Good Works

Due to our sin we all shrivel up like a leaf and our good works cannot make us right with God.  After receiving the free gift of God’s grace through faith alone
in Christ alone, the good works we were created
by God to do flow from us not to earn salvation
but as a fruit of that salvation.

There is much disagreement, misunderstanding and confusion concerning the role of good works in the life of a Christian.  Are sinners made right with God by being a ‘good Christian’ and being good?  Is it faith alone in Christ or is it faith in Christ plus good works?  The reformed doctrine of faith alone in Christ alone, with the accompanying fruit of good works, is taught in many places in the New Testament. The most concise statement in the Bible of the proper role and order of faith and works is….“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10).  One, we are saved by grace alone.  Two, faith alone in Christ alone is the way to take hold of this salvation, and it is a gift of God and not generated by human effort.  Three, there is no human effort of works or even producing one’s own faith since the faith to believe is also a gift.  This eliminates all boasting of a human being taking credit for anything in the salvation process.  Four, it is all from God through the merit of Christ Jesus for the purpose of doing good works.  These good works were planned and implemented by God through his sovereignty and providence.  Praise God for providing the salvation that is impossible for humanity to achieve without God’s initiative and grace.