Grace vs Works

There is an ongoing debate regarding whether we are saved by grace or works or a combination of the two. This debate is even recorded in the bible itself. The problem is that the scriptures seem to support both sides of the argument at times saying that works are essential and at times saying we are saved without works by faith in Christ.

Most people are familiar with the scriptures that tell us clearly that we are saved by grace without works, however, if you are new to this view, some of the following verses will give you a good starting point.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

…

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” – Romans 3:20, 28

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” – Galatians 2:16

While the scriptures can be clearly shown to teach that by faith we are saved without works, they can also be shown to say that by works we are saved and not faith alone.

“14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?… 

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone… 

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only… 

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” – See James 2:14-26

“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” – Matthew 19:16-17

We also see many instances in which good works are taught to be required for the blessings of heaven. One example is where Jesus prophecies of when he will separate the sheep from the goats saying that they will be separated by their works, whether they did good works or not.

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

…

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.” – Matthew 25:31-36, 41-43

It appears that the scriptures give contradicting teachings. So, it is easy to see why the debate between works and grace through faith has continued for thousands of years and continues today.

Before we can correctly understand how these teachings do not contradict, we must correctly understand the word “works” as used in the scriptures. 

The prophet Mormon gave us a really good clue as to the meaning of the word “works” when he said,

“For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.

6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.

7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.” – Moroni 7:5-7

It almost seems like Mormon contradicts himself in these verses. First he says that by their works we can know if a person is good or evil, but then he supports what he is saying by giving two examples of a person doing what appears to be “good works”, (praying and giving a gift), but concludes that if they are evil their works are counted as evil.

If Mormon is not contradicting himself, then we must conclude that the actions of praying and giving gifts are not the works that determine if a person is good or evil. He says in verse 6 that the works we should look for are not the outward actions of prayer and gift giving, but the inward “real intent” that motivated the works. This is clarified as we read on into the next two verses in which he explains the intent behind the actions of this evil person.

“For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.

9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.” – Moroni 7:8-9

Moroni explains that the works are not the actions of the person, but the intent of their heart. Jesus taught the same principle repeatedly pointing out that it is not the action that determines our righteousness or wickedness, but the intent of our hearts that motivate the actions. He taught this over and over again through examples of people doing the same actions but getting different spiritual results. To make it easier to see, we will highlight the actions in blue and the motivations in red, and the results in green. Notice that Jesus teaches that the same actions can have different results based upon the goals and intents of our hearts.

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” – Matthew 6:1-6

When we clearly understand that it is not the actions we take or the things that we do that determine our righteousness, rather it is the desire and intent of our hearts that determines whether we are wicked or righteous, then we realize that two people can do the exact same thing outwardly and one filled with the spirit and the other is not. One experiences the kingdom of God and the other does not. This was what Jesus was saying when he taught,

“… The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

…

34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

” – Matthew 6:1-6

When we understand that works are not actions, but intentions, then we can easily see that two people have the same actions but different works and therefore different results. Two people can pray and while they exhibit the same action, their works are different, because one prays to be seen of men and the other prays to truly commune with God.

In both cases, the evil prayer and the righteous prayer, a prayer is said. But one prayer is considered an act of evil and the other prayer an act of good. The difference between the prayers is not the words spoken but the heart of the one praying.

An evil person is not saved by their prayer no matter how loud or long they pray. A righteous person was saved before they even prayed. In fact, their good prayer came about as a result of them being righteous and saved.

Evil people are evil from within no matter what works they perform because their heart is evil and therefore their works are dead. There are no outward ordinances, acts of righteousness or performances that an evil person can do to receive a remission of their sins or any other blessing including salvation and exaltation. An evil person is evil because it is who they are. It is in their heart and soul. Likewise, a righteous person is righteous because it is who they are. It’s in their heart and soul.

It doesn’t matter how often we go to church, how much we donate financially to charities, and how often we attend the temple, none of these things save us or exalt us or determine our righteousness before God. An evil person can do these things just as well as a righteous person. For this reason, any attempt at doing “good works” for the sake of earning a spiritual reward or gaining God’s favor will fail.

