Elder A. T. Jones was one of the champions of righteousness by faith in Christ alone during the 1888 emphasis within our church. He was evidently a fiery speaker and quite an individualist. In his enthusiasm he had overstated his case, and the Lord sent him a message of counsel. It’s found in Selected Messages, book 1, beginning on page 377.

Elder Jones had several times stated that good works amount to nothing, that there are no conditions to salvation. Ellen White told him:

I know your meaning, but you leave a wrong impression upon many minds. While good works will not save even one soul, yet it is impossible for even one soul to be saved without good works. — Selected Messages, book 1, page 377.

And just a few pages later in the same volume, page 388, she says, “Works will not buy for us an entrance into heaven.”

So where did Elder Jones overstate his case? What is the difference between saying that good works amount to nothing and saying that good works will not save even one soul, nor buy an entrance into heaven?

Some people jump to the conclusion that if good works do not save us, then they must not be important. And if our bad works don’t cause us to be lost, then bad deeds must be OK. But one key word prevents this kind of misunderstanding. In talking about the relationship of our good or bad deeds in causing us to be saved or lost, don’t miss the word causing.

We’re not talking about the importance of good deeds. We’re not talking about the purpose of good deeds. We’re talking about the method of salvation. And when it comes to salvation, good deeds are not the cause. They are the result.

What is it that causes us to be saved? We know it’s not our good deeds. Romans 3:20 says it clearly.

By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. - Romans 3:20

Jesus is the One who saves us, and we are saved by accepting Him.

There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. - Acts 4:12.

The focus of our attention must not be on our deeds, whether those deeds are good or bad. In seeking for salvation, we are to focus on Jesus, and by beholding Him we become changed into His image. Any time we look to ourselves we will fail. Either we will see our sinfulness and become discouraged, or we will see our good behavior and become proud. It’s a dead-end street either way.

Only in looking to Jesus are we secure.

Paul was vehement on the subject of salvation by faith in Christ alone. But he wasn’t against good works. He had been one of the best behaved persons in town. He talks about it in Philippians 3 and says, “If anybody has reason to boast of good works, I’ll match my track record with his!” Yet in the end, he counted it all as loss when compared to the righteousness of Christ.

Judged by the letter of the law as men apply it to the outward life, he had abstained from sin; but when he looked into the depths of its holy precepts, and saw himself as God saw him, he bowed in humiliation and confessed his guilt. — Steps to Christ, pp. 29, 30.

One time I was discussing this thesis with a group of ministers. When we talked about the first half, that our good deeds have nothing to do with causing us to be saved, there was agreement all around. But when we came to the second half, that our bad deeds have nothing to do with causing us to be lost, some of them became uncomfortable.

But let me ask you, if the first is true, is not the second true as well? Aren’t the two parts simply restating the same truth? Our salvation is based on our continuing acceptance of Jesus and His sacrifice for us, through a daily relationship with Him. It is not based on behavior. Salvation goes deeper than behavior. And so does loss of salvation! Behavior is not the dividing line for determining one’s eternal destiny.

If you are saved at last, it will be because of what you have done in relationship to Jesus as your

Saviour. Good deeds will undoubtedly be present, but they are not what caused your salvation. In the same way, if you are lost in the end, it will be because you left Jesus on the outside of your heart, knocking in vain for an entrance. Bad deeds may be present, but they will be the result, not the cause. God does not judge by the outward actions, but by the heart. Out of the heart are the issues of life.

See 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 4:23.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. - 1 Samuel 16:7

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. - Proverbs 4:23