If Saved By Faith, Why Do Good Works?

When you hear about someone being called a good person, what comes to mind? Does that mean they have an agreeable personality or demeanor? Is it someone who’s always doing kind things for others? Is it somebody who meticulously avoids breaking any laws?

At funerals I’ve heard the deceased described as “a good Christian man” or :a good Christian woman.” Is that to be compared to a “bad Christian man” or woman? 

The Bible doesn’t mince words announcing, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). To ensure we don’t miss this surprising assessment, we find similar statements elsewhere: “… There is no one who does good…. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:1,3). Psalm 53:1-3 offers a nearly identical statement.

In a psalm of repentance, King David prays, “Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you” (Psalm 143:2). And perhaps the strongest words of all are found in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

That’s the bad news. The good news, however, is what separates Christianity from any of the world’s other religions and belief systems. All other religions, in one way or another, tell us, “This is what you’ve got to do.” And then they present rules, regulations, laws, principles and philosophies intended to make us right with God (or whatever they call the divine). Maybe. If you’re lucky.

By contrast, rather than “do this” or “do that,” the essence of the Christian faith is summed up in one word: “Done.” Romans 5:8 puts it this way: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” A chapter later we read, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Other passages expand on this foundational precept, teaching us about God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Another verse, Titus 3:5 reaffirms this: “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

Okay, so it seems there’s nothing we can do – or could ever do – to earn our salvation, forgiveness of sins, and being brought into a right, eternal relationship with God. It’s done; but the Lord was the doer. Hmm. Does that mean we’re “home free,” that we don’t have to do anything, that we can live our lives just as we see fit without consequence? 

I like how the apostle Paul answers that question. In Romans 6:2 he argues, “May it never be!” Another translation tells us, “By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” But this seems to present us with a conundrum. We can’t do anything to earn God’s favor and acceptance, but we’re also told that doesn’t give us license to do whatever we choose. Then why should we “be good”? Why should we bother with doing good works?

The answer to that is simple: It’s God’s purpose for us. After we’re told we've been saved by grace through faith, and not because of anything meritorious we’ve done, Ephesians 2:10 continues, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Contrary to cultural mantras, He didn’t put us here to “grab all the gusto” or to “look out for No. 1.” He’s got lots of good stuff He wants us to do, for His honor and glory.

Other passages elaborate on this truth. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we discover the purpose of the Scriptures is “for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Biblical teachings aren’t intended for us to become spiritual eggheads.

This helps us to understand another verse which has puzzled some when pondering grace vs. works. In Philippians 2:12 we’re told to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” This isn’t in any sense saying we’re to work in order to receive salvation. Because the very next verse states, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). In other words, we’re to work out the life of Christ that He has already worked in.

There’s another reason our works – our character, behavior and deeds – are important. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). 

Some of us are more than eager to share our good words, passing along concepts and truths we’ve learned during a sermon, reading a book, in Sunday school or during a Bible study. But as the adage reminds us, if our works don’t speak as loudly as our words, the less said the better. Or as Pastor Joe Aldrich put it years ago, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

My late friend Ted DeMoss used to express it this way: “We’re here to populate heaven and to de-populate hell.” The best way of doing that is through our works, consistent with our words.

Where Are We Shining the Light?

One of the things I love about Christmas Eve services is the traditional lighting of the candles in the dimmed sanctuary. As candle after candle is lit, darkness is dispelled and the vast room glows with the flickering flames.

A troubling thought occurred to me, however, at the end of our last Christmas Eve service. Perhaps it was an epiphany. Once the last notes of “Silent Night” had been sung, the pastor dismissed us with the cautionary words: “Please extinguish your candles before you leave.”

Practically speaking, this admonition made perfect sense. We didn’t want to accidentally drip hot wax on the carpet, or on someone else leaving the building. Much worse, we didn’t want to drop our candles and cause a fire, or perhaps have a flame touch someone’s flowing hair. Just the thought of such things causes an involuntary shudder.

But I couldn’t help but wonder: At the end of every other worship service throughout the year, are we doing something similar? Are those of us who profess faith in Jesus Christ “extinguishing our candles” before we leave the sanctuary?

During a worship service it’s easy to feel all warm and fuzzy. We’re among like-minded people – or so it seems. We sing hymns and praise songs affirming our faith. We hear sermons reinforcing our beliefs. When we hear the lyrics, “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place,” we heartily agree. Our “lights” burn brightly .