Good works must be done with real intent or they are not good works. If good works are not determined by what we do, rather by why we do them, then salvation comes as a result of a change in our hearts and our good desires and not by our actions. We must become a new person internally to be saved. 

The internal change brought about by a broken heart and a contrite spirit is the change that truly matters because when our hearts are changed our actions naturally follow. When our heart is changed and our desire is to serve and help others, we do so from the pure desires of our own hearts to help alleviate the pain and struggle of others. Our good works are born out of love and therefore counted as righteousness, even when they do not produce the desired results.

Salvation is not about what we do, but the motivation behind what we do. This is a key principle that is often missed and answers the question about whether we are saved by grace or works or a combination of the two. It’s so subtle that few will see it, yet so important that it is the line between salvation and damnation as well as the line between exaltation and salvation. Additionally, it answers the question about whether we are saved by grace or works…

Because salvation is about the motivation behind what we do and not about what we do, a person can be saved without having performed any actions/works at all. King Benjamin points this out by teaching that those who do not give to the poor can be saved as much as those who do give to the poor if in their hearts they have the desire to do good even when they lack the means to do so.

“And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.

25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.” – Mosiah 4:24-25

Again, it isn’t what we do or do not do, but our motives and desires that determine whether we are righteous or not. When we are born of God, we become righteous because our desire to do evil is replaced with desire to do good.

Born of God, Having a Mighty Change of Heart

Nephi promises us that all who enter in the straight and narrow gate of salvation through Christ will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.” – 2 Nephi 31:18

Because of this promise, we know that if we have entered in at the gate which is salvation, then we have received the Holy Ghost and if we have not received the Holy Ghost, then we have not entered in at the gate. The fruits of having the spirit are given by Paul to the Galations when he teaches,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

The scriptures also show that when people are converted and receive the Spirit there is a mighty Change in our hearts such that we have no more desire to do evil but desire to do good continually.

“And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” – Mosiah 5:2

“And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil.” – Alma 19:33

“Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.” – Alma 13:12

This is so much the case that Alma equates being born of God with having the mighty change of heart as a requirement for salvation.

“And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

…

26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” – Alma 5:14, 26

All of the conversion stories in the scriptures show us that when people are converted the spirit of the Lord comes on them and they experience a mighty change of heart which essentially makes them a new person. The old man of sin is removed and replaced by the new man created after righteousness. Because we are a new person as a result of the spirit, we say we are “born again”, “born of the spirit”, or “born of God”.

“For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.

25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

26 And thus they become new creatures; 

26 and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.” – Mosiah 27:25-26 (See also 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3, Ephesians 4:4)

“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” – Mosiah 3:19

Without receiving the Holy Ghost, or the “spirit of God”, we are not born again and will not have the mighty change of heart. Born again is the term used to express that you have had the mighty change of heart brought about by the spirit and you’ve become a new creature patterned after the fruits of the spirit.

Saved by Faith, Before Works

Because it is our desires that determine our righteousness or wickedness, we are saved by Christ the very moment that we convert and experience that mighty change of heart and desire to do good with real intent. At that very moment, we are saved even before we have acted on those desires. This is what Jesus was talking about when he said,

“And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.” – 3 Nephi 9:20

Throughout the scriptures we see examples of people being baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost at the moment they were converted, even though they had not performed any works or even received any ordinances. Here are a few of the many examples:

Example 1 – The Gentiles receive the baptism of fire and the Gift of the Holy Ghost at the time of their conversion.

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”  – Acts 10:44-47

Example 2 – The People of King Benjamin received a remission of their sins and the Holy Ghost when they are converted.

“And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

…

2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.

4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.” – Mosiah 4:2-3, 5:2-4

Example 3 – People are not baptized into the church until after they have first received a remission of their sins. Baptism is a witness that we have already received a remission of our sins.

“25 Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.” – 3 Nephi 7:25

“37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.” – D&C 20:37

NOTE: Other examples of people receiving the remission of sins and being baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost the moment they are converted can be found throughout the scriptures and are too numerous to list here. If you read nearly all accounts in the scriptures in which a person is converted, you will see that at the moment of their conversion their sins are remitted and they experience the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.

