"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11

(14) My brethren, what good does it do, if anyone says that he has faith, and does not have works? Is faith able to save him?

(17) In the same way also, faith, if it does not have works, is dead, by itself. (18) But someone is going to say, "You have faith, and I have works." My answer is: You prove your faith to me through your works, and I will prove my faith to you through my works.

(20) But are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac, his own son, upon the altar? (22) Do you not see that faith was working together with his works, and by works his faith was perfected? (23) And the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Now Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness"; and he was called a friend of God. (24) You see, then, that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

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Some of the wrong thinking about works is derived from Martin Luther's teaching that salvation is by faith alone, a statement that does not appear in the Bible. It is true that God gives salvation through His merciful gift of grace. However, James says that a person's faith is proved by his works (James 2:14-26). If a person has no works, he is actually proving that he has no faith.

People who denigrate Christian works must be rigidly ignored because God pointedly assigns work to all Christian converts. Ephesians 2:10 pointedly states, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” God has prepared, ordained, and assigned these works beforehand. They are requirements and must be accomplished to the level and quality God judges as right and good. At the same time, these works are the very purpose for which the Christian is called and converted. Even though the works do not earn one salvation, God's calling, regeneration, and assignment of works are given so that we are prepared to live that same way of life for all eternity.

The works that we do—the way we live our lives—prove our conversion, that our faith in Christ is real and makes the witness that glorifies God. Thus, we must understand these truths regarding works:

1) God has never intended that works save anybody. Jesus is the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. God knew beforehand that we would need a Savior for salvation.

2) Doing the works provides practice in God's way of life, thus helping to ingrain His way as part of our character.

3) Doing the works is a witness before the world, and by them God is glorified. These are their major purposes.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Two): Works



 

Topics:

' Earning' Salvation

Doing Works is a Witness before the World

Doing Works Provides Practice in God's Way of Life

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living

God's Workmanship

Man as God's Workmanship

Martin Luther

We are God's Workmanship




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