The confusion about doing good works
Ephesians 2: 8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and it is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Paul makes a statement above that illustrates a point of much confusion among Christians. It seems contradictory to say that we have been saved through faith (and this is a gift from God and not by our works), then in the next breath say that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works.
I've heard this concept of doing good works argued several times. Some are uncomfortable with the end of this passage and much of what is written in the book of James (faith without works is dead). I think the confusion lies in the underlying focus. If we are simply talking about the basis for personal salvation, it is true that your works are useless as a means of earning salvation. Salvation is through grace and is unmerited.
But Christianity doesn't end with the concept of personal salvation. We don't recite a sinner's prayer and ask for salvation, then go on about our regular business for the rest of our lives. Living and growing as a Christian (sanctification) is much more than salvation. Salvation is about recognizing and accepting what God has done for us. It is inherently an individual concept because we can't accept Christ for someone else. But to reduce Christianity to personal salvation only, whereby the focus is purely on ourselves, is selfish and unbiblical.
This isn't all about you or me. God's primary commands are for us to love Him amd to love our neighbors as ourselves. What about personal salvation achieves either of these commands? In my opinion, nothing. Salvation is the re-establishment of a relationship with God. It is equivalent to saying our marriage vows. Married people know that the real work begins after your wedding day. And the real work is achieved by your daily actions.
Paul tells us we were created to do good works. We don't do good works to earn rightstanding with God, but as a reflection of the rightstanding He has already granted to us. If someone serves their spouse purely to avoid their wrath and to re-earn rightstanding with that person every day, their heart is in the wrong place. The focus is still inward, and the goal of making life easier for themselves is a selfish one. It's not about blessing their spouse, but about their personal benefit in avoiding their spouse's wrath.
A changed heart has an outward focus, and the focus is on someone other than themselves. When our focus shifts from ourselves to God and those around us, good works flow. Purposely avoiding good works because of a twisted interpretation of verses in the Bible is evidence that someone's focus is still on themselves and what God is able to do for them.
When we serve God and others with a joyous heart, not out of some sense of obligation, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to work as it should in our lives.
Paul makes a statement above that illustrates a point of much confusion among Christians. It seems contradictory to say that we have been saved through faith (and this is a gift from God and not by our works), then in the next breath say that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works.
I've heard this concept of doing good works argued several times. Some are uncomfortable with the end of this passage and much of what is written in the book of James (faith without works is dead). I think the confusion lies in the underlying focus. If we are simply talking about the basis for personal salvation, it is true that your works are useless as a means of earning salvation. Salvation is through grace and is unmerited.
But Christianity doesn't end with the concept of personal salvation. We don't recite a sinner's prayer and ask for salvation, then go on about our regular business for the rest of our lives. Living and growing as a Christian (sanctification) is much more than salvation. Salvation is about recognizing and accepting what God has done for us. It is inherently an individual concept because we can't accept Christ for someone else. But to reduce Christianity to personal salvation only, whereby the focus is purely on ourselves, is selfish and unbiblical.
This isn't all about you or me. God's primary commands are for us to love Him amd to love our neighbors as ourselves. What about personal salvation achieves either of these commands? In my opinion, nothing. Salvation is the re-establishment of a relationship with God. It is equivalent to saying our marriage vows. Married people know that the real work begins after your wedding day. And the real work is achieved by your daily actions.
Paul tells us we were created to do good works. We don't do good works to earn rightstanding with God, but as a reflection of the rightstanding He has already granted to us. If someone serves their spouse purely to avoid their wrath and to re-earn rightstanding with that person every day, their heart is in the wrong place. The focus is still inward, and the goal of making life easier for themselves is a selfish one. It's not about blessing their spouse, but about their personal benefit in avoiding their spouse's wrath.
A changed heart has an outward focus, and the focus is on someone other than themselves. When our focus shifts from ourselves to God and those around us, good works flow. Purposely avoiding good works because of a twisted interpretation of verses in the Bible is evidence that someone's focus is still on themselves and what God is able to do for them.
When we serve God and others with a joyous heart, not out of some sense of obligation, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to work as it should in our lives.
posted by Robert Jory Allen at
10:33 AM
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