GRACE ALONE AND THE CONFUSION ABOUT WORKS BY STEVE FINNELL

Calvinism with its confusion about grace alone and works have resulted in many rejecting God's terms for pardon under the New Covenant. The doctrine of Calvinism is, that a selected few are saved by grace alone and that faith in Jesus, repentance (making the commitment to turn from sin and unbelief and turning toward God), confessing Jesus as the Son of God, Lord and Savior, and water baptism are all works of man and that works cannot save. Calvinists' believe that God forces men to believe against their will, forces them to repent, confess, and be baptized, all against their will. Hence the doctrine, GRACE ALONE.

WHAT ABOUT WORKS?

There is a work that men have to do to be saved. It is a work of faith.

John 6:26-29....28 Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

Jesus told the crowd that the work they should do, was to believe in Him for eternal life. Jesus did not tell them that God, the Holy Spirit nor He Himself would force them to believe so they might be saved.

There are works that do not save.

Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Men are not justified by keeping the Law of Moses.

Galatians 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Faith in Jesus is not a work of the Law of Moses.
Repentance is not a work of the Law of Moses.
Confessing Jesus is not a work of the Law of Moses.
Being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins is not a work of the Law of Moses.

Men are not saved because of righteous deeds.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His Mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Washing of regeneration is not a deed done in righteousness. 

The apostle Paul makes it clear that water baptism is not an act of righteousness when he said God saves by the washing of regeneration (water baptism). Notice that washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit are two different things.

Washing of regeneration. (John 3:5 ....born of water)
Renewing by the Holy Spirit. (John 3:5...and the Spirit)
Washing of regeneration.(Acts 2:38...baptized...for the forgiveness of your sins)
Renewing by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 ...you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit)

Not saved by works.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so no one may boast.

The gift men received by grace through faith is salvation. Men are not force to have faith so they can believe and be saved.

Men are not saved as a results of works.

Faith is not a work of the Law nor is it a work of righteousness.
Repentance is not a work of the Law nor is it a work of righteousness.
Confession is not a work of the Law of Moses nor is it a work of righteousness.
Water baptism is not a work of the Law of Moses nor is it a work of righteousness.

ACTS OF OBEDIENCE.

Hebrews 5:9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.

Faith-Repentance-Confession-Water Baptism are acts of obedience, they are not works of the Law of Moses nor are they deeds of righteousness.

FAITH: John 3:16
REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38
CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10
WATER BAPTISM: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21

Faith, repentance, confession, and water baptism are works of faith, obedience to God. Faith, repentance, confession, and water baptism are not works of the Law of Moses nor are they deeds done in righteousness. 

MEN HAVE FREE-WILL, GOD DOES NOT FORCE MEN TO BELIEVE, REPENT, CONFESS, NOR BE BAPTIZED.

GRACE ALONE NOR IS THE TERM GRACE ALONE IS  FOUND IN SCRIPTURE.