¿Qué pasa con la gracia y las obras?? ¿Eres salvo por gracia o eres salvo por obras?? ¿Vives bajo la gracia o vives bajo la ley?? Is it all grace and are works not relevant anymore or do works matter? What does the Bible say about grace and works?
Where did the law originate from?
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes (salmos 19:7-8)
It’s important to look at where the law originates from and for whom the law was intended. The law originates from God’s nature and His will. Al darle la ley a Moisés, God revealed His nature and His will to His carnal people Israel. Por lo tanto, la parte moral de la ley, through which sin is revealed, represents the will of God.
God’s people had lived for 430 years in pagan Egypt and were accustomed to the Egyptian culture and religion (éxodo 12:40).
After God had redeemed His people from the power of Pharaoh and from their slavery in Egypt and led His people to the promised land, God’s people had to be cleansed and be renewed in their minds, so that they would not think like the Gentiles, who didn’t acknowledge and served God but acknowledged and served other gods, but that they would live as children of God and acknowledge God as their God and Creator of the heaven and the earth and all there is within and would serve Him and walk in obedience in His will.
God’s people would possess a land, where Gentiles lived. God didn’t want His people to get involved with the Gentile cultures, Religiones, idolatría, Rituales, y aduanas, but would separate themselves from the other Gentile nations and keep the commandments and precepts of God and live holy.
God made His will known by giving His commandments, whereby God’s people could renew their way of thinking, so that their minds would be conformed to the will of God and they would know His thoughts and walk in His ways (Leer también: ‘¿Son los pensamientos de Dios nuestros pensamientos??‘ y ‘Es el camino de Dios tu camino?').
And so God’s people were saved by grace and would stay saved by keeping the commandments, que representaba la voluntad de Dios.
For whom was the law intended?
La ley, which God had given and originated from His nature and His will, was intended for His carnal people Israel, que nacieron de la simiente de Jacob (Israel).
Israel was a carnal people, who belonged, Al igual que las otras naciones, to the generation of fallen man; el anciano, who is soulish and only can live after the flesh.
Por lo tanto, the law pertained to fallen man, who was put below the devil and his angels and lived under the rulership of the devil, pecado, y la muerte, because of the fall (disobedience to the words of God and obedience to the words of the devil).
All the commandments, preceptos, Fiestas, Rituales, Leyes alimentarias, and sacrificial laws were meant for the carnal man, who was trapped in the flesh and whose spirit was dead and had to be kept, so that through obedience to the words of God and by keeping His commandments and precepts God could have a relationship with His carnal people.
Sin embargo, the natural birth of God’s people didn’t give them a privileged position in regard to (eternal) salvation and didn’t exonerate them if they decided to go their own way and violate the law and become disobedient to the words of God, which are written in God’s law and represent His will (Leer también: ‘The secret of the law').
The violation of the law and the punishment
Muchas personas, who belonged to God’s people through natural birth were punished and sentenced to death because of their violation of the law; their disobedience to God and His Word.
God knew the old man and the weakness of the flesh and since man was not spiritual but lived under the power of sin and death, God had to deal according to the state of fallen man and carry out punishments in order to prevent the rest of God’s carnal people would be affected and/or influenced by the evil; pecado (desobediencia a dios) and practice the same evil.
Through the grace of God, a través del parto natural, God’s people were saved and belonged to Him and because of their fear and love for God, which was expressed by keeping the law, God’s people stayed saved and lived on the mount of blessing.
No flesh can be justified by the works of the law
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Pero ahora la justicia de Dios sin la ley se manifiesta, siendo testificado por la ley y los profetas; Incluso la justicia de Dios que es por la fe en Jesucristo para todos y sobre todos los que creen.: porque no hay diferencia: Por cuanto todos pecaron, y están destituidos de la gloria de Dios; Siendo justificados gratuitamente por Su gracia a través de la redención que es en Cristo Jesús: A quien Dios ha puesto como propiciación por medio de la fe en su sangre, para declarar Su justicia para la remisión de los pecados que han pasado, a través de la paciencia de Dios; Para declarar, yo digo, en este tiempo Su justicia: para que Él sea justo, y el que justifica al que cree en Jesús (romanos 3:19-26)
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? Dios no lo quiera. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; todavía no yo, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Gálatas 2:15-21)
The obedience of the law and the works of the law couldn’t change anything about the (espiritual) state and position of fallen man. The spirit of man remained dead, despite the keeping of the law and the works of the law.
