Originally posted by Jerry Shugart
In order to understand salvation we must understand the first four chapters of Romans.
There Paul first begins outline the principle of salvation in regard to "works"-
"Who will render to every man according to his works"(Ro.2:6).
The standard by which one's "works" are judged is "law"-"The law" for the Jews and the "conscience" for those who have not the law.In order to be saved by one's "works" one must "continue in well-doing"(Ro.2:7).
Let a man,from cradle to grave,continue in well doing and he will "earn" eternal life.But Paul makes it plain that no one is saved in this way--
"...for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles,that they are all under sin;as it is written,There is none righteous,no,not one"(Ro.3:9,10).
Paul now goes on to reveal another way whereby the sinner can be saved,a "secret" that was not revealed until he was converted:
"But now the righteousness of God apart from law is revealed, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe...being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"(Ro.3:21,22,24).
So one can "earn" salvation if one lives a sinless life.But Paul says that
"all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"(Ro.3:23).
That means that the only ones who will be saved are those who "believe".
In His grace,--Jerry
”Dispensationalism Made Easy”
http://midacts.net/studies/dispensationalism_made_easy.html