This means that when we are truly converted we receive the saving grace of our Lord, before we have done the works of righteousness. This is ok because God looks on our hearts when judging us, not on our actions.

“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

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” – Matthew 15:18-19

When our hearts are changed, our thoughts and actions are changed. God doesn’t need to wait to see the good works to decide whether our hearts are good or evil. God knows the moment we are converted that our desires are changed and blesses us accordingly. It is not about what we do that determines if we are saved, but who we are in our hearts.

Salvation then comes as a result of who we are and not what we do. We see the goodness of God in this because we are saved BEFORE we have proven ourselves by works. Even more importantly, we are saved as if we were righteous when we have only been born again and are only babies in the gospel. We don’t even know how to be righteous. We haven’t begun the long process of unlearning the ways of the world and learning the ways of God. We are justified by our faith in Christ in spite of our works which show our ignorance of God’s ways. While we remain ungodly and imperfect because of our ignorance, we are found to be righteous and holy because of our desire to do good. And Christ justifies the ungodly works by the righteousness of faith. Even though we error, our ungodly errors are not counted against us, (imputed), as sin.

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” – Romans 4:5-8

After we are born again and become a new creature so that our desires are for good, we continue to error and make mistakes, but those errors are not counted against us (imputed) as sins. For this reason, it becomes impossible for someone who is born of God and has the mighty change of heart to “sin” because they love one another.

“And ye know that he, (God), was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” – 1 John 3:5-10

Under the law of Moses, a person was only considered righteous if they obeyed the laws and ordinances prescribed by the law of Moses. But the early apostles pointed out that obedience to the law of Moses, no matter how perfect it was never made the people righteous. There were many who kept the law to the letter and yet were not found righteous because they weren’t truly converted and had not experienced the mighty change of heart. On the other hand, the gentiles who did not keep the law experienced the mighty change of heart at their conversion and although they didn’t follow after the righteousness of the law, they attained to righteousness by their faith. But Israel without faith kept the law and were not considered righteous.

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” – Romans 3:28

“What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;” – Romans 9:30-32

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” – Galatians 5:4-6

The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by faith and works that are of the conversion of our hearts only and not by our works of the law, but we see this repeated throughout all the scriptures taught by word and example. In Mosiah 2-3 King Benjamin teaches his people the words he received from an angel as they were gathered together. They heard what he taught and then in faith prayed for forgiveness of their sins. Notice how they prayed from a position of unworthiness accepting that they had done nothing to merit or earn a remission of their sins, so much so that they saw themselves in their carnal state, as less than the dust of the earth. They felt in no way that they had done anything of themselves to earn or merit forgiveness and yet God in His goodness gave them His spirit and a remission of their sins.

“2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.” – Mosiah 4:2-3

After they had received a remission of their sins, King Benjamin tells them how to always retain a remission of their sins. They didn’t live perfectly to gain the spirit, and he never tells them that if they don’t live perfectly they will lose the spirit. What he tells them is that they need to remember and always retain in remembrance that they are “unworthy creatures” and it is not by their own worthiness that they received a remission of their sins, but because of the goodness of God. His instruction to them is that they retain a remission of their sins even though they continue to remain unworthy by retaining faith in God and His goodness and mercy toward them and remain steadfast in the faith that Jesus came to atone for them.

“And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.” – Mosiah 4:11-12

As we progress on the path that leads to eternal life, we remain unworthy of the spirit which is given to us, not by our goodness or works, but by our faith in Christ and his mercy in spite of our unworthiness. The spirit is neither gained nor maintained by our goodness. It is received when we offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit (remember, “contrite” meaning awareness within ourselves of others and our actions effects on them) and desire to repent of all our sins and have the desire within us to grant the same that we want from God for us to others. We maintain a remission of our sins as long as we maintain that broken heart and contrite spirit and seek to recognize our errors and correct them and the pain they cause others.

As long as we maintain that mighty change of heart by desiring to do good, the spirit will remain with us, encouraging us, guiding us and teaching us how to let go of our ways of sin and live a godly life. It will strive with us through our errors giving us the power and knowledge to press forward along the path that leads to eternal life. 