Despite the keeping of the law, the carnal man remained living in the bondage of the devil, pecado, y la muerte, a través de la carne.
The sacrifices and the blood of animals couldn’t change anything about it. The blood of animals could only make temporary atonement for the sins and iniquities of fallen man.
As long as the flesh, en el que reinan el pecado y la muerte, would exist, the people would be bound by the law.
The coming of the promise, Jesucristo
For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: y yo lo resucitaré en el día postrero (John 6:38-40)
But God sent His Son to the earth to change the state of fallen man. By the coming of God’s promise; the coming of the Messiah, God’s people would be redeemed from the spiritual authority of the devil and sin and death, que reina en la carne.
God would redeem His people from the kingdom of darkness and transfer them into His Kingdom and restore the state of fallen man and the relationship between God and man, which was broken through sin (desobediencia a dios).
And so Jesus Christ, la palabra viva, and Son of God came to the earth and took the place of fallen man and carried the sins and the punishment for sin, que es la muerte, upon Himself and reconciled man back to God by His blood.
Jesus was sacrificed as a Lamb and carried the sins and iniquities of fallen man, que el Padre le impuso, and died on the cross.
Jesus was made sin and because of that, Jesús entró en el Hades. Sin embargo, God’s power was stronger than the death, and so after three days, Jesus rose as Victor from the dead with the keys of hell and death.
Jesus became the Way to salvation and reconciliation with the Father, first of all for God’s carnal people.
The coming of the promise, el espíritu santo
Y les daré un corazón, y pondré un espíritu nuevo dentro de ti; y quitaré de su carne el corazón de piedra, y les dará un corazón de carne: Para que caminen en Mis estatutos, y guardar mis ordenanzas, y hazlos: y ellos serán mi pueblo, y yo seré su Dios. Pero en cuanto a aquellos cuyo corazón anda tras el corazón de sus cosas detestables y de sus abominaciones, Retribuiré su camino sobre sus propias cabezas., dice el Señor Dios (Ezequiel 11:19-21).
Si me amáis, Guarda mis mandamientos. Y yo rogaré al Padre, and He shall give you another Comforter, para que Él permanezca contigo para siempre; Aun el Espíritu de verdad; a quien el mundo no puede recibir, because it seeth him not, ni le conoce: pero vosotros le conocéis; porque Él habita con vosotros, y estará en ti (John 14:15-17)
Dando gracias al Padre, que nos hizo aptos para ser partícipes de la herencia de los santos a la luz: ¿Quién nos ha librado del poder de las tinieblas?, y nos ha trasladado al reino de su amado Hijo: En quien tenemos redención por su sangre, Incluso el perdón de los pecados. (colosenses 1:13)
Because on the Day of Pentecost, when the other Comforter, the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father, due to the finished work of Jesus Christ, the disciples of Jesus Christ received the Holy Spirit, and their spirits were raised from the dead and they were redeemed from the power of the devil and transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God, donde Jesucristo es Rey y reina.
En ese momento, they not only belonged through their natural birth to God, but through the spiritual new birth, they were reconciled with God and belonged to Him and had become the new creation; hijos de dios (masculinos y femeninos).
They were born under the law, but by faith and regeneration in Christ, they were redeemed from the law of sin and death and the curse.
God’s will written in the heart of the new man
Mirad, los dias vienen, dice el señor, cuando haré un nuevo pacto con la casa de Israel y con la casa de Judá: No conforme al pacto que hice con sus padres el día que los tomé de la mano para sacarlos de la tierra de Egipto; porque no permanecieron en mi pacto, y yo no los miré, dice el señor. Porque este es el pacto que haré con la casa de Israel después de aquellos días., dice el señor; Pondré mis leyes en su mente, y escribirlas en sus corazones: y seré para ellos un Dios, y ellos serán para mí un pueblo: Y no enseñará cada uno a su prójimo, y cada hombre su hermano, dicho, conoce al señor: porque todos me conocerán, de menor a mayor. Porque seré misericordioso con su injusticia, y de sus pecados y de sus iniquidades no me acordaré más. En que Él dice, Un nuevo pacto, Él ha hecho a los primeros ancianos. Ahora bien, lo que se pudre y envejece está a punto de desaparecer (Hebreos 8:8-13)
They were no longer the old creation, que pertenecían al mundo; el reino de las tinieblas, and were directed and led by the sinful nature, que está presente en la carne, and its lusts and desires.
