Does Paul teach works based salvation?

A Romanist rival has challenged me that the Bible teaches works based salvation.

I have defended the doctrine of Justification by grace through faith alone on many levels throughout this blog. I have an article treating this claim in the epistle of James and in the teachings of Christ.
Most of the time passages are quoted based upon ignorance. A preacher of works will site thousands of passages without any mention of their context so that that a novice will be overwhelmed by the amount of verses sited so they will not read the Bible in context to find the answer.

The fact is the Bible needs to be interpreted in it’s context. Anyone who tries to overwhelm a person with quotes for their interpretation without providing a context or can explain their proof text beyond their argument then that person has proved themselves to be not of high authority. One thing many have noticed reading my articles is that they are very long and I provide very extensive quotes in order for a reader to gain a good grasp of the passages I mention as a proof text.
The New Testament unfolds itself book by book. The revelation builds on to itself. You will notice matthew and mark are the earlier gospels and are not concerned with discussing the trinity in carnation or salvation. They are focussed upon the concepts that Jesus is the Messiah of OT prophecy and that He is the Son of God. It is John which had written his gospel years after the revelations of Paul, that is later concerned with the doctrine of God and salvation. Luke unveils for us the history of the early church and unveils the historical shift that went from the Jewish Church near the initial resurrection stages and shifts to Paul’s revelations concerning the gentiles.


The particular passage that has been brought to question the book of Romans. Romans is famous for it’s message of grace and salvation free from works.
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

However the book of Romans has many verses which contradict a legalists interpretation.
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Also Paul elsewhere teaches grace based salvation.
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,


Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


So it would be wise to look at this passage in it’s context.
Rom 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
In Chapter 1 Paul was concerned with the Judgement of the Gentiles. The gentiles had the excuse of ignorance, Yet Paul refuted teaching that we all have a natural revelation about the existence of God and morality through nature. If the Gentiles could be condemned through natural revelation then Jews were definitely condemned by way of Holy Scripture.


Rom 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
God is against all sins of all peoples.
Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Here the Jew and the religious have been condemned by God because in recognizing the sin of their neighbors they have shown the sin in their own hearts.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

The legalist despises any mercy upon the heathen. Yet it is through this mercy that the Heathen is brought to repentance. The grace of God will always make a more righteous saint than any by-product of Man-made religion. Instead those who opposed grace grow in condemnation awaiting the wrath of God.

Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

This is a clear warning against self-righteous religion which claims that good deeds makes sin acceptable. God will still punish sin.

Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

The pagans would seek for these very things.
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

Legalist begin to leave the truth of scripture and have a tendency to become angry and start fights. This only gathers the wrath of God.

Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Here the legalist has hope, at this point they want to drop the Bible and ignore the rest. Because God is fair and he will respect their good work. Unfortunately those of use who have read the next passage know.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom 3:20 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.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Hence the despair and anger in legalism.

Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Sin condemns all mankind those who worship idols for instance, are idolators no matter what religion they call themselves.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

The fact that others outside the faith are more righteous in certain areas proves that we are responsible for all our sins.

Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Rom 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Rom 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Rom 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

The legalist is always confident in there self-righteousness. They teach confidently their legalism wherever they go.


Rom 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

Yet the legalist is only intelligent compared to the foolish.


Rom 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Rom 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

It is the teacher of legalism that dishonors God because they lead people in sin by their very example. How could a Catholic priest for instance successfully teach against alcohol when they drink it all the time? An alcoholic needs to stay away from this stuff and yet they are taught moderation any way.



Rom 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Religion is obliterated at this point. Why take sacraments if you can live righteously with out them. Organized religion is hereby null and void. Rituals will not be judged like actions (2:27-28).
Yet Paul did not write chapters. He wrote a book. And the way of salvation will be clearly revealed.

Rom 3:19 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.
Rom 3:20 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.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Rom 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Rom 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

In Christ,
Matt Singleton