NEED A CHRISTIAN BE CONCERNED WITH GOOD WORKS?

So much has been said, written, taught, and preached about "faith vs. works" that it can become confusing. As in most subject areas, many tend to take positions at one extreme or the other, with the middle ground being a veritable "no man's land". While some believe that Christians are saved by faith, others say that a Christian must obey the laws of God and perform good works. Each position almost seems invariably to say that the other is totally wrong. What is the answer? Must it be a case of one or the other? Or is there a more correct middle ground which includes at least several aspects of both? The answer, at least to the salvation aspect of the argument, is found in Ephesians 2:8-9. Here we see that really neither argument is entirely correct, for it states, "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." Christians are saved neither by faith nor works, but through grace, the free gift of God. But we see that faith is an integral part of the formula, so it is obviously necessary as well. But how about good works? Are they just as necessary? Let's take a look through the scriptures and discover the answer. GOOD WORKS -- NATURALLY In the "Sermon on the Mount", Jesus commanded His disciples that they should "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." This would appear to make good works requisite for the true Christian life. But from what do these works come? Are Christians really prepared for them? Yes they are. Upon becoming a Christian, each person undergoes certain changes, among which are the attitudes and desires conducive to good works. Ephesians 2:10 states that "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." So the Christian has been given the proclivity toward good works and they should be a natural phenomenon in each Christian's life. Christ said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12) He also taught us to be wise as serpents and as harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16), and good works are included in this. How? James 3:17-18 states, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Back in verse 13, James also had written, "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation [anastrophee = conduct, way of life] his works with meekness of wisdom." So we see that the wisdom a Christian has and is supposed to exercise is full of good fruits/works. Paul agreed in Colossians 1:9-10 when he wrote, "For this cause we also . . . do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." He also said in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." He admonished young Timothy (2 Timothy 2:16-21), "But shun profane babblings . . . And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity . . . . If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work." The writer to the Hebrews displayed a similar approach to good works. In Hebrews 13:20-21 we find, "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." So it becomes evident that, although no one is actually saved through good works, they are definitely to be a part of the true Christian life. Jesus Christ commanded them and the writers of the New Testament supported Him and explained that all Christians have been created unto, prepared for, and made willing to produce these good works. But some may point out the fact that there are individuals who are not Christians who do many good works. This is true, Christians do not have the "corner on the market" in this department. Some may ask, "If these others produce so many good works, why did God not call them to be true Christians?" Paul explained to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:8-9), "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." So Christians are called according to God's purposes and not because of the works we have done in the past. He prepares us for those works through our conversion. GOOD WORKS - A WAY OF LIFE Since good works are to be natural in a Christian's life, they really become a routine way of life. The true Christian really performs good works often without even thinking about it. The true Christian rarely thinks, "Say, here is a good work I can do, so maybe I had better do it." No, rather it is just a matter of course performed out of love for one's brethren or fellow man. All the Christian usually needs is an occasional reminder to be prepared and to recognize some situations which are easily missed or aspects easily overlooked. Paul wrote to Titus (3:1-2), "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men." Should a Christian slip, he mentioned to the pastor Titus in verse 8, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." He added in verse 14, "And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful." But he not only gave Titus instructions to teach his congregation such things, he first told Titus to be an example. In Titus 2:7-8 he wrote, "In all things showing thyself a pattern [tupos = type] of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." Paul did not limit this directive about good works just to the elders and evangelists and the men of the congregations, but to everybody. Just to be certain all were included, that good works were not just for the men, he told Timothy (1 Timothy 2:9-10), "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." He later (5:9-10) said, "Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have diligently followed every good work." Good works are part of every Christian's life. In fact, Christians not only do good works naturally, they find happiness and excitement in this endeavor. As Paul wrote to Titus (2:13-14), ". . . looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." And not only do Christians enjoy doing good, they are told to encourage each other in this endeavor. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." (Hebrews 10:24) Another aspect of a Christian's good works is their permanence. In Revelation 14:13 we find, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." The Christian's good deeds have everlasting effects. Peter gave us another perspective on this when he wrote in 1 Peter 2:11-12, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation [anastrophee = conduct, way of life] honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." Yes, the Christian's good works can make more difference than might be expected. One may even be reminded of what Jesus said in the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 6:19-21), "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Many of the people of this world do good works for personal gain, aggrandizement, and pleasure, often trying to get others to feel obligated and later take advantage of that feeling that the person "owes" him something. The Christian does not do that. The Christian gives of himself/herself out of love, expecting nothing in return. If the "reward" for the good work is gained in a physical or material manner, then there is no treasure laid up in heaven. This principle is found in Matthew 6:16-18. Since all Christians will be prone to good works, and all have been told to be ready and prepared to do them, how is this done? How does one prepare to do good works? Paul gave Timothy the answer in his second letter to the young evangelist (3:16-17) when he wrote, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Through Bible study one not only learns the concepts of love, compassion, mercy, and other godly attributes which encourage good works, but also is shown examples of good works and people who have done them. EXAMPLES What are some of these exemplary people and acts? We might begin with Tabitha in Acts 9:36: "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did." She obviously followed the precept presented by James (1:22-27) which is, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only . . . For only if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he . . . forgetteth what manner of man he was. . . . Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Another example of what good works consist of is found in Matthew 25:31-46, ". . . Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you . . . For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. . . . And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. . . ." We may also learn of the consequences of doing "good works" for our own personal profit. Isaiah gave this warning (57:12), "I will declare THY righteousness, and THY works; for they shall not profit thee." We must do everything out of love and with a Christian, giving attitude. If we do not do God's works, then we are doing our own which are unprofitable. And if they are His, then He must get credit for them. Remember that through baptism each Christian has died to himself/herself and has given up all claims on his/her own life and given themselves over to Jesus Christ to live in them. (See Galatians 2:20.) Christ told His disciples (John 15:1-8), "I am the vine, and My Father is the husbandman . . . Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. . . . Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear fruit; so shall ye be My disciples." If it is not Christ in us running our lives, and Christ in us doing the works, we are separated from our source of spiritual nourishment and will wither up and die. David even demonstrated an understanding of this principle in Psalm 127:1 where he wrote, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Attitudes make a great deal of difference in the efficacy of our good works. In an oft quoted verse usually associated with the passing around of offering plates at church services, "Every man according as he puposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:7-8) Good works done with an attitude stemming from a feeling of obligation ("I have to do this whether I really want to or not!") or of dislike ("I wish I didn't have to help out this creep, but I guess I had better!") are not of God nor are they pleasing to Him. And as the seven Churches of Revelation 2-3 were told, "I know thy works . . ." He knows everything we do and why we do them. As Paul told Timothy, "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgement; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid." (1 Timothy 5:24-25) THE RESULT OF GOOD WORKS Although it has been shown that a Christian cannot be saved by doing good works, might there be any related benefit? Indeed there is! Jesus spelled it out in Matthew 16:27 when He said, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works." The same idea is repeated in Revelation 22:12 where we find, "And behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Since salvation does not rest upon works, the Christian's reward takes on that dimension. This point was also brought home by Paul when he told Timothy, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19) Although this is directed specifically to those who are relatively well-to-do, the same principle applies to all: we are rewarded according to our works. ". . . the righteous judgement of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality and eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath . . ." (Romans 2:5-11) As the last scripture hinted, not only is the Christian's reward dependent upon his/her good works, but all are judged in accordance to their works. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell [hades = the grave] delivered upon the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." CAN YOU LOSE YOUR REWARD? Do good works once performed ever become lost? The answer appears dependent upon your attitudes. Jesus said in Matthew 10:42, "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." The promise is given in Psalm 37:3, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." Once you have laid up your treasures in heaven, they are safe and secure. The question is one of attitude. What were the motives behind the good works? If they were personal gain, you had no treasure or reward in the first place. This will be dealt with some more shortly. WHAT ABOUT THE NON-CHRISTIAN? Do the works of non-Christians have any meaning? Or the works of those who profess to be Christians but are really not? "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:15-16) What may appear to be good works may in fact not be. Again, it is according to the attitude from which the deeds spring. Jesus pointed this out in no uncertain terms in the "Sermon on the Mount" when He taught, "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say unto Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23) This poignant statement shows that even miracles may be done in His name, but that they will be of no effect since they were performed by ones who were faking their "christianity" and were not really doing their good works out of love. FAITH AND WORKS As has been shown, neither faith nor works will save the Christian, but both are requisite to the Christian life. There are a few scriptures which totally destroy the arguments that one may be present without the other. James said, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and hath not works? . . . Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. . . . Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. . . . For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:14-26) Some will come back, as did Martin Luther, and condemn James for contradicting Paul who supposedly stated that the Christian is justified by faith, not works. To answer this argument, let us take a look at what Paul did say on this subject. In Romans 3:27-28 we find his position as being, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." So what works were being referred to by Paul? The kind described by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46? NO! Paul is speaking of the "deeds of the law." That is, he is referring, as some would put it, to "commandment keeping." It therefore becomes no comparison. Commandment keeping does not save or justify anyone at all. But a true Christian will make every effort to keep God's law. (See the article "Love = Law = Liberty" for a more in-depth study into this subject.) Paul additionally stated in Galatians 2:16, ". . . 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." Again, Paul is speaking only about keeping the law, not the "good works" which is the main subject of this article. GRACE AND WORKS We have now discovered that while neither faith nor works save the Christian, both are important—no, indispensable—parts of his/her life. Since it is God's grace, that free gift from our heavenly Father, that saves us, what is the relationship between grace and works? Paul described their functions in Romans 11:5-6 thusly, "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Grace and works are definitely two separate entities which, like gasoline and alcohol for the driver, do not mix. Nobody can "buy" their way into God's kingdom with works. "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 boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10) Good works will not provide a means into eternal life in the kingdom of God, but they will have a significant effect upon the "quality" of that life. You cannot earn salvation through works or faith or anything else. But the true Christian who, in the last day, will be resurrected to eternal life, will be constantly performing good works in a Christ-like attitude and encouraging fellow Christians to do likewise. Good works are all deposits in the heavenly bank account which will be returned with interest when Christ returns to rule the earth.   Copyright © 1981 by Lighthouse Congregation of God. All rights reserved.