Chapter 7. GOOD WORKS
a. General. The Bible teaches that good works
are the fruits of a God given faith, and follow in the lives of God's
children after their salvation. Good works only justify us in the sight
of men and angels, but are not the source of justification before God,
for man's justification before God occurs before man does any good works.
Therefore, good works are evidences of our being the objects of God's
love and saving grace, as good works only proceed from the spirit that
is born of God. God's children are admonished and encouraged to continue
in the good works which proceed from being born of God's Spirit, and
to avoid the works of the flesh. God's children are to maintain good
works for the praise of God and benefit of mankind during this life;
but good works are not in any way the cause or source of eternal salvation.
b. Proof Scriptures. Some of the scriptures that declare
that good works are the fruit and result of eternal salvation, but are
not the root and cause of eternal salvation, are the following:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk
in them.
Titus 2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Saviour 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.
Titus 3:8 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.
c.
Salvation Not by Works. Good works do not eternally save
anyone, but rather salvation is by grace rather than works:
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Ephesians 2:8-9 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.
2 Timothy 1:9 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,
d.
Good Works a Fruit. Good works are the result of the God
given faith which God's children have as a result of being born of the
Spirit of God:
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law.
James 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith and I have works: shew
me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by
my works.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from
all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous
of good works.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world;
Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or
else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree
is known by his fruit.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in
me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without
me ye can do nothing.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained
you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit
should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my
name, he may give it you.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants
to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting
life.
e.
Good Works and Justification. The relationship between good
works and justification are as follows:
i. Justification
in the sight of God or before the tribunal of God is solely by the
work of Christ and not in any way by our good works:
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood,
we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no
flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge
of sin.
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's
elect? It is God that justifieth.
ii. Justification
to one's self known by the child of God is that inward peace which
God's children have from that inward faith which God has given to
them in the new birth:
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit
will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart
out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
iii.
Justification before our fellow man (but not before God) follows and
results from our good works:
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone.
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and
by works was faith made perfect?
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,
and not by faith only.
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