They didn’t need the written law of Moses anymore, in order to walk in the will of God and they didn’t have to keep the sacrificial laws and all the rituals of the law to live righteously and atone the sins and iniquities of the flesh.
Porque a través de la regeneración en Cristo, they had crucified their flesh, whereby they were redeemed from the law of sin and death, which was intended for (la carne de) el hombre carnal.
Through the redemption of the flesh and the resurrection of the spirit from the dead, habían llegado a ser hijos de Dios, who were spiritual and had received God’s nature.
Because of the abiding of the Holy Spirit in them, they didn’t need the written laws of God anymore, to walk in His will, because God had put His laws in their minds and had written them in their hearts.
Because of their fear and love for God, they would walk after the Spirit and do God’s will on earth, al igual que Jesús, Who walked after the Spirit and fulfilled the law of God.
The grace of God came to God’s carnal people; the children of Israël
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? Dios no lo quiera. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; todavía no yo, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Gálatas 2:15-21)
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: porque esta escrito, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: para, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: pero, The man that doeth them shall live in them (Gálatas 3:10-12)
Aquellos, who belonged to God’s carnal people and repented by faith in Jesus Christ and became born again, were saved and redeemed from the power of the devil, a través de la muerte de la carne, and through the resurrection of the spirit from the dead, por el poder del Espíritu Santo, became sons of God and entered the Kingdom of God.
They didn’t receive their salvation and their new position as sons of God in Christ by their own works, by doing the works of the law, but they received their salvation by their faith in Jesus Christ; el hijo de Dios, and His redemptive work and blood.
La gracia de Dios came to the Gentiles
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power (Efesios 3:1-7)
The grace and salvation of God and the deliverance of the law, que obra en la carne, came first for His carnal people. Sin embargo, through their rejection and fall, salvation came unto the Gentiles, whereby the Gentiles were given the opportunity, just like the people of Israel, to be saved and reconciled with God by faith in Jesus Christ and regeneration in Him and to become a son of God (Masculino y femenino (romanos 11:11, 15)).
Saved by the grace of God
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Gálatas 2:21)
The works of man and obedience to the law of Moses; the law of sin and death and keeping all the commandments, Rituales, Fiestas, Leyes alimentarias, and sacrificial laws can’t save man and redeem man from his fallen state and can’t make the spirit of man alive. The only way to salvation and to be redeemed from the sinful nature, which is present in the flesh is by dying to the flesh (Leer también: El doloroso proceso conocido como morir y Seguir a Jesús te costará todo).
Por lo tanto, A person can only be saved, redeemed, and justified by Jesus Christ and His blood.
Only by faith in Jesus Christ and acknowledging His work and regeneration in Him, a person can be saved and be redeemed from the power of the devil, a través de la muerte de la carne, and through the resurrection of the spirit from the dead, por el poder del Espíritu Santo, be transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God and be made holy and righteous by His blood.
You can’t receive the Holy Spirit by your works, you can only receive the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ (Gálatas 3:2)
When a person is born again and is made alive and becomes a new creation, who has God’s nature and in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, the will of God is written in the heart of the new man. Therefore the new man shall walk after the will of God and live in His will and do righteous works, according to the law of the Spirit.
By walking by faith after the Spirit, the new man shall fulfill the law, al igual que Jesús, Who didn’t walk after the flesh but walked by faith after the Spirit and fulfilled the law of God.
Jesus didn’t come to destroy the law but to fulfill la Ley
Que tu luz brille así ante los hombres, para que vean tus buenas obras, y glorifica a tu Padre que está en los cielos. No penséis que he venido a abrogar la ley, o los profetas: No he venido a destruir, pero para cumplir. Porque de cierto os digo, Hasta que pasen el cielo y la tierra, ni una jota ni una tilde pasarán de la ley, hasta que todo se cumpla (Mateo 5:16-18)
Jesus Christ didn’t come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law. Jesus showed that by the fear and love He had for His Father, He was able to keep all the commandments of the Father and do His righteous works.
