Works versus Works

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but 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 work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 ESV

There is much confusion and debate over this subject of “works” within the American Christian community and/or culture. There is also much deception being spread with regard to works or no works. For many are teaching that God requires no works of us, including no repentance, no obedience, no submission to him as Lord, and no requirements for holy and godly living and for us to not walk in sin. For they call that legalism and works salvation, and so they quote Ephesians 2:8-9 to prove their point:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may 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 ESV

And yes, I did include verse 10 here, as well, to make my point (God’s point, in reality). So, yes, there is nothing we can do in our flesh to earn or to deserve our own salvation. Even the faith to believe in Christ is not of our own doing, and so we can’t make up our own faith and practice, either. But this faith means to be persuaded by God, and this faith is gifted to us by God, and is not of our own doing, so this faith which saves has to agree with God and with his word and his divine will and purpose for our lives. So this faith will submit to God and will obey his commands and do his will.

And we who believe in Jesus with this God-persuaded faith in him are now his workmanship. We are now his possession. He now owns us, and we are now his servants. And when we believe in Christ as Savior and Lord we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, but these are the works of God, not of the flesh of humans, but that which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. So they are not of our flesh or of our own doing or decision-making. So this is not us trying to earn our own salvation, but this is us walking in the works God prepared in advance for us to do, to live by.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 ESV

For we who are in Christ Jesus, by God-persuaded faith in Christ, are now to present ourselves (our bodies, our whole being) to God as living sacrifices to him, holy and pleasing to him and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable and spiritual worship of God. So we don’t get to choose our life course or our own interpretation of the Scriptures or of faith which comes from God. For our lives now belong to God and he owns us, and we are his possession to do his will. So we are to no longer be conformed to the ways of this sinful world, but we are now to do the will of God in his power.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14 ESV

For the grace of God is not a “get-out-of-jail-free-card.” It is not just forgiveness of sins and a promise of heaven when you die. God’s grace trains us to say “NO!” to ungodliness and worldly and fleshly passions so that we can live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return. For Jesus Christ gave himself up for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now walk no longer as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness (see Romans 6:1-23). For…

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

All throughout the New Testament we are told that we must die with Christ to sin, not just once, but daily, and that we must follow our Lord in obedience to his commands, and that we must live holy and godly lives in the power of God, and that we must no longer walk (in conduct, in practice) in sin. And we are told, too, that if sin is what we practice, and if righteousness and godliness and obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, that we will not inherit eternal life with God, but we will die in our sins. And so heaven will not be our eternal destiny.

And this is what it means to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” For to be in fellowship with God is to be in partnership with him in a cooperative and contributory effort. We can do nothing in and of ourselves to earn or to deserve our own salvation, but we are saved of God to do the good works of God which he prepared in advance for us to do. And we do them, not in our own strength and wisdom, but we do them only in the power, strength, and wisdom of God as God directs and as he equips us to do the works he has called us to do for his purposes and glory. Amen!

Video Talk

https://youtu.be/VMdDoZHLukw

Caution: This link may contain ads

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer 

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg 

Caution: This link may contain ads