But what happens when we leave the sanctuary, return to our cars, and head to our homes or a restaurant to eat? Or the following day, when work and school and household responsibilities vie for our attention? Did we leave our lights in the building we commonly refer to as the “church”? What impact – if any – are we having on the dark influences in the world around us?

During his so-called “sermon on the mount,” Jesus challenged His followers, telling them, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Then Jesus completed the metaphor: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Are we doing this? Or are we, as we’re instructed on Christmas Eve, extinguishing the flames on our “lights” as we leave each worship service and returning the world outside the stained glass, appearing and acting much like those who never think of darkening a church building’s doors?

This is a humbling, thought. Is the world around us – our workplaces, schools, communities, homes – any brighter because we’re there, serving as “the light of the world”?

The apostle Paul gave a reminder to believers in the church of Ephesus that applies to us as well: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness…everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible” (Ephesians 5:8-13).

This is a question we should ask ourselves: Are we living as children of light? Or are we, outside of the formal worship center, virtually indistinguishable from anyone else? Do we brighten a room when we walk into it, or do we serve only to add to the darkening gloom? And if we realize that we’re not being the light of the world God desires for us to be, what are we going to do about it?

It’s still early in the year, so maybe we should do a bit of soul-searching and try to find some honest answers to these questions. During this year, will we fit the description of Isaiah 58:8, “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard”?

Enough Evidence to Convict?

Compared to other parts of the world, people professing to be Christians in the U.S.A. have it pretty good.

Yes, the entertainment media typically portray followers of Christ and those who believe the Bible as buffoons, bigots or worse. The mainstream news media often don’t seem to know how to fairly report on someone that’s devoted to Jesus Christ. And angry atheists and freedom from religion types would rather people of faith be closeted, much as people of alternative lifestyles used to be. But looking around the globe, it seems clear American believers could have it much worse.

One of the most under-reported international scandals – at least as far as the U.S. media are concerned – is the intense persecution and slaughter of Christians in Iraq and Syria, as well as other nations, by Islamic extremists. Followers of Christ are systematically, and savagely, being purged from lands they have inhabited for 2,000 years.

Numerous media sources outside the United States say the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has taken control of the city of Mosul in northern Iraq, giving Christians three choices – renounce their faith and convert to Islam, pay a hefty tax, or be killed. Most have fled, leaving a region with more than 20 centuries of biblical heritage.

Across the river from modern-day Mosul lie ruins of the ancient city of Nineveh, where the Bible states the reluctant prophet Jonah was directed by God to spur a massive spiritual revival. Jonah’s tomb supposedly is housed in a mosque in the city. Yet today, having been expelled from their homes, Christians are virtually non-existent in that historic area.

I’m not an international affairs reporter, so all I know about this tragic situation comes from the BBC, Canadian news and other media sources. But it causes me to wonder: What if similar persecution occurred in the United States? Given the direction things seem to be taking, it could happen. What if all who professed faith in Jesus were told either to deny their faith or die? How would we respond?

Perhaps there’s an even greater question: If such persecution arose, would some of us as individuals be ignored, with the oppressors reasoning, “That person can’t be a Christ follower. There’s no evidence that he (or she) believes in Jesus. Nothing to indicate that at all. They’re harmless.”

In a court of law, the verdict is usually determined by the burden of proof. Therefore, if charged with being a follower of Jesus Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict any of us?

This question comes to mind because of a discussion I had recently with friends. James 2:17 declares, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by deeds, is dead.” Historians report this passage troubled reformer Martin Luther because he had been protesting the works orientation of the Roman Catholic church he was leaving. And Ephesians 2:8-9 does tell us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

But this doesn’t erase the responsibility for Jesus’ disciples to properly and consistently represent the Lord we claim to follow. If the Spirit of Christ lives in us, as the Bible asserts, shouldn’t there be outward evidence of what’s happening inside of us?

The next verse in the passage cited above says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus doesn’t just offer the hope of life after death, but also life before death – with a purpose.

He told His disciples and other listeners during the so-called “Sermon on the Mount, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Jesus wasn’t instructing us to generate light of our own, but to reflect His light. The best way, He said, is through our actions. And if we’re not reflecting the light of Christ in our homes, at our jobs, in the classroom, the athletic field or wherever we happen to be, it might be reasonable to doubt whether we truly know Him at all.

We each need to honestly ask ourselves, if charged with being a Christian, genuine followers of Jesus Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict us?

Not ‘Just a Layman’

We all, to one extent or another, think about status. In school we see smarter, more studious classmates earning the lion’s share of recognition and rewards. High-performing athletes receive applause for their accomplishments. In the workplace, pay raises, bonuses and promotions are based at least in part on how we rank among our peers in the quality and quantity of our work.

