Are We Saved By Our Works?

Chapter 15

Works

The Bible clearly states that no one is saved by their works, where saved means attaining eternal life and being saved from the second death described in Revelation:

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. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The only path to salvation is through a belief in Jesus Christ:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Even though one is not saved by his works, they are very important:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17)

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (James 2:24)

According to the book of Revelation, those who are judged at the great white throne judgment will be judged on their works:

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:12-13)

Multiple books were opened. When all was said and done, those whose names are not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire, regardless of their works:

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

At the great white throne judgment, those whose names are written in the book of life will have their positions of authority in heaven determined by their works. We know there are leaders called archangels. One is named Michael:

Yet Michael the archangel... (Jude 1:9)

Also, the apostles James and John connived over who would sit at the right and left hand of Jesus when He rules the earth from His tabernacle in new Jerusalem:

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. (Mark 10:35-37)

Jesus stated that someone would sit on his right and left sides. We are not all going to be worker bees of equal standing. There will be some management spirits with God as their chief authority. Those judged at the great white throne judgment will have their position of authority set according to their works. As for me and the life I have lived, I am perfectly content at this time to settle for the lowest position available. There are no toilets since they serve a physical function, so I could not clean toilets. Perhaps I could polish the pure gold street of new Jerusalem:

...and the street of the city was pure gold... (Revelation 21:21)

Don't you know I would see some interesting spirits breeze by?

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