Faith That Works

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Mike addressed the subject of ‘diligence’ from the book of Proverbs. He demonstrated how God’s grace to us in Christ is the motivating factor for our good works. In this blog, I want to explore this question: If Christ rendered the work necessary for our salvation, then why are good works necessary for a Christian?

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” These two verses clearly demonstrate that we are in no way justified by our works. We are saved by grace alone. These verses also teach us that that faith itself is “a gift of God” and cannot be thought of as a work that we do in any way.

Many of us are familiar with these two verses, however there is a tendency to overlook verse 10. In verse 10, Paul says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The point that Paul makes in this section of Scripture is that although we are saved by faith alone, saving faith is never a faith that is alone.

Jesus explains this very clearly in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13.) In this parable, Jesus speaks about four different soils that represent different conditions of the heart ­­–  a hardened soil, rocky soil, thorny soil, and good soil. Each soil type responds differently to the gospel seed when it is sewn. Only the good soil truly receives the gospel seed. This seed then takes root and manifest itself by bearing fruit. Some fruit will yield a hundredfold, some will yield sixty, and another thirty (Matt. 13:23). The point is, the gospel seed has truly taken root in someone’s life when they bear fruit. There may be varying degrees of fruitfulness (hundredfold, sixty, or thirty), however fruit will always manifest in the life of someone who has truly been changed by the gospel.

The authors of the Heidelberg Catechism explain the relationship between good works and faith this way:

Question 86.

Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace, through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?

Answer. Because Christ, having redeemed and delivered us by his blood, also renews us by his Holy Spirit, after his own image; that so we may testify, by the whole of our conduct, our gratitude to God for his blessings, and that he may be  praised by us; also, that every one may be assured in himself of his faith, by the fruits thereof; and that, by our godly conversation, others may be gained to Christ.

The authors of the Heidelberg Catechism direct our attention to five reasons for Christians to do good works.

1.)  The mission of Christ – When Christ accomplished our salvation, he not only died for our sins to be forgiven but also to free us from sins dominion. Having purchased our salvation, an ascended Christ sends the Holy Spirit to us to apply the benefits of our redemption. The Spirit takes up residence in the Christian, writes God’s law on our hearts, and enables us to truly do good works as He renews us into the image of Christ.

2.) Our works testify of our gratitude – Grace is always the motivation for good works. Our good works do not merit our justification, instead they express gratitude and loving thankfulness for the benefits of our redemption. Paul says in Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The mercy and grace of God compels us to testify of our gratitude by doing good works.

3.) God is glorified by our good works – In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Our good works toward others glorifies our Father in heaven. What child does not desire to make their father proud and glorify his name? As sons of God, this should be our supreme desire also.

4.) Assurance of our Faith – Our good works serve as evidence that Christ is completing his perfect work in us. “He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6).” The fruit that the Spirit produces in our lives are one of the greatest assurances of our own salvation. Peter said, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). Our good works confirm our calling and election.

5.) Brings others to Christ­ – In 1 Peter 2:12, we read, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” Our good works to others are one of the tools of evangelism. It might just be that when other see our own gospel transformation that God will use that in such a way that others might be brought to Christ.

One thing that is clear from the above verses, saving faith is a faith that works. As James proclaimed, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).