Each believer is saved
and justified by faith, but
genuine faith must be expressed in various kinds of Spirit-led
"works." These include showing love for God, faith in His
sufficiency, love for His people, forgiveness, patience,
perseverance, serving one another, sharing possessions, etc.
Biblical FAITH
1. Faith in the victory
of Christ death and resurrection on our behalf
"...by the deeds
of the law
[human effort and good works]
no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the
knowledge of sin."
Romans 3:20
"...for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by
His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth bas a propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness..."
Romans 3:23-25
"...with His own
blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having
obtained eternal redemption."
Hebrews 9:12
"For by grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest
anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that
we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:8-10
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."
Galatians 3:26
"For if Abraham was
justified by works, he has something to boast
about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.' Now to him who works, the wages are not
counted as grace but as debt.
"But to
him who does not work but believes on Him who
justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to
whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;"
Romans 4:2-7
"...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law
but by faith in Jesus Christ.... for by the works of the law no flesh shall be
justified."
Galatians 2:15-16
2. Faith must be tested
and demonstrated as evidence of genuine faith
"In this you
greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be,
you have been grieved by various trials, that the
genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold
that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to
praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom
having not seen you love."
1 Peter 1:6-7
"....when the kindness and the 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, through the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He
poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life.
"...those who have believed in God should be
careful to maintain good works."
Titus 3:4-8
2. After
salvation, this faith must be "worked out" in the life of the
believer as a demonstration of a changed, Spirit-filled life.
"Therefore, my beloved,
as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who
works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
"Do all things without complaining and
disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of
God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world..."
Philippians 2:12-15
See
Faith and Confidence
Spirit-led
WORKS
Christians are often
tempted to do "good works" in their own strength and by their own
will. This is not spirit-led works that God seeks in and through
us. What the apostle Paul wrote to the early churches should warn us
not to revert to human strength or management, but remain focused on
God and do His work by His Spirit:
(See
Spiritual Gifts and Community Service)
"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not
obey the truth? ...
Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the
hearing of faith?— Are you so foolish? Having begun in the
Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?...
"He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles
among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing
of faith? ... Abraham 'believed God, and it was
accounted to him for righteousness.' "
- demonstrate
that our faith is genuine
"Jesus... said to them, 'This is
the work of God, that you
believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 6:27-29
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father
with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his
works.” Matthew 16:27
"He turned
to the woman and said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered
your house; you gave Me no 'water for My feet, but she has washed
My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.
' You gave Me no 'kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My
feet since the time I came in. 'You did not anoint My head with oil,
but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 'Therefore I say to you,
her sins, which are many, are
forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the
same loves little.”
"Then He said to her, 'Your sins are
forgiven.... Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Luke 7:44-48
- allows the "fruit of the Spirit"
in us to bless others
"...the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.... And those who are
Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Galatians 5:16-25
"...you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind
by
wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of
His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and
above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith,
grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the
hope of the gospel which you heard."
Colossians 1:21-23
"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in
our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith,
labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ..."
1 Thessalonians 1:2-4
"...we also pray always for you that our God would count
you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His
goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him,
according to the grace of our God..."
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
"...if you have bitter
envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and
lie against the truth. This wisdom does not
descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and
self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing
are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good
fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."
James 3:14-17
"For this is the message that you heard from the beginning,
that we should love one another..." 1
John 3:11
"Because you have kept
My command to persevere, I
also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon
the whole world, to test those who dwell yon the earth."
Revelation 3:10
- enable us to
love God first and most of all
“...you shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment."
Mark 12:29
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you
cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those
who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for
My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have
this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember
therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works,
or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand."
Revelation 2:2-5
"Jesus... said to them,
'Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For
you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always..... Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is
preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be
told as a memorial to her.”
Matthew 26:10
- our public
witness to the glory of God
"Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:16
"His disciples asked
Him, saying, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he
was born blind?”
"Jesus answered,
'Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of
God should be revealed in him."
John 9:2-3
"Jesus answered them, 'I told you, and you do not believe. 'The
works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But
you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said
to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither
shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
John 10:25-28
"I have glorified You on
the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the
glory which I had with You before the world was."
John 17:4-5
"...exhort the young men
to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern
of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence,
incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one
who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of
you." Titus
2:6-8
- must be
according to God's will, not self-chosen social work that prompts
boasting.
“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish
His work."
John 4:34
"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food
which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give
you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
"Then they said to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the
works of God?”
"Jesus answered and said to them,
'This is the work of God,
that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 6:27-29
"All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that
the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every
good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"Therefore, my beloved,
as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who
works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of
God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world..."
Philippians 2:12-15
"Preach the word!
Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own
desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for
themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the
truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in
all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry."
2 Timothy 4:2-5
"...he who believes in
Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than
these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in
My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the
Son." John 14:10-13
"Peter opened his mouth and said:
'In truth I perceive that
God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears
Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."
Acts 10:34-35
"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man
and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every
man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving
according to His working which works in me mightily."
Colossians 1:27-29
"...the Holy Spirit said,
'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I
have called them.'”
Acts 13:2-3
"...if this plan or
this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even
be found to fight against God.”
Acts 5:38-39
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly
vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in
Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the
Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works
befitting repentance."
