Grace and Good Works
Grace IS the Message of the Hour
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
Without grace, faith can become legalism.
Without faith, grace can become sovereignty.
Where Do Works Fit in the Christian Life?
Are We Saved, Made Righteous by Works?
Romans 4:1-5 - “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God (he would before men). 3 For what does the Scripture say? (Genesis 15:6) “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness…”
Isaiah 64:6 - “We are all like an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.”
Titus 3:4-7 - “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
But, Can We Be Justified By Works At All?
James 2:14-16 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works (corresponding actions), is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble (in reverence)! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish (empty)man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar (years after his salvation)? 22 Do you see that faith was working together (partnered)with his works, and by works faith was made perfect (completed)? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way ? (years after salvation)
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Works do not justify us before God (Romans 4:2).
Works do justify us before men and women of the world.
a. Works are the subject of Hebrews 11.
b. There is a book called works - Acts.
c. A disciple is one who uses the word to produce good works.
d. Our works will follow us to heaven one day (Revelation 14:13).
e. Disciples were first called “Christians” at Antioch (Acts 11:26).
Christians have not been left here to stop or change the world, but to block it. We are the mud they must swim through to get anything done.
The Church is the strongest influence for God and against the world.
What Are Good Works?
There are good works and bad works, right and wrong uses of works.
You cannot find one scripture defining works and make all others fit it.
Works are wrong when used to win God’s love or acclaim of people.
Works are right and good when used as a witness to win the lost.
What makes works right or wrong is the motive behind them.
Good works are our entrance into the world and society around us.
a. The priest and Levite both passed by the man lying in the road and would not reach out to him. Don’t hang a “do not disturb” sign on your life.
b. a. The Good Samaritan reached out in compassion.
Other uses of “works” in the Word.
a. Creation is called God’s works and are used to convince the lost (Hebrews 1:10, Romans 1:20).
b. Signs and wonders are called works and should be used to win the lost (Mark 16:15-18, Acts 1:8).
John 9:4 - “I must work the works of Him who sent Me…”
John 14:12 - “…the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do…”
c. Meeting people’s needs are works to be used to show God’s love (1 Peter 3:16-18).
I can give and not love, but I cannot love and not give.
Giving food and clothing (James 2:14-16).
Jesus gave to the poor (John 13:29).
Paul helped and gave to the poor (Galatians 2:10).
d. Wives and mothers are to produce good works through the home as a witness to win the lost (1 Timothy 5:10).
e. Giving money is good works to win the lost (1 Timothy 6:18).
f. The Great Commission is good works. We give the good news in word and deed.
Witnessing, preaching the gospel.
Healing the sick.
Casting out devils.
Getting believers filled with the Spirit.
Working miracles.
Witnessing is another word for good works.
a. Matthew 11:20 - “Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done because they did not repent.”
b. John 10:25 - “The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.”
c. Johnb 14:11 - “…believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”
Works are the basis of our rewards.
a. Matthew 16:27 - “The Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”
b. Matthew 25:34-36 - “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’”
Good Works Do Not Precede Faith But Follow it.
Titus 2:14 - “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
Titus 3:8 - “This is a faithful saying and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”
Good Works Are Your Light - Your Witness - To the World.
Matthew 5:14-16 - “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Good Works Give You a Reputation.
Acts 9:36 - “At Joppa, there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable (compassion) deeds which she did.”
Good Works Will Be Rewarded.
2 Corinthians 5:9, 10 - “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, (we will die one day) to be well-pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done (works), whether good or bad.”
Galatians 6:9 - “And let us not grow weary while doing good (good works), for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Revelation 14:13 - “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Prosperity Lets Us Expand Our Good Works.
2 Corinthians 9:8 - “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
Good Works Are Part of Daily Christian Walk.
Colossians 1:10 - “That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Daily Forgiveness Prepares Us For Good Works.
2 Timothy 2:21 - “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
The Word Prepares Us for Good Works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
You Instruct Others By Your Good Works.
Titus 2:7 - “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility.”
We are to Encourage Others to Good Works.
Hebrews 10:24 - “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”
God’s Power is Needed for Good Works.
Hebrews 13:20, 21 - “Now may the God of the peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well-pleasing in His sight…”
Mark 16:20 - “…The Lord working with them…”
Good Works Display Our Godly Character.
James 3:13 - “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”
Good Works Can Win Others to God.
1 Peter 2:15 - “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men…”
Good Works are the Evidence to the World of Our Faith.
Hebrews 11:2 - “For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good testimony (good works)...” Abel offered… Enoch was taken… Noah prepared an ark.
Grace Is Never Intended to Be Used as an Excuse to Sin.
Galatians 5:13 - “For you, brethren, have been called to freedom; only do not use freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Romans 6:1, 2 - “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
Romans 6:15 - “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”
2 Timothy 2:19 - “The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Titus 2:11, 12 - “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”
The Law is Not Gone. It Remains To Be Fulfilled.
Matthew 5:17 - “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
Romans 8 3, 4 - “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
