Romans 4:14

Romans 4:14

Jesus said that the only way to the Father--the only way to heaven--is through Him (John 14:6). Works are necessary as they come about because of our faith (James 2:18) and they work to increase our faith (Luke 17:5-6). We cannot fully separate the two. The mistake of those who were emphasizing the Law was in trying to separate them to the point of discarding faith. But we cannot earn heaven: letting go of faith puts us in the impossible situation of trying to fulfill every aspect of the Law without fail in order to become good enough to merit heaven. We cannot do it! Faith lived out like Abraham's puts us in the wonderful position of being able to receive an incredible, undeserved promise of salvation. Abraham looked to God and knew He would faithfully keep that promise someday, though he never saw the fulfillment himself. We can look back and see it fulfilled in Christ Jesus and know that one day it will be completed in us.