Acts 26:19-20
- involves serving one another
"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty,
nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives
us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich
in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life."
1 Timothy 6:17
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another
in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together..."
Hebrews 10:23
See also
Service
- impossible for
unbelievers who reject His ways or refuse to do His will
"But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one
who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them
to the work."
Acts 15:38
"They profess to know God, but
in works they deny Him, being
abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."
Titus 1:16
"...be doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves."
James 1:22
"If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and
one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and
filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for
the body, what does it profit? 'Thus also faith by itself, if it
does not have works, is dead.
"But someone will say,
'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without 'your works,
and I will show you
my faith by 'my works. 'You believe that there is one God. You
do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want
to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered
Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was
working together with his works, and by works faith was made
9perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You
see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so
faith without
works is dead also."
James 2:15-26
- likely to offend
and enrage the world that despises the cross. Both faith and love
for God will surely be tested.
Then Jesus said to them,
'My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates
Me because I testify of it that its works are evil."
John 7:6-7
"We give no offense
in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all
things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much
patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes,
in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in
fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by
the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by
the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right
hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and
good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well
known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not
killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet
making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all
things."
2
Corinthians 6:3-10
"Therefore do not be
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but
share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the
power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to His own purpose
and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time
began," 2
Timothy 1:8-9
"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct
honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as
evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe,
glorify God in the day of visitation."
1 Peter 2:11-12
- holds observers responsible for what they see and hear
"He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His
mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 'Woe
to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works
which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would
have repented long ago...."
Matthew 11:20-21
"When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their
synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, 'Where did this
Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the
carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers
James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?... Where then did this Man get all
these things?' So they were offended at Him."
Matthew 13:54-57
"Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His
hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because
of their unbelief."
Mark 6:4
Jesus said, 'Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done
a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you
always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do
not have always. She has done what she could. She has come
beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to
you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what
this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Mark 14:6-9
- fulfills prophecy
"If I had not done among them the works which no one else did,
they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated
both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be
fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without
a cause.’"
John 15:24-25
REWARDS &
Punishment
God rewards (or
punishes) people according to whether our works are rooted in
Biblical faith or in the ways of the world and human nature.
"...as obedient children, not
conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all
your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'
And if you call on the Father, who
without partiality judges
according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time
of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not
redeemed with corruptible things... but with the precious blood of
Christ..."
1 Peter 1:13-18
"....in accordance with your hardness and your
impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath
in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
who 'will render to each one according to his deeds':
eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek
for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are
self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish,
on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of
the 3Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who
works what is good...."
Romans 2:4-10
“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are
rich);
and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are
not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of
those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is
about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and
you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and
I will give you the crown of life."
Revelations 2:9-10
“...to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
'I know your
works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold
or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."
Revelations 3:14-16
"I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,
and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is
the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their
works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea
gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up
the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one
according to his works."
Revelations 20:12-13
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,
to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
Revelations 22:12-13
WORKS of SATAN,
WORLD & FLESH (human nature)
All work together to
tempt or defeat Christians
"...such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into
apostles of Christ.
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel
of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also
transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end
will be according to their works."
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
"Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the
lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one
another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,
selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders,
drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you
beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who
practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:16-21
"...you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the
futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that
is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who,
being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to
work all uncleanness with greediness."
Ephesians 4:17-19
"For you were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in
all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what
is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is
shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in
secret." Ephesians 5:8-12
"The coming of the lawless one is
according to the working of
Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with
all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they
did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion,
that they should believe the lie, that they all may be
condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness."
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
"...the Lord will
deliver me from every evil work and preserve me
for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever."
2 Timothy 4:18
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He might
destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8
"But the rest of
mankind... did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not
worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and
wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not
repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual
immorality or their thefts."
Revelations 9:20-21
GRACE versus LAW
Not longer live by
the law (or seeking salvation by following the law) -- Since
salvation is given by His grace when we put our faith in Him, we
have no cause for boasting!
"But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the
righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and
on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified
freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus, whom God set forth bas a propitiation by
His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because
in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were
previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His
righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one
who has faith in Jesus.
"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 apart from the deeds of the
law." Romans 3:21-28
Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to
righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel,
pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law
of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by
faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they
stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 9:30-33
Keeping people in
bondage to the law
"You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be
justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through
the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."
Galatians 5:4-5
"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not
obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed
among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you:
Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the
hearing of faith?— Are you so foolish? Having begun in the
Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?...
"He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles
among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing
of faith? ... Abraham 'believed God, and it was
accounted to him for righteousness.' Therefore know that only
those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the
Scripture [[probably the writings of Job which preceded Abraham], foreseeing that God would
justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the
nations shall be blessed.'...
"...as many as are of the
works of the law are under the curse....But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God
is evident, for 'the just shall live by faith.”
Galatians 3:1-11
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a
curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a
tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon
the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
Galatians 3:13-14
"...the Scripture has
confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus
Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith
came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith
which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our
tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by
faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a
tutor." Galatians
3:22-25
Examples of
strong faith expressed through faithful ministry to God and man
"For the time would fail me to tell of
Gideon and Barak and
Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the
prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong...."
Hebrews 11:32-34
"Now may the God of peace
who brought up our Lord Jesus from
the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood
of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good
work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in
His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21