Some years ago, Edward Cassidy, a Roman Catholic Cardinal, visited our Lutheran seminary in Fort Wayne. While there he was introduced to one of our now sainted professors, Dr. Harold Buls. Cardinal Cassidy greeted Professor Buls, "How do you do, Professor Buls?" Professor Buls immediately replied, "By grace, by grace, Cardinal Cassidy. How do you do?" Cardinal Cassidy shot back: "By works, by works, Professor Buls," to the delight of both men and everyone watching their mutual greeting. Their little altercation highlights the reality that it can only be one way or another, by works or by grace. That was certainly what the Apostle Paul thought.

American dispensationalists argue that God saved his church in various different ways during various different historical dispensations. For example, dispensationalists argue that before the coming of Christ and the proclamation of grace and justification, the church was saved by the good works of the people of Israel. Therefore, the dispensationalists propose at least two different ways of salvation given by God: one by works, the other by faith. A number of things could be said about this way of looking at the Bible's way of salvation. But one thing is for certain, that if the dispensationalists view is correct, the New Testament view of the Old Testament is dead wrong. The apostle Paul certainly presumes that the way of salvation is by faith in the Messiah alone whether He has come, as in the New Testament, or whether He is hoped for, as in the Old Testament. He argued that God's salvation was always by grace in the Old Testament and therefore, was certainly by grace in the new era.

In every era and time, salvation must be by grace and can never be by works. Works fail to meet the divine standard, which is perfect. No one ever will fulfill the requirements set by the unchangeable will and law of God. When Elijah complained that he knew of no believers other than himself he was guilty of judging who were believers and who were not on the basis of their works. He could see none. But what could be seen: good works, was never the standard for salvation in the sight of God, who sees the heart and fathoms what is in our minds. No, God knew His chosen; the believers redeemed by the precious blood of the Messiah and sealed by grace for those who dwelt in trust. He was not alone. Far from it. There were seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed their knee to Baal (1Ki 19:18). Just when you think we are terribly alone and God's grace for Israel has failed, God pulls down the curtain on the universe and points out the many whom His grace has redeemed.