The Bible says that we are salvation is by grace through faith and not by