The Importance of Works

[grace]

What is the role of works?

We nod our heads enthusiastically when someone says that we are saved by grace and not by works. But all too often, we immediately plunge back into desperately striving to be worthy of the love of our Lord and Savior.

You see, the problem is that it is all around us. Ours is a society of earning-and-deserving. You do the right things, and you get rewards, acceptance, accolades, etc. You do the wrong things, and you will be punished, shunned, thought poorly of, avoided, rejected, and so on. And for good behavior, the ultimate carrot is LOVE. The ultimate punishment: withdrawal thereof. Earning and deserving; reward and punishment. We buy into it every time we dump a guilt trip on our sister or brother. We instill it in our children when we let a coolness creep in to our reactions to them when they have been misbehaving. And we buy into it when we berate ourselves for having let God down when we fall.

When I first had this “doctrine of earning and deserving” pointed out to me, I could recognize that many people that I knew had fallen victim to it, and I could even see how it touched on one or two areas of my own life. Longer that I lived with the idea, though, and the more I thought about it, the more the blinders came off, and the more I came to realize that the doctrine of e&d reached into every last aspect of my being, including (and especially) my relationship with God (the place where it least belonged!).

And it still does. My head is converted, for the most part, but how stubborn the heart can be! For one who speaks with such conviction about the evilness of this doctrine, my thoughts, feelings and reactions certainly belie my own conviction about it. And I know that I am not alone.

Do our works matter? YES.
Do they affect whether or not or how much God unconditionally loves us? An even more resounding NO.
But do our works matter? YES. I could quote passage after passage that suggests that they do, and will do so on request if I must, but I think that we are all keenly aware that they are there.

And they cause us no end of trouble, because e&d is SUCH a HUGE stumbling block for us. Perhaps even the biggest one, because it has such an impact on who we believe God is, and therefore on whether we feel that we can trust Him. Grace-not-works is certainly a running theme throughout this forum, if that is any indication of what an important issue it is for us.

So maybe it is time that we took the bull by the horns, and looked at what works do have to do with it, if not earning and deserving. Perhaps, then, we will be able with God’s help to discern where the e&d trap is, and be freed from perpetually falling into it already!

To those who insist that works do not matter, I say the following:
Does it not grieve God terribly when we hurt each other? Does it not matter to God if I hurt your child? And does God not rejoice when someone tends to the wounds of a complete stranger? Our actions are real. They have real impacts on the people around us, and on our Lord. And remember, I am not saying that works matter with regards to our salvation, but quite simply that, somehow, they do matter. And that understanding better how they matter will help us keep from slipping into salvation-by-works-not-grace e&d thinking.

I propose that the problem that we have is that we believe our actions to be the source of our goodness (or badness). The source of our goodness, though, is God. Our good works are the product of, the fruit of, the evidence of our righteousness (which means right relationship) with God; hence the glory is His, not ours. When we try to be good by doing good, we are putting the cart before the horse, and bowing to the doctrine of e&d.

What do you all think?

In His love,

-Grace

[aw]

It could be said much better than this. I was recently struck with the significane of Eph 2:10 that we are 'His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works that we should WALK in them." The "WALKING" in them means to live and is therefore a DAILY experience. God has a plan for each that only we can do and our job is simply to commune and fellowship with Him.

A very nice post and a "GOOD" work. THis is an example of a work that will NOT be burned. IMHO.

aw

[Gracey]

Do works matter? Well, yes and no. In the matter of salvation, no they don't - seems like we all know that. Do they matter to God?

Are not some "works" the fruit? Are we not instructed to look after the "widows and children"? (And you are correct, there are lots of verses that could be quoted regarding works)

I don't mean works in exchange for anything, of course. But works of the heart are freely given, just as Christ freely gave to us.

The passages in Matthew 25 remind me that when I give freely to others (whether it be in the material, the spiritual or just of my time); when I am giving in love, expecting nothing in return, I am giving back to Jesus. No, no matter what we ever do, we cannot "payback" what Christ has done for us. We can never "outgive" God. But in loving Him, I do "works" for the sake of loving Him.


Gracey  
(not to be confused with grace)

 Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

[aw]

I pretty much believe that Christian Character/morality is a demonstration of the FRUIT of the Spirit, while Christian "WORKS" are an exercise of the Gifts of the Spirit.

aw

[Sower]

I pretty much believe that Christian Character/morality is a demonstration of the FRUIT of the Spirit, while Christian "WORKS" are an exercise of the Gifts of the Spirit.
aw

aw:

This is the proper understanding of "works", but it needs clarification.  We need to go one step further, and clearly understand that THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL GIFT IS THE SOURCE OF WORKS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.  That is the gift of "charity", agape, God's love working in and through us towards those who are the outcasts of society -- "the halt, the lame, the maimed, and the blind" (Lk.14:12-24). A major portion of "works" is giving the Bread of Life and the Water of Life to those who are dying of hunger and thirst -- "preaching the Gospel to every creature" (Mk.16:15). This is what the Lord teaches.  

The gift of love is given to every believer since God is love, and God dwells within each and every believer (1 Jn. 4:15,16).

So "works" is simply showing God's love to all, especially to those who are hurting.  "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this. TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR AFFLICTION, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (Jas.1:27).

[aw]

Amen brother and Amen.

aw

[sincereheart]

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: If God the Father chose us and the Holy Spirit set us aside for His holy purposes, then what part do you and I have? There is divine sovereignty and human responsibility. You have been sanctified unto obedience. Salvation is free, but you must obey. God’s divine sovereignty in choosing us does not nullify our response to His call. You have been saved out of this world, sent back into this world to witness to the world, and that is the only business you have in this world. Now, you do not work to be saved. You work because you are saved. Someone has said and I agree: “I will not work my soul to save, that work my Lord has done. But I will work like any slave for the love of God’s dear Son.”

