Martin Luther once said: Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works. How true!
Many years ago I believed that Christians had to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. All forms of work ceased on Friday night at sunset. Once, when I was ironing my trousers on a Friday evening, I glanced at the clock. Horror or horrors! I had sinned. It was a few minutes after sunset. I had just ironed one leg of my pants. Feeling terribly guilty, I stopped ironing. The next morning I went to church service wearing the trousers – with one leg un-ironed! Fortunately, nobody seemed to notice!
Today I understand that we are not saved by our good works but by Gods grace. Salvation is a priceless gift from a loving God. We do nothing at all to earn it (Ephesians 2:5, 8-9)
The story is told of a man who came eagerly but very late to a revival meeting and found the workmen taking down the tent in which the meeting had been held. Frantic at missing the evangelist, he decided to ask one of the workers what he could do to be saved. The workman, who was a Christian, replied, You cant do anything. Its too late. Horrified, the man said, What do you mean? How can it be too late? The work has already been accomplished, he was told. There is nothing you need to do but believe it.1
Some may point to certain scriptures to try and prove that we are saved by works. One of them is Philippians 2:12. continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Paul did not write continue to work for your salvation. He wrote, work out your salvation. A different preposition; an altogether different meaning.
Exploiting what is already there
Diamonds said to be a girls best friend are of course, formed in the ground. Ages ago pockets of carbon dioxide existed beneath the earths crust. Extreme heat and pressure caused the carbon dioxide to crystallise, forming diamonds. Pressure built up and volcanic eruptions brought the diamonds to the surface. Man then mined the diamonds, exploiting what was already there.
Jesus has saved us (Ephesians 4:4-5) lives in us (Galatians 2:20) and is at work in us (Colossians 1:29). By depending on and surrendering to him we are to work out what is already there or more accurately Who is already there.
When we get sick we go to the doctor. He diagnoses our illness and prescribes a specific treatment. He gives us a prescription and we take it to the chemist who in turn gives us the medication. So far, everything has been done for us diagnosis, prescription, medication. It now becomes our responsibility to follow the doctors instructions. By responding and working out the process we enjoy the benefits of the doctors and chemists contributions to our health.
Continuing with the thought in Philippians; For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose, (verse 13). Isnt that encouraging? God is actively working in us. He revels in doing it. He promises he will never leave us nor forsake us. There are two words which Paul uses in this verse to describe what God does: to will (prompting,) and to act (performing). God works in, and we work out to others!
God at work
You may have noticed a prominent sign at a building site Danger! Men at work! Perhaps every Christian should wear a label: God at work!
In his book An Odyssey of Joy, Sam Gordon writes: They (the Philippians) were not to work for their own salvation since that is a gift from God. They were to work at it. If you like, they were to stop playing church and be zealously committed to the cause of Christ. They were to be sold out to Jesus. It was a stirring challenge for them to live out their faith in the rough and tumble of everyday life, and by doing so, impact their community. Paul was exhorting them to get out of their soft grandstand seats and get down to the pitch where the action was. This particular brand of Christianity advocated by Paul is one where we get our feet wet. God is not looking for smooth, clean hands. He wants dirty hands.2
Ephesians 2:10 says that we are Gods workmanship created to do good works. Notice how this verse is rendered in the Message Bible: He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do work we had better be doing.
In a humble attitude of total dependence on Jesus Christ and responding to his will we need to be reaching out, building relationships of love with others, continuing what Jesus, our role model, did. We need to be participating in this work with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
As we cooperate with God, we will see the full potential of our lives. We will be making a difference in our communities. We will be living and sharing the amazing gospel of Jesus Christ.
Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works through Jesus Christ in.
1. New Testament Commentary
John MacArthur: page 81 (Moody Publishers)
2. An Odyssey of joy Sam Gordon: page 87
(Ambassador Publications)