Why is it dangerous to mix works with grace?

The sermon warns against the peril of attempting to mix human works with divine grace. This mixture not only distorts the purity of the gospel but leads individuals away from the true meaning of faith, which is rooted solely in Christ. When believers start to think that their actions contribute to their standing before God, they fall into the trap of self-righteousness and depart from faith. As indicated in 1 Timothy 4:3, practices such as forbidding marriage or abstaining from certain foods are not indicators of holiness; instead, they signify a reliance on works rather than acknowledging that our holiness is found in Christ alone – a critical understanding that maintains the integrity of the gospel.