"not of works"

 by David Long

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).

"Not of works" can't refer to what God commands us to do because faith itself is a work of God (John 6:29). James tells us that we are justified by works (James 2:14-26). The works James is referring to are the commands of God. The "not of works" is referring to the Old Testament works (Eph. 2:15). Some were trying to bind the old law (Acts 15:1; Romans 4). We are saved by the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).