Gospel Crier #3

So what are you saying, “don’t do good works?”

No, I’m not saying don’t do good works. And not only am I not saying that, I am saying a genuine believer cannot not do good works. In my prior articles I merely articulated that God’s Word does not allow you to add your good works to God’s gifts of faith and repentance in Salvation.

So the question now is what good works do Christians do and why?

First, let’s start with why. As stated clearly in my prior articles it’s not to earn or merit God’s love or Salvation. But good works are only a Christian’s way of showing honor, reverence, worship and thanksgiving to their God and Savior.

So worship doesn’t just mean singing? – No. Are you saying a non-Christian cannot do a good work? – Yes; to mimic God the Holy Spirit in Hebrews without faith it is impossible to please God. So no, even if you and a non-Christian did the exact same work God only looks at the Christian’s act as a good work and the same act done by the unbeliever as a sin. Why? Because even in their “good” works an unbeliever sins in their continued unbelief and in their incorrect motive for good works which should be to help build up fellow believers, point people to Christ for Salvation and worship God by serving your neighbor.

So what good works do Christians do?  Well let’s look at a few, the answers may surprise you.

1-    Trust - in Christ and all He has accomplished for us.

2-    Fellowship with believers – dedicated to the prayers, confessions of sin and the Apostle’s teachings.

3-    Establish a Godly home – husbands sacrificially love your wives, wives respect your husbands, parents rear children in the respect of and honor to the Lord and children respect your parents

4-    Volunteering – I know of Zero genuine Christians that do nothing God honoring. From childcare in the church (allowing fellow believers time to be discipled Biblically), teaching or being taught sound doctrine in Bible study, sitting (like Mary, not works-righteous Martha) and receiving the Gospel during the sermon, pointing unbelievers to Christ for Salvation (like John the Reformed Baptist did), or even serving your neighbor by being a good employee, boss, slave or master.

The problem is Christians, like all other sinners, are tempted to self-honor so instead of being content in quietly working with your hands as unto the Lord in whatever vocation God has placed you. People look to a BIG BOLD service as more righteous of a good work than the everyday good work. “Look,” the believer may say, “That man is being martyred for preaching the Gospel surely he is more holy than us, right?” Nope – the martyr, like you and me, is simultaneously Sinner and Saint, holy only because of what Christ has done for him, holy because God has chosen to declare him holy. God has made him holy with Christ’s righteousness; he is not inherently holy on his own. Now it may be that he is not afraid to face martyrdom because he is more thankful than you are for Christ, but he’s not more holy by nature.

Believer, how thankful are you that God has saved you? Do you show it to others by loving Christ’s bride (the Church) as he does? Do you sacrificially live your life to honor God by pointing others to Christ and serving others to honor Him? If you desire to but don’t know how to get started, come to church, join a class, help in child care, and get started – I’ll save you a seat.