Parents proudly display bumper stickers on vehicles to proclaim their children are honor students at such-and-such school. They watch and listen as their offspring perform at various functions – dance or instrumental recitals, athletic competitions, even spelling bees – and take note of their children’s standing compared to those of their friends.

We rate ourselves according to the cars we drive, houses we own, portfolios we accumulate, vacations we take, even places where we eat. We can equate much of what we do in terms of status – perceptions of who we are.

Where did we ever get the idea that legitimate
spiritual service must be confined to a
sanctuary or religious facility?

Life in the spiritual realm, I’ve noticed, can be very similar. I attended a Christian institution’s send-off for young people advancing to the next level in their academic climb. The speaker gave the customary challenge, encouraging them to lofty aspirations, suggesting roles such as pastors, missionaries, even business people – adding the latter can contribute financial resources to support various ministries.

I’m sure the speaker meant well, but it seemed implied that pastors and missionaries – those engaged in vocational ministry roles – rank as the elite in the institutional church realm. They are holders of the greatest status. Everyone else, as a business friend described himself to me years ago, is “just a layman.”

That perception lacks biblical support, however. Years ago we attended a church where at the close of the worship service, people regularly walked forward to declare their commitment to “full-time Christian service.” This always confused me, since there is no such thing as a part-time follower of Jesus Christ (either you are or you aren’t), and as His followers we’re each called to serve God and other people. Sure sounds like full-time Christian service to me.

Yes, I know these fine people meant they were determined to give their lives to pursuits such as preaching, working full-time with specific segments of the congregation, or expressing their willingness to venture to a foreign land, live in an alien culture and learn to speak an unfamiliar language, all in the name of telling other people about Jesus.

There’s nothing wrong with any of those things. What troubles me is the perception that if you’ve not done any of those, you’re somehow a second-class citizen in God’s kingdom.

I remember having lunch with a business executive who told me, “I’d do anything to go full-time for God.” Looking him in the eyes, I asked, “Why do you think you haven’t already done that?”

A good friend works with business owners and top executives, meeting with them monthly to encourage them to live their lives and conduct their businesses in a manner that honors God and upholds the truths, values and principles of the Scriptures. To remind them that as business people, they have a high calling from God to serve their customers, employees and suppliers in His name, my friend gives each leader a little sign they can affix to the inside of their office doors. Walking out they can read, “You are now entering the mission field.”

Somehow we’ve been seduced by the notion that if you’re really serious about God, you need to attend a seminary, get a degree, and then have people refer to you “the reverend” or “pastor” or “sister.” I once thought that myself, and appreciate people that qualify for such titles, but the Bible doesn’t make this distinction. For His closest followers, Jesus chose lowly fishermen, tradesmen, even a despised tax collector. The author of one gospel, Luke, was a physician, not a clergyman. None of them attended Jerusalem Theological Seminary, nor did any hold diplomas from Bethlehem Bible College.

Jesus told His followers, “...let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). That exhortation meant any good works, not only those performed in a religious context.

Later, the apostle Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). Again, he didn’t offer these remarks at a graduation of seminarians or commissioning ceremony for foreign missionaries; he was writing to every follower of Jesus in the ancient city of Colossae.

So next time you’re tempted to spiritually demean your vocational role, whether as a teacher, engineer, grocery clerk, corporate executive, burger flipper or business manager, and the thought, “I’m just a layman,” crosses your mind, remember: You – and every worker that professes the name of Jesus Christ – are in full-time Christian service!

‘Show and Tell’ All Over Again

Had I been a NASCAR fan as a boy, I might have brought
model cars like these to "Show and Tell."

Do you remember “Show and Tell” day? I’m not sure they still do that in schools, but “back in the day” we had show-and-tell once a week. As I recall, it was optional and whoever thought to bring something in got to go in front of the class with their chosen item, show it off, and then tell about it.

Weapons weren’t an issue in schools in those days, so there was no concern little Billy would bring in dad’s pistol, shotgun or prize hunting knife. Most of the time featured items were things like stamp collections, favorite dolls and stuffed animals, plastic dinosaurs, something from grandma’s memorabilia, model cars and airplanes, maybe a live hamster or gerbil. I don’t think pythons were permitted.

The rules were simple: If you brought something from home at the appointed hour the teacher would call on you to walk before the class, show the item of your choice, and tell whatever you wanted about it.