When we are converted, we make a choice or an election to do good and we enter the Terrestrial Kingdom. We have no idea how to be righteous or really what that means, but we made the commitment to do it. Even though we remain ignorant, we are blessed to receive the remission of sins and the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, when all we have done is commit to follow Christ. We are given the Holy Ghost, (which doesn’t dwell in unclean temples), as our guide to teach us the ways of the Lord. We heard the call and made an election or choice to heed the call. 

Our calling and election are not made sure at this point as we remain ignorant of righteousness. We have good desires, but lack the knowledge to act accordingly.

Over time, as we learn the ways of the Lord and his righteousness we eventually have the opportunity to make our calling and election certain or sure, having enough knowledge and experience to really make that decision final.  

From the time that we first convert to the time that we gain knowledge for ourselves, we are learning, growing and continue to make errors which are not counted against us, (imputed), as sins. We are not judged by our works the way we were prior to our conversion, we are found innocent and all our works are counted to us for righteousness, even the undesirable works.

During this time, the spirit “strives” with us. The word strive means, “make great efforts to achieve or obtain something, struggle or fight vigorously”. This is what the spirit does to help us learn the ways of God. If we continue to listen to the spirit, it will continue to strive with us. If we reject it’s promptings until it ceases to strive with us, then it stops striving with us and we are ready to be destroyed. If we are willing to repent and learn a better way, then spirit will continue to strive with us.

“For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.” – 2 Nephi 26:11

There are several examples of the spirit ceasing to strive with man. it doesn’t happen when we make little mistakes the way some people teach. For the spirit to cease to strive with you after you have received it, you must fully turn your heart to Satan and stop desiring to do good. As long as your desire is to do good, and you have faith in Christ’s ability to atone and make you one with God and man, then the spirit will continue to strive with you. Here is an example of how bad the people had become when the spirit ceased to strive with them.

“But behold, the Spirit of the Lord had ceased striving with them, and Satan had full power over the hearts of the people; for they were given up unto the hardness of their hearts, and the blindness of their minds that they might be destroyed; wherefore they went again to battle.” – Ether 15:19

We need to remember that we did not gain the spirit based on our own merits and worthiness except in that we repented and desired to do good. We didn’t gain the remission of our sins by doing some series of good actions, ordinances or works with our bodies or flesh. So, we don’t lose the spirit by falling to temptation. It is the spirit within us that tells us we can do better. It doesn’t leave us but strives WITH us. 

Just as we didn’t gain the remission of our sins and the Holy Ghost by our works, the spirit does not strive with us because we are worthy of it or have earned it. It strives with us because of our faith in Christ and desire to do good. We don’t gain or keep the spirit by the works of our flesh which is to keep the law physically, but by faith which is independent of the law.

“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

…

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” – Galatians 3:2-5 & 11

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” – Galatians 2:16

In conclusion, if our faith does not produce love for God and for our fellow man, then it is dead and good for nothing. But if our faith and commitment to following Christ and his righteous example brings us to the mighty change of heart then we will do the works of righteousness without the law or fear of punishment, but motivated by love for others. Then, our faith is alive. And while we are saved by our faith and not by our works, our faith will naturally produce good works in us. Not by obligation, duty or requirement, but by love for others and the desire within us to serve and help others because we are good.

The debate then over whether we are saved by Faith or Works is both. But not the way it is commonly debated. 

We are not saved by the outer works of the flesh, but the inner works of our hearts. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ, which is followed by the inner work of breaking our hearts in contrition which is the natural love of our fellow man. This faith and humility are the inward works and they naturally produce then the outer or physical works of goodness. If the works of goodness do not come, then the faith in question is dead and hasn’t saved us.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” – James 2:26

This is the difference between acting good and being good. Those who act good are not good and their works are dead and counted as evil. But those who are good don’t need to pretend. They do the actions out of love for others and the desire to do good resulting from the mighty change of heart they experienced when they were converted.

The question is, can we be saved without good works? The answer is, “yes, because good works do not save us.” But we realize that a saved person will do good works if they have the opportunity to do so. Following is a story of a man who had the change of heart, but died before he had the opportunity to perform the works his heart was motivated to do…