Por tanto, ahora ninguna condenación hay para los que están en Cristo Jesús., que no andan según la carne, pero según el Espíritu. Porque la ley del Espíritu de vida en Cristo Jesús me ha librado de la ley del pecado y de la muerte.. Por lo que la ley no pudo hacer, en que era débil por la carne, Dios enviando a su propio Hijo en semejanza de carne de pecado, y por el pecado, pecado condenado en la carne: Para que la justicia de la ley se cumpla en nosotros, que no andan según la carne, pero según el Espíritu (romanos 8:1-4)
The old creation, que camina según la carne, is selfish and is led by his senses, emociones, sentimientos, and will and shall not be able to fulfill the moral part of the law. But the new creation, who has crucified the flesh and has become spiritual and walks after the Spirit, shall fulfill the moral part of the law, al igual que Jesús (Leer también: ¿Puede el hombre cumplir la ley??')
The works testified of Jesus Christ
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me. Y el padre mismo, que me ha enviado, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, ni visto su forma (John 5:36-37)
I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work (John 9:4)
jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you (John 10:25-26)
If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him (John 10:37-38)
Jesus did the will of the Father and His works testified, that Jesus was (y es) the Son of God and that the Father had sent Him to the earth.
Just like the works of many (religioso) leaders testified that they were sons of the devil and that they did the will of their father the devil (John 8:44)
And so everyone shall do the works of the one to whom he or she belongs to. Por eso, the works testify of a person to whom he or she belongs (Leer también: ‘La voluntad de Dios versus la voluntad del diablo.‘ y ‘¿De quién eres esclavo??')
The works testify if you are a son of God
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, y guarda sus mandamientos. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. Porque todo lo que es nacido de Dios vence al mundo.: y esta es la victoria que vence al mundo, incluso nuestra fe (1 John 5:1-4)
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29)
By grace, you are saved and by faith and regeneration, you have entered the Kingdom of God and become a son of God.
Now that you have become a son of God and are no longer a son of the devil, you shall live as a son of God by grace after the Spirit and not as a son of the devil after the flesh in sins and iniquities. Because through regeneration your flesh has died in Christ.
Porque el pecado no se enseñoreará de vosotros: porque no estáis bajo la ley, pero bajo la gracia (romanos 6:14)
Profesan que conocen a Dios.; pero con las obras le niegan, siendo abominable, y desobediente, y toda buena obra reprobada. (Tito 1:16)
Everyone can say that he or she is born again and knows God, but a son of God doesn’t walk after the flesh, pero según el Espíritu, and therefore a son of God shall not be rebellious, get involved with idolatry, and witchcraft, cometer adulterio (divorcio), fornicación, impureza sexual, and shall not lie, codiciar, be greedy for money, defraud, robar, matar, etc..
La Palabra dice, that the unrighteous, who do these carnal works, which derive from the flesh, don’t belong to God and shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (Oh. 1 corintios 6:10-11, Gálatas 5:19-21, 1 John 5:18)
Eventualmente, everyone shall be judged according to his or her works by the Word. This means that the works you do will determine your salvation (Oh. John 12:48, 2 corintios 11:15, Revelación 20:12-13; 22:12).
The relation between grace and works is, that by grace you are saved and by your works you stay saved
The relation between grace and works is, that by the grace of God, you are saved and you no longer live, a través de la carne, under the law but under grace. Sin embargo, the works you do from your restored (curado) state as the new man and your new nature, prove if you are born of God and belong to Him and stay saved or not. Porque no todo el mundo, who is saved keeps their salvation (filipenses 2:12-13, Hebreos 3:6-19).
Porque la gracia de Dios que trae salvación se ha manifestado a todos los hombres., Enseñándonos eso, negando la impiedad y los deseos mundanos, deberíamos vivir sobriamente, con rectitud, y piadoso, en este mundo presente; Buscando esa bendita esperanza, y la manifestación gloriosa del gran Dios y Salvador nuestro Jesucristo; Who gave himself for us, para redimirnos de toda iniquidad, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, celoso de buenas obras (Tito 2:11-13)
‘Se la sal de la tierra’
