What difference does realizing salvation is faith plus nothing make?
Realizing salvation is faith plus nothing replaces a works religion of doing this and that to earn God's acceptance with reliance on the finished work of Christ. It brings a dramatic difference, as those steeped in such religion testify, because Paul insists it is not of works but all of faith.
Les explains that when he speaks of Christendom he includes Protestantism, Catholicism, and all the cults—anything that uses the Bible as its rules of order. He says about 90% of them are still living under a works religion: do this, do that, and then maybe God will accept you. But Paul screams that it is not of works; it is all of faith, faith plus nothing. The difference comes when people steeped in that kind of religion realize salvation is faith plus nothing. It simply relies on the finished work of Christ on our behalf. They testify that it made a great difference. Les then ties this to Israel: they did not attain it because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the law, and they stumbled at the stumbling stone. Christ is the stone of stumbling for Israel and still for the world today, and people stumble over the precious truths concerning Christ and His finished work of the cross. Verse 33 says, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."