Good Works – Our Divine Injunction

Too often Christians, and the church for that matter are afraid to talk about the necessity for the Christian to perform good works. This is a bit ironic as most (probably all) of those folks have read and/or heard a very specific purpose statement offered to us by God through Paul, who in Ephesians said:

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

There is perhaps an even more familiar passage emphasizing the Christian necessity to “walk” in good works as the Apostle said, this one is offered us through James:

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 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? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

– James 2.14-17 ESV

Sadly, fear of this word (works) has left a great number of Christians afraid to anchor it to the Christian life and too many Christian leaders afraid to boldly present it as a divine injunction (mitzvot) ordained by God. Time and again the claim is that it’s in conflict with the very nature of God’s grace – that it’s free and can’t be earned – when in fact the opposite is true – our good works are perhaps the greatest evidence of God’s grace that we have to offer the world.

That said, neither formal training in biblical studies or Christian apologetics are needed to be able to wrap our minds around this clear ideal – our good works are essential, in fact they’re vital. You see whether those who find that word difficult agree or not, it’s likely that they have a family member, friend, or neighbor whom they’re hoping to eventually share their faith with, not knowing that their efforts are likely to come up short because their lives aren’t bearing witness to the fruit of God’s grace – good works.

The truth is that our behavior generally walks step in step with our beliefs, if not step in step at least close behind. In the case of our need for works, if we don’t believe that they’re necessary, our response to those around us will follow. You see, our good works promote our regeneration and God’s sanctifying work, they legitimize our claim to Christ and His influence; but they also serve as a manifestation of God’s good pleasure, “who began a good work in us and will bring it to completion.” (Phil. 1.6)

12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13 For it is God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. – Philippians 2.12-13 Amplified

Church, with awe-inspired fear and trembling we are to continually “work out” what He worked in – good works.

 - Pastor Ariel