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SUBJECT:
Works
QUESTION: What does the Bible mean by the word “Works”? I
was of the belief that we are not saved by works, but by
faith. What is the truth?
ANSWER:
Here is the key verse:
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.
–Ephesians 2:8-9
The works being mentioned
here are the kinds of works that one does personally of his
or her own plan or design. If it meant every kind of work,
how do we explain the very next verse?
For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them.
–Ephesians 2:10
Clearly we see two kinds of
works being spoken of or these would be contradictory
verses. Notice what kind of works are being spoken of in
verse 10---Works which have been ordained by God that we
should walk in them. Therefore, not our own works, but His
works.
Notice some key verses about
works:
JESUS, OUR EXAMPLE:
How God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about
doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the
devil; for God was with him.
–Acts 10:38
Note:
Jesus, our
example, went about doing good works---Godly works.
GOD REMEMBERS...
But, beloved, we are
persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany
salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous
to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed
toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints,
and do minister. –Hebrews 6:9-10
Note: What, God remembering
our works? What works? What is a "labour of love"? What
is ministering to the saints? We will see this later.
WORKS BROUGHT INTO
JUDGMENT
For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be
good, or whether it be evil. –Ecclesiastes
12:14
For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he
hath done, whether it be good or bad.
–2 Corinthians 5:10
Clearly we will be judged by
what we do.
IN THE JUDGMENT WILL WORKS
BE THE EVIDENCE OF OUR FAITH (that
we read of in Ephesians 2:8)?
Then shall the King say unto
them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world: For I was an hungred, 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. Then shall the
righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an
hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When
saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and
clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and
came unto thee? 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. –Matthew 25:34-40
What doth it
profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and
have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister
be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say
unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are
needful to the body; what doth it profit? 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. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest
well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou
know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
–James 2:14-20
Note:
In Matthew 25:35-39, we are reading of Godly works. In
James, we see that faith must include works---Godly Works.
WE SHOULD EXHORT OTHERS
TO GOOD WORKS
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 do good, that they be
rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to
communicate. –1 Timothy
6:17-18
Note:
Paul is telling Timothy to charge the rich to be rich in
good works.
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.
–Titus 3:8
And let ours also learn to
maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not
unfruitful. –Titus 3:14
Note:
Again Paul is telling Titus that we should be maintaining
good works.
GOD IS GLORIFIED BY GOOD
WORKS
Herein is my Father
glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my
disciples. –John 15:8
Note:
What does "bear much fruit" mean? Could those be works?
Could they have something to do with the works of Jesus
Christ through us? Surely they do.
GOOD WORKS BY YOU ARE
DESIGNED TO LEAD OTHERS TO GLORIFY GOD
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
–Matthew 5:16
Having your conversation
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.
- Peter 2:12
Note:
This is Jesus Christ speaking in Matthew 5:16 and He is
saying that we should be doing good works. 1 Peter shows
that when others see the works of Jesus Christ in us, they
will glorify God.
CONCLUSION:
We are talking about two
kinds of works. This should be clear from all these
verses. There are works of men, of which we can boast (Ephesians
2:9) and there are the works of God through us.
One is saved by building righteous character; the character
of Jesus Christ. We are to become like Jesus Christ. We do
that by ONLY ONE MEANS:
We do it by the indwelling
of the Spirit of God in us. We receive this Spirit of God
at baptism. This Spirit in us produces (if
we allow it to do so) fruit. These fruits are a
thing called "principle"---Godly principle. Godly
principles are ABOVE THE LAW.
God wants us to allow the
fruits of the Spirit to be made manifest in our minds and in
our lives. We do this by INVOKING the principle; that fruit
of the Spirit. Let us see these things proved:
What are the fruits of the
Spirit?
But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
–Galatians 5:22-23
Note:
Notice that these principles of God, that apply to all
situations, ARE ABOVE THE LAW. So, if you are invoking
these principles (that is a
good work) then you are above the Law. This is
about as far from "Legalism" as we can get.
Example:
Honesty is a principle of
God. It applies to all situations: personal, corporate,
friendships, marriage, etc.
The purpose of the Law is to
point man toward Principle. The laws that say, “ Do not
steal and “Do not lie” are laws that point us toward the
principle of Honesty. If you are being Honest then what
good does it do for me to command you or remind you to not
lie or steal. As long as you are being Honest, you are
above the law. The word of God says so. Now should you
slip and sin (lie or steal)
the Law is there to direct you back to Honesty. You repent
and turn back to Honesty. This is why we cannot do away
with the Law.
Notice how there is no work
or action required in keeping a commandment. However, to be
Honest one must do something. People can see you being
Honest, because it is an action. When you are Honest, it is
NOT a work on your part because a principle or fruit of God
is a fruit of the Spirit so you cannot boast about it. See
the difference of what is being said in the scriptures about
Works above.
Now notice how those works
being talked about in all those verses are principles being
invoked.
For I was an hungred, and ye
gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a
stranger, and ye took me in.
–Matthew 25:35
Invoking the principle of
Love, Goodness and gentleness to name a few.
Now if you are still
thinking that this is all wrong and that you can just do
your thing just believing in Jesus somehow then you had
better take a look at the rest of Galatians 5...
Now the works of the flesh
are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in
time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom of God.
–Galatians 5:19-21
Note:
Sure looks like verse 21 says that if you do these things
you will NOT be in the Kingdom of God. So how does one NOT
do those things.
1) Replace them with Godly
principles.
2) Allow Jesus to manifest
Godly principles through you.
3) Repent and receive the
Holy Spirit which make this possible.
Notice these other two
verses for Galatians 5...
But if ye be led of the
Spirit, ye are not under the law.
–Galatians 5:18
If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit.
–Galatians 5:25
Note:
You walk in the Spirit by invoking Godly Principles and by
doing so, you have done a work of God or work of Jesus
Christ and these works are required to inherit the Kingdom
of God. These are the works ordained by God that we walk in
them---Ephesians 2:10.
For further reading, go to
the booklet, "SAVED BY GRACE?" (Or
is there something we must DO to enter the Kingdom of God?)
http://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/pubs/savedby.htm
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