperately need a Saviour.
Here are just three examples:
- “You shall not lie” (9th Commandment). Have you ever told even a small lie—a white lie, an exaggeration, or a half-truth? God sees every one as sin.
- “You shall not steal” (8th Commandment). Have you ever taken anything that wasn’t yours, no matter how small—perhaps downloaded something illegally, kept extra change, or wasted time at work that belonged to your employer? That is stealing in God’s eyes.
- “You shall not commit adultery” (7th Commandment). Jesus said, “Everyone who looks at a person with lustful intent has already committed adultery with them in their heart” (Matthew 5:28). If we have ever looked with lust—at a person, an image, or in our imagination—we are guilty of adultery before God. Even if we haven’t committed the actual act.
By God’s perfect standard, we are all liars, thieves, and adulterers at heart. And that’s only three of the Ten Commandments. We have broken them all in thought, word, or deed. The Bible says, “Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10). These sins do not make us sinners; they expose the sinful condition we were born into (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12). They show us we are already guilty sinners, separated from a holy God from birth, and in desperate need of reconciliation. Galatians 3:10 declares, For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”
But here is the good news:
- Ephesians 2:8–9 declares, “For by God’s unmerited, unearned favour you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
- Galatians 2:16 declares, nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
You cannot save yourself. Your good deeds, religious upbringing, church attendance, or moral efforts cannot erase even one sin. But God, rich in mercy, offers you salvation as a free gift—received the moment you trust in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus lived the perfect life you could never live, died on the cross to pay the full penalty for your sins, and rose again to give you eternal life. You need only turn from trusting anything in yourself and believe in Him alone. This is the gospel of grace alone—and it is your only hope.
Group 2. To Those Who Have Believed a False Gospel of Grace Plus Works
There is another group here today: those who sincerely call themselves Christians, yet trust in a gospel of grace plus works—believing they are saved (or stay saved) by faith in Christ plus their own efforts, sacraments, obedience, or faithfulness.
Hear the solemn warning of Scripture in Galatians 1:6–9:
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one… But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
Paul pronounces a double curse on any other gospel. Why? Because adding anything to Christ’s finished work keeps a person under the curse of Adam. Galatians 3:10 says, “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse.” Christ alone redeemed us from that curse by becoming a curse for us (Gal. 3:13). If you are trusting—even partly—in your own performance to gain or maintain salvation, you are not resting in the true gospel. A false gospel has no power to save. You remain lost in your sins, still under God’s wrath, even though you may feel religious and secure.
Friend, you are in grave danger. The gospel you have believed cannot give you eternal life.
Group 3. To True Believers Who Have Been Led into Legalism
There is a third group: those who were once saved by grace alone through faith alone, but have since been persuaded that they must now add works, obedience, or faithfulness to stay saved or to prove they are saved.
To you the Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 3:1–3:
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? … Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
Your eternal salvation remains secure—sealed forever in the finished work of Christ (John 10:28–29; Ephesians 1:13–14). Nothing can snatch you from His hand. But by shifting your trust—even partially—to your own faithfulness, you are robbing yourself of the joy, assurance, and peace that belong to you in Christ. Instead of resting in His perfect righteousness, you live in doubt, fear, and spiritual anxiety.
Worse still, you are walking in the flesh rather than the Spirit, and this will cost you eternal rewards. 1 Corinthians 3:12–15 warns that works built on any foundation other than Christ alone will be burned up at the judgment seat of Christ, and you will suffer loss—though you yourself will be saved, “yet as through fire.”
The True Gospel the Apostles Preached
Now hear the glorious gospel the Apostles proclaimed—the only gospel that saves, assures, and brings peace:
God the Father, in infinite love, sent His eternal Son, Jesus Christ—fully God and fully man—into this world to rescue helpless sinners. Though He was sinless, Jesus took our place on the cross. There He suffered the full wrath of God against our sins—every lie, every lust, every rebellion. He was forsaken by the Father so that we would never be forsaken. He shed His precious blood to wash away every stain of guilt. He cried out, “It is finished!”—the debt was paid in full. Then, on the third day, He rose bodily from the grave, conquering sin, death, and hell for you, forever.
Because Jesus lives, everyone who turns from all self-trust and believes in Him alone receives—freely and instantly—the forgiveness of all sins, perfect righteousness before God, and eternal life that can never be lost.
This is the gospel of grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
The Call Today
- If you are an unsaved sinner, repent and believe this gospel today. Trust Christ alone for salvation.
- If you have trusted a false gospel of works, repent—change your mind—and cast yourself wholly on Christ’s finished work.
- If you are a true believer who has drifted into legalism, return to your first love. Rest again in the grace that saved you, and walk in the freedom of the Spirit.
And finally, to all who have received this gospel of grace and are resting and walking in Christ’s righteousness alone: lift your hearts in grateful praise! Thank God right now for His amazing, undeserved grace that saved you forever—apart from any works, faithfulness, or obedience of your own. Boast only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice that your salvation—from beginning to end—is all of Him, so that no one may boast except in the Lord.
Jesus is calling you right now. Come to Him with empty hands. Receive the free gift of eternal life.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your amazing Grace, Your unmerited, undeserved favour. Help us to take our trust off our own efforts to save ourselves and put all our trust in the finished work of Christ that saves us forever.
To the glory of God alone.
Amen.
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In Christ’s love,
The Reach NZ Ministry Team
www.reachnz.org
