Inherent in gospel teaching is the principle of justification by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1). This glorious truth is set in opposition to justification by works of law—a hopeless proposition, inasmuch as it rests on human perfection (Gal. 3:8-11). Those who depend on their own works to save them have no hope of eternal salvation; no one’s works are perfect.
But over the centuries this great doctrine has been obscured, and finally perverted. As happens so often, controversy has arisen from men seeking to redefine biblical terms, and refusing to leave Bible language intact. Roman theologians were first to redefine faith as belief, bearing no real relationship to obedience. They stressed the necessity of obedience to such an extreme that religion became little more than the perfunctory law-keeping of Old Testament days. In response, men such as Martin Luther erred by accepting the Roman definition, then taking the opposite extreme: that belief is necessary, with very little emphasis on obedience. Luther wasn’t opposed to obedience, of course, but he denied that obedience had any real bearing on salvation. Luther pioneered the popular doctrine of justification on the basis of …