Love Worth Finding~

[grace]

Yes, I agree.

But am I really the only one who slips back into striving? Who finds myself thinking sometimes that God must really be disappointed in me? Who sometimes gets the feeling that no matter how much I do, it is never enough? Or that no matter what I do, it isn't good enough? Or who sometimes wonders why God loves me? Or thinks that God must be so much happier with so-and-so than with me, since they've done/not done such-and-such...

What I was really trying to get at in this post was this unhealthy drive to perform up to God's standards. Maybe I'm alone (and I don't think I am), but I all too often find myself slipping into trying to be worthy of His gift to me instead of responding with love to His Love. And half the time, even still, I don't even recognize when I'm doing it. I don't know how to respond without striving!

Anyone with me on this? Anyone?

In His love,

-Grace

[grace]

I don't mean to clamor for attention here, but this is an important issue to me, and for me.

Anyone???

In His love,

-Grace.

[ollie]

Yes, I agree.

But am I really the only one who slips back into striving? Who finds myself thinking sometimes that God must really be disappointed in me? Who sometimes gets the feeling that no matter how much I do, it is never enough? Or that no matter what I do, it isn't good enough? Or who sometimes wonders why God loves me? Or thinks that God must be so much happier with so-and-so than with me, since they've done/not done such-and-such...

What I was really trying to get at in this post was this unhealthy drive to perform up to God's standards. Maybe I'm alone (and I don't think I am), but I all too often find myself slipping into trying to be worthy of His gift to me instead of responding with love to His Love. And half the time, even still, I don't even recognize when I'm doing it. I don't know how to respond without striving!

Anyone with me on this? Anyone?

In His love,

-Grace

I am with you on this. It is probably something that bothers all of us. Not sure of a fix. Except prayer, study, and lots of relationships with other Christians and exchanges of thought on it with them and helping one another with it.
Works has been stressed to the point of sometimes being a frustration. We are not saved by them but will be rewarded according to them.
We can do all the works of God it seems and they are to no avail if we do not have this love, "agape", "charity that gives us a caring for our brothers and sisters in Christ and all men as much as is possible to snatch them out of the devils snare and the fires and maintain them in Christ or bring them to Christ.

Just some thoughts to let you know you are not alone in this.

Ollie

[sincereheart]

But am I really the only one who slips back into striving? Who finds myself thinking sometimes that God must really be disappointed in me? Who sometimes gets the feeling that no matter how much I do, it is never enough? Or that no matter what I do, it isn't good enough? Or who sometimes wonders why God loves me? Or thinks that God must be so much happier with so-and-so than with me, since they've done/not done such-and-such...

What I was really trying to get at in this post was this unhealthy drive to perform up to God's standards. Maybe I'm alone (and I don't think I am), but I all too often find myself slipping into trying to be worthy of His gift to me instead of responding with love to His Love. And half the time, even still, I don't even recognize when I'm doing it. I don't know how to respond without striving!

Anyone with me on this? Anyone?


I had been going through something similiar. I won't bore you with a lot of details, but I was feeling really heavy-hearted that I (personally) just wasn't doing "enough". And in church (the gathering place), I just felt that we were missing the point.

While putting it before God time and time again.... He finally showed me that He's working on ME! And with that, has come the realization that I've been witnessing to quite a few others and didn't even recognize it! The manager of a local restaraunt has become fed-up with organized religion and we've had many discussions on it. A young girl has been coming over for Bible study and we've ended up having so many discussions on salvation. Family Bible studies have deepened. The Bible studies in homeschooling have led to some amazing discussions. We were able to provide for a non-Christian family in need, with my husband telling me to make sure that "Jesus is in it!". Etc....

I had been getting more 'meat' for me while 'witnessing' to others and hadn't even realized it!

[ollie]

But am I really the only one who slips back into striving? Who finds myself thinking sometimes that God must really be disappointed in me? Who sometimes gets the feeling that no matter how much I do, it is never enough? Or that no matter what I do, it isn't good enough? Or who sometimes wonders why God loves me? Or thinks that God must be so much happier with so-and-so than with me, since they've done/not done such-and-such...

What I was really trying to get at in this post was this unhealthy drive to perform up to God's standards. Maybe I'm alone (and I don't think I am), but I all too often find myself slipping into trying to be worthy of His gift to me instead of responding with love to His Love. And half the time, even still, I don't even recognize when I'm doing it. I don't know how to respond without striving!

Anyone with me on this? Anyone?


I had been going through something similiar. I won't bore you with a lot of details, but I was feeling really heavy-hearted that I (personally) just wasn't doing "enough". And in church (the gathering place), I just felt that we were missing the point.

While putting it before God time and time again.... He finally showed me that He's working on ME! And with that, has come the realization that I've been witnessing to quite a few others and didn't even recognize it! The manager of a local restaraunt has become fed-up with organized religion and we've had many discussions on it. A young girl has been coming over for Bible study and we've ended up having so many discussions on salvation. Family Bible studies have deepened. The Bible studies in homeschooling have led to some amazing discussions. We were able to provide for a non-Christian family in need, with my husband telling me to make sure that "Jesus is in it!". Etc....

I had been getting more 'meat' for me while 'witnessing' to others and hadn't even realized it!

Thank you. This is a very good word of encouragement. It identifies how one works without realizing it sometimes.


"make sure that "Jesus is in it!". Etc...."

Yes and amen.