August 20, 2006

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

Two Bad Things about Good Works

 

Introduction

a.     One of the thorniest issues in Christian theology is the matter of works.  If it were just a matter of choosing between evil works and good works, it would be an easy matter.  The Bible says that Cain’s works were evil, but his brother’s works were righteous.  (1 John 3:12.)

b.     Works are involved in almost every major area of Christian teaching.  Works are included in the discussion of pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27), how Abraham was justified (Rom. 4 and James 2), its relationship to grace (Rom. 11:6), one of the basis for our acceptance in the final Judgment (Rev. 20:13), and the Lord’s approval or disapproval of the seven churches of Asia (“I know thy works” in Rev. 2 & 3).

c.      This theme may at first seem simple and straight forward, but it is very complex and can be easily misused.

d.     I want to present two bad things about good works.

 

#1: Failing to do Good Works

 

Man tends toward inactivity and omitting good works for many reasons.  Some fail to do good works because they have been discouraged, because of depression, laziness, a lack of faith in God, and because religious leaders have denounced good works as unnecessary in their salvation.

 

First and Second Thessalonians are about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  Every chapter in these two letters mentions it.  Some at this church erroneously thought that it was imminent; so they stopped working.  There was no point in working if the Lord is coming soon.  Paul wrote, “If any will not work, neither should he eat.  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.  Now them that are such we command and exhort you by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own bread.”  (2 Thess. 3:10-12.)

 

Even though Paul was writing about the Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead to the Corinthians, he concluded that section on the resurrection by saying, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  (1 Cor. 15:58.)  A friend of mine was trying out at a church years ago and he chose this text for his try-out sermon.  It was a big mistake; the brethren did not like it.  He was visiting out of town and had little cash on him.  The brethren would not even carry him out for Sunday lunch after that sermon!  Generally, brethren do not like to be exhorted to work and abound in it.  Children do not like it.  Employers resent it, though they are paid to do it.  Many tend toward being lethargic.

 

Staying busy is such a blessing, physically and spiritually.  We were made to work.  God placed Adam and Eve in a garden and commanded them to tend it.  God has provided for everything that we need in life, but we have to work to get it.  Fields have to be planted and harvested.  Fish have to be caught and dressed.  Coal has to be dug out of the earth.  Gold and diamonds are in the earth as well.  Have you noticed that they are not just lying on top of the ground?

 

When Jesus was criticized for working on the Sabbath, he replied, “My Father works until now and I work.”  (John 5:17.)  Jesus taught, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  (Matt. 5:16.)  All kinds of work are taught in the Bible.  We must work physically in order to eat.  We must abound unto every good work to please God and serve our fellow man.

 

James pointed out the problem of not doing good deeds toward those in need.  He wrote, “If a brother or sister is naked or destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled.  Notwithstanding, you give them not those things which are needful to the body, what does it profit?  Even so, faith, if it has not works, is dead being alone.”  (James 2:15-17.)

 

Not considering the teachings of Christ and Christianity, just as a matter of being humane, we should help those who are destitute and hungry.  We shame our Lord and ourselves as human beings when we fail to remember the poor and to help orphans and widows in need.  James wrote that this is pure and undefiled religion.  (James 1:27.)

 

#2: Working for the Wrong Reasons

 

Another significant problem in the New Testament is working for the wrong reasons in reference to salvation.  If we could be justified by our good works, then grace would be unnecessary and Jesus’ finished work on Calvary would be declared void.  (Gal. 2:21.)

 

We get some indication of the problem with good works and salvation in these words: “But after the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  (Titus 3:4-7.)

 

Another indication that there is a problem with good works is the insistence that boasting is excluded from Christianity.  There is simply no place for boasting in the faith of our Lord.  Paul asked, “Where is boasting then?  It is excluded.  By what law?  Of works?  No, but by the law of faith.  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds (works) of the law.”  (Rom. 3:27-28.)  “. . .not of works, lest any man should boast.”  (Eph. 2:9.)

Jesus told a story about a Pharisee and publican going up into the temple to pray.  The Pharisee prayed and boasted to God about all that he was doing—he fasted twice a week, gave tithes, not an extortioner, unjust or adulterer.  He was trusting in himself that he was righteous.  (Luke 18:9-14.)  Pharisees may have done many good deeds, but they negated all of the good by their boasting and self-righteousness.

 

Since God made Jesus our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, all boasting is out of place.  “As it is written, he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.”  (1 Cor. 1:30-31.)  Paul is quoting from Jeremiah where he wrote: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches.  But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord.”  (Jer. 9:23-24.)

 

Here is a good question by Paul: “For who makes you to differ from another?  And what has thou that thou did not receive?  Now if you did receive it, why do you glory, as it you received it not?”  (1 Cor. 4:7.)

 

A third indication that something is out of order with works and salvation is found in Paul’s discussion of grace and debt.  If salvation were a matter of good works, then God would owe us salvation as a matter of a debt.  We then have earned it.  But if the reward is reckoned by grace, then works do not earn or merit us salvation.  (Rom. 4:4.)  Later, Paul went further.  He wrote to the Romans: “There is a remnant according to the election of grace.  And if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace.  But if it be of works, then it is no more grace, otherwise, work is no more work.”  (Rom. 11:6.)  Salvation cannot be by works and by grace at the same time and share in part.  One system of redemption is earned as a matter of debt; the other is given by grace.  It is simply the difference between gifts and wages.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Rom. 6:23.)

 

 

Conclusions

 

Therefore, there are two bad things about good works.  Some fail to do good deeds to glorify God and to bless others around them.  Others do good deeds for the wrong reasons thinking that they justify themselves.

 

I have found it helpful to remember that works in various texts of the Bible refer to several different kinds of deeds.  Works do not always refer to the same thing.  Here is a partial list of things under consideration in Scripture:

 

a) deeds of the Law of Moses (Rom. 3:28)

b) benevolent works (James 1 & 2)

c) works of obedience to the will of God (1 Cor. 15:58, Rev. 2 & 3)

d) works of merit toward redemption (Rom. 4:4)

e) evil works versus good works (1 John 3:12)

f) work in our occupations (2 Thess. 3:10-12)

 

Obviously, according to the express statements of Scripture, some of these works are included in the exercise of our faith and others are excluded.  The deeds of the Law of Moses are excluded; works of merit are excluded; evil works are excluded.  Good works are included; works of obedience are included; and works of benevolence are a part of the exercise of our faith.

 

In addition, it is possible to do even good works for wrong reasons and make them invalid.  If we do things to obtain the praise of men, we have received our reward and praise.  If we do them thinking that we have self-justification, we make void the grace of God and the death of Jesus our Lord.  Valid works are those that are included in Scripture and those that are done as an expression of faith.  (Gal. 5:6, James 2:18.)