Being shy, I think I “forgot” to bring something to class most of the time, but do remember taking my dad’s wartime medals to school once and explaining what each represented.

The single stipulation of this activity was it had two parts: Show – and Tell. You couldn’t go forward, face the class, and just tell them about something you left at home. And you couldn’t just show the items; you had to say something about them. It definitely was not show-or-tell. It was both-and, not either-or.

As I ponder what we often call the “Christian faith,” it occurs to me that it, too, is show-and-tell.

Over the years I’ve taken part in evangelistic conferences, events and training programs, and most of the time the emphasis is on the words: How to say the right things, or how to say things right, hopefully to persuade the hearer.

Speakers at these activities often refer to “witnessing.” What strikes me about this, however, is the Bible rarely uses “witness” as a verb. It says we are to “bear witness” (a noun) – in other words, carry testimony about our faith to those that will listen. In most cases, the Scriptures use witness not as something believers do, but rather what they are.

For instance, in Acts 1:8 we find Jesus’ exhortation to His followers: “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” He also instructed them, “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

People within the Christian culture have become skilled in using the words of the Gospel, but perhaps one reason we’re not more effective is because of a lack of emphasis on the works of the Gospel. As someone been said, if your walk doesn’t equal your talk, the less you say the better.

An overbearing employer professing to be a follower of Christ, for example, that doesn’t treat employees with fairness, compassion, sensitivity and understanding isn’t likely to be listened to when she talks about Jesus. An employee that’s always telling people about Christ, but fails to do his work diligently and with excellence, undermines his own witness.

A husband might be a pillar in his church, but if he abuses or demeans his wife or children, he has no platform from which to speak about Jesus – at home or in public. And a physician that often talks about her faith, but uses coarse language or demonstrates a lack of personal integrity, conceals the light He wants her to shine.

We need to ask ourselves, “How’s my show-and-tell?” Whether at work, in our homes, in a restaurant, on a golf course, sports arena or wherever we happen to be – are our actions speaking louder than our words? If accused in a court of law about our “witness,” would there be enough evidence to convict us?

Going the Extra Mile

It’s said a picture is worth a thousand words. In a similar way, a few well-chosen words can speak volumes.

Consider, for instance, this quote from the late inspirational speaker and writer, Zig Ziglar: "There are no traffic jams on the Extra Mile."

Isn’t that true? Going the extra mile, acting beyond the call of duty, doing more than what’s required – these once were virtues people aspired to. Sadly, that’s rarely the case anymore.

Today, people want to know the bare minimum they can get away with. In college, many students don’t care what they’ll learn in a certain course. All they typically want to know is, “Will this be on the exam?” I’ve worked at places where sick leave accrued from pay period to pay period, and you could almost set your calendar by people that would call in “sick” the moment they accumulated a full day of sick leave.

People pay huge sums for new houses, expecting the home of their dreams, only to encounter shoddy construction, along with substandard fixtures and furnishings. Deficiencies in craftsmanship apply to home repairs as well. Never mind the “extra mile” – often workers quit before finishing the first mile!

There's not a lot of foot traffic from people
committed to going the extra mile.

That’s why people willing to go the added mile seem exceptional. As Ziglar pointed out, traffic is light on the extra-mile highway.

If you go out to dinner, for example, tipping a certain percentage is standard even for mediocre service. But when a server is extra attentive, checking back frequently and even anticipating needs before they’re verbalized, you don’t just want to leave a larger tip. You want to recognize the person with a brass band.

When you have work done at your home, if the carpenter or painter or landscaper takes extra pains to ensure the project is completed at the highest level, when it’s time to pay you want to ask, “You’re sure that’s enough?”

Jesus spoke about this in His so-called “Sermon on the Mount” but related it, interestingly enough, to people with whom we have adversarial relationships. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person…. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:38-42).

Jesus calls His followers to do more than what’s required, more than what’s asked for – even for people we feel aren’t deserving of it. Why? There are several good reasons:

When we’re mistreated, our natural response is to respond in kind. To strike back, maybe get revenge. Christ’s followers, however, are to act differently – because He’s made them different. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?... And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?... But love your enemies, do good to them…. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:32-36).

As the passage above states, we’re to reflect the mercy we ourselves have received. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:5). God extended His mercy – not giving is what we did deserve, and offered His grace – giving us what we didn’t deserve.

Another reason might be because in darkness, even the weakest light shines brightly. That’s what Jesus calls us to do: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We’re to stand out, to be exceptional, not to blend in. And one way to do this is…by going the extra mile.