Good Works?
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Introduction
This morning I want us to look at the nature and purpose of good works. As we do so, I want us to ask two basic questions:
First, since we are saved by grace and not by works, what are good works for? What roll do they play in the new life?
Second, if we are saved by grace and not by works, why do good works remain such an important part of Scripture’s witness?
I. The Basis of Christian Works- Notice at once, if we are going to truly understand our work on earth we must first understand it in terms of its relationship to grace FN#1. Remember, the grace that saves you is a grace that changes you. In other words, we do not work to earn God’s salvation, favor, or grace. Instead, God’s salvation, favor, and grace are what make our good works possible in the first place.
1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness;
Simply put, the purpose of good works is not self-derived righteousness. Rather, good works are the result of a righteousness/grace that really works
II. The Model of Christian Work– Next, notice if we are going to understand our work on earth we must understand it in terms of Christ’s work FN#2. What work?
A] Remember, the Ascension marks the beginning of Christ’s reign in His human nature (Ephesians 1:20-21). Not only that, remember Christ (the 2nd Adam) is doing what the 1st Adam failed to do. He is subduing all creation, making it God’s Garden Sanctuary. In other words, Christ is implementing the Kingdom and Kingdom life He accomplished on the Cross.
1 Corinthians 15:24 then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
B] Next, notice the bridge/connection: on Pentecost God poured out His Holy Spirit on His people, not only giving us a share in the Kingdom life (Ephesians 1:13-14), but also equipping us for a share in the Kingdom labor.
Acts 1:8 you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses
C] Notice the result: your work is a part of Christ’s reign. In other words, the work that grace is doing in you and through you is one of the chief means that Christ uses to accomplish the work of His reign.
Matthew 28:18 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations,
Bottom line: by grace, your work shares in Christ’s reign. That is, grace has given you an active part in the work that Christ is doing. FN#3
III. The Nature of Christian Work- Notice then what this means to you and me today.
A] Because you have been given a share in Christ’s reign, God does not call you to random deeds of kindness. Rather, your work is to contribute to God’s distinct Kingdom agenda.
Matthew 6:33 “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness;
2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; (Col 3:1)
B] Because you have been given a share in Christ’s reign, God intends your work not only to reflect the character of His Kingdom, He also intends it to contribute to the very shape of that Kingdom.
John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain,
Think about it when God uses your witness to bring another to faith, you have eternally altered the shape of God’s Kingdom forever. However, it is not just our witness that changes the face of God’s Kingdom. Rather, God intends all our works, prayers, and efforts to shape the face of His Kingdom.
1 Corinthians 3:13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built upon the foundation of Christ remains, he shall receive a reward.15 If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.
Notice then the picture that Scripture provides: the scene is not that of disposable works for which you are rewarded and then they are discarded. Rather, the picture is of works that remain (where? In God’s Kingdom). In other words, the scene is that of artisans hired to do various tasks on the King’s new house. When the King returns to establish residency, He will examine all the works that He commissioned. Those that are done according to His specifications (c.f. Exodus 39:42-43), those that are found to have lasting value and use in His Kingdom, will remain and the artisan will receive his or her reward. Those works or those parts of our works that are found unsuitable will be removed.
Notice the result: as you seek God’s will in any area of your life, you are, as it were, taking a rough, unfinished, stone and seeking to shape it after the Master’s design. You are seeking its future in the present. FN#4/5
Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Footnotes
1] The witness of Scripture never sets genuine good works (things truly pleasing to God) at odds with grace. In fact, according to Scripture to truly have one requires you also to have the other. The two go hand-in-hand (or better the two stand in a cause and effect relation such that grace/new life results in new living)
Christ has accomplished the whole of your salvation. Thus when you need forgiveness, you turn to Christ and His work on the Cross. In the same way, when you need improvement/change you again turn to the same savior, Cross, grace. In fact, the comprehensive nature of grace means that every prayer for forgiveness is simultaneously a prayer for change
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2] By model I mean that our work is patterned after, shaped by, and integrated into the very work that Christ is doing as a part of His reign. To put it another way: the current work of Christ’s reign provided the framework which defines/incorporates the current work that He has given His people to do. Thus, we must begin any discussion of good works with the clear understanding that they (1) are based on the work that grace is doing in us; and (2) they stand in direct parallel to the work that Christ is doing at the right hand of God (Col 3:1)
3] Notice then, throughout Scripture we see the believer assisting Christ at every stage of His reign.
1) Your work participates in the present work of Christ’s reign
Matthew 6:33 “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness;
Matthew 6:10 ‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
2) Your work participates in the future work of Christ’s reign
1 Corinthians 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels?
3) Your work participates in the fullness of Christ’s reign
Revelation 5:10 “And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (Rev 22:3-5)
4] An entire section could be added to what we have already said. I will include it here
III. The Hope for all you do– because your works share in Christ’s work you have the assurance that Christ is reigning through your faithful efforts. Therefore:
Zechariah 4:6 “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it.
1 Corinthians 15: 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
2 Peter 3:13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
5] Epilogue
We end this morning with at the Lord’s Table, the New Testament Holy of holies, the garden sanctuary of God, which is already filling the earth. As we do so
I have a picture of the Table in mind each week as I come. It is based on an old picture of the Biltmore House during its construction. On one end of the house you can see that this much of the outer wall is completed. On the other end you can see that that much of the outer wall is completed. On the inside you can see the scaffolding the workers are using. All around the grounds there are stones being dressed and made ready to put into place. There are workers and different work stations. There are carts and buggies bring supplies. And in the middle of the house there is a table in radiant white and at the table is the Lord of the Manor with the blueprints in His hands. Around the Table are us, His workers being renewed, nourished, and refined; and then sent back out to the tasks for which we have been assigned. And if we listen to Scripture, we might just find that this picture is not too far off base at all.
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house
Simply put, each week at the Table the source of you good work (God’s grace), the nature of your good work (we each share in Christ’s Kingdom agenda), and the objective of our work (Creation as a Garden sanctuary and a people fit for fellowship there with God) are set before the eyes of our faith in the most comprehensive sense this side of Christ’s return.