Joshua Foster, a former Protestant and
graduate of Liberty University recently wrote a short book defending
Latter-day Saint theology. In the following, he discusses the always hot-topic
of faith, grace, and works:
The Works of Faith vs Grace Alone Theology
Many will
cite Paul in their belief that ‘works’ of any kind, are not required to be
saved (this is generally referred to as ‘grace alone theology’). And to the
extent that all are saved from mortal death and will be resurrected, that is
correct . . . Grace Alone adherents base their doctrine upon the following
statement from Paul: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
(Eph. 2:8-9). How shall we then reconcile Paul’s statement with the multitude
of Scriptures which do state that works are required to be saved into God’s
Kingdom? Here we see yet another example of a major interpretation difference.
I submit that Paul is not contradicting Jesus and the rest of the Scriptures.
Rather, Paul is pointing out that the source of salvation is God (including the
requisite works of salvation) and it is “not of yourselves.” There are works
required of those who desire to be saved into God’s kingdom, but they are not
our own works (they are God’s) and no one may boast.
We see
evidence of this understanding in the Bible multiple times. One of my favorites
is seen where the Apostle Peter heals the lame man and points out that what he
(Peter) did was God’s work through him: “Then Peter said, Silver and gold
have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth rise up and walk . . . [Peter then sees the people attempting to
attribute the work to him] And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people,
Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as
though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? [No it was]
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers . . . “
(Acts 3:6-13). Here we see that God is the source of all good works even when
we do them: true Christians become coworkers with Christ.
Furthermore,
it ought to be pointed out what the cultural context of “pistis” (faith in classical
Greek) used by Paul, meant. Pistis meant to commit to an alignment, and not to
just profess belief. If one was disobedient in action to a lord or patron that
he had committed pistis to, he was rejected from the covenant agreement between
them. It essentially means ‘turn away from your current path and become loyal’
(See Josephus book The Jewish War). (Joshua Foster, Legacy: Why I’m a
Latter-day Saint [2020], 21-22)
