As the Life of Christ is formed in us we keep the eternal law of God, not according to the letter of the old covenant but according to the transcendent, comprehensive revelation of the full nature and purpose of the Law that Christ Himself Is. The new covenant is the placing of the law of God in our mind and the writing of it in our heart.

It remains true, however, that we are saved (transformed and brought into God's Presence), not by our diligent observance of religious rules or by our worthy conduct. Now that God has given us His only begotten Son He will not accept any religious efforts of a human being in place of receiving His Son as Lord and Savior.

What did the Reformers mean by works?

Martin Luther was reacting against various forms of penance, including the buying of indulgences (paying money to assist souls in Purgatory). Luther came to understand that the bodily afflictions the monks imposed on themselves could not earn the favor of God. Instead, the righteous are to live by a constant attitude of hope and trust in the living Christ.

The righteous are not to turn their attention away from the Lord Jesus and whip themselves. Christ fulfilled all the Law for us, all religious observances, all that God requires. We now are free, not to pursue our lives as we will but to live for Him and in Him who died in our place.

The Apostle Paul was referring principally to the works of the conscientious, zealous Jew. Luther was referring mainly to the works of the conscientious, zealous Catholic monk—to fasting and other bodily deprivations.

What do we Gentile Protestants think of when we contrast works and faith? What do we mean when we state that the just shall live by faith instead of by works?

We mean (and this is the concept that has destroyed the moral and spiritual strength of the Christian churches) that it is not essentially important how the Christian behaves morally as long as he makes a theologically correct statement of faith in Christ.

When the Apostle Paul contrasted faith and works he was contrasting trust in the atonement made by Jesus and the careful observance of the statutes of Judaism, the advancing of one's self in the favor of God by diligent adherence to the Law. When the Protestant Reformers contrasted faith and works they were contrasting trust in the atonement made by Jesus and a religious discipline, just as Paul did, except in a Catholic rather than a Hebrew setting.

We Protestant Gentiles of today, who may not be affected significantly by either of these backgrounds of experience and understanding, think of "works" as godly behavior, as righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God. We are contrasting faith and godliness of behavior. There hardly could be a more destructive point of view, given the fact that godliness of behavior is God's goal in establishing the plan of salvation.

To be continued.