Good Works in the Christian Life



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 The theology on good works is clear. We are not saved by our good works.

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.

-Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

All our self-initiated good works are dead works (Hebrews 6:1). It profits us nothing. The good news is that as Christians, we are created to do good works and they count for something!

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

-Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

Good works prove that our faith in Jesus Christ is authentic.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

-James 2:14-17 (ESV)

There's more to it. Why were we created in Christ to do good works? What is the purpose? From the book What is the Mission of the Church, authors Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert explain the motivations behind good works in the Christian life.

Here's the summary including notable quotes and related Scripture passages :

1. We Do Good Works to Obey God, Whom We Love (1 John 5:3, 1 John 4:19)

"At the end of the day, God commands us to do good works and live godly lives."

2. We Do Good Works Because We Love Our Neighbors (Matthew 5:43-45, Matthew 22:36-40)

"We as Christians should be marked by a posture of love and generosity toward our neighbors, and that includes everyone, according to Jesus, from our best friends to our worst enemies."

3. We Do Good Works to Show God's Character and God's Work.

"When we approach the world with a posture of love and generosity, our good works provide a powerful confirmation of our declaration that "God is love." They show the world the we really mean what we say, and they make it just that much more plausible the God is really there and that his influence in our lives is real, powerful, and different from anything else in the world."

4. We Do Good Works Because They Are the Fruit of the Spirit's Work In Us (Matthew 7:16-20)

"Simply put, apples grow on apple trees, oranges grow on orange trees, and good works grow on Christians."

"It's not that good works are in the root of the tree; they're not the thing that makes the tree what it is. They're not the ground or the basis of our standing with God. But if we are truly redeemed through the blood of Christ, if the Holy Spirit truly dwells in us, then we will be a people who bear fruit in good works."

5. We Do Good Works to Win a Hearing for the Gospel

"Christians, as we've seen, are to love the whole person, and therefore it makes perfect sense to love someone by giving him food and at the same time to love him in a different, higher way by giving him the gospel."

So don't grow weary in doing well. Keep up the good work!

JOHN PIPER|Thankful for the Love of God! Why?

From John Piper's sermon on the love of God :

"Have you taken the American definition of love - being made much of - and so twisted God to fit that definition so that now the only way you would feel loved by God is if he makes much of you? When in fact, the love of God is so working as to change you so that you enjoy making much of him forever and ever and ever. And that's the end of your quest. There is not anything beyond it."

"You are being tricked, many of you, into thinking that the satisfying thing in life is to be made much of. If I could just get some people to clap for me, to like me, to approve of me, to give me a raise or to give me an advancement, if I could just get someone to pay attention to me, I would be satisfied. You wouldn't. I promise you. In the name of Jesus Christ Almighty, you wouldn't. You will be satisfied when you forget yourself and are swallowed up in Jesus Christ, and he becomes your treasure and your delight and what you cherish and what you value and what you spend the rest of your eternity growing in your capacity to see and savor - to know and delight in him forever and ever - and it will get better and better and better."

LINK: Thankful for the Love of God! Why?

REVIEW|The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study

    For a Christian family it is important that their children be educated in the Bible and trained to grow in knowledge and love for God's Word. Parents must not neglect this duty nor must they leave this responsibility to the local church. Rather, they must be an example for their children in studying Scripture and be competent to teach the very Word of God.

   A great resource for parents is the new, multi-volume set from Crossway titled The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study by author and teacher, Starr Meade. It's a five-volume survey of the entire Bible designed for middle school and high school age kids. As a former youth ministry leader, I've searched for Bible study material for young teens and I can honestly say that there is nothing out there that is similar in content, breadth, and quality.

    It's a comprehensive, complete, and unique study guide. The treatment of all 66 books in the Bible is as rigorous and careful as typical science or math textbooks. It's the perfect resource for studying the Bible like the way kids study subjects such as Math or History. Yet it doesn't come across as too academic. It is faithful to emphasize the themes or main ideas of the text that is being studied. The questions help the kids to understand what they are reading and the author attempts to connect or fit what they read into the overarching story of the Bible. 

    One thing I've found helpful is the answer guide that is provided for parents and teachers so that they can understand the flow and content of each section. There is also a quiz provided at the end of each section with varied formats, i.e. multiple choice, complete the sentence, matching, that helps to evaluate the child's mastery of the subject. The author suggests ways that this set can be used: as a supplemental companion to Scripture reading or as a study guide for reading through the Bible from beginning to end. What I've found out lacking was life application questions so this is something parents or teachers must supplement on their own if needed.

    The apostle Paul says, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)." When kids love Jesus and are captivated by the Word of God they will be established for life not just in this world but for all eternity. This Bible study guide and survey will help to bring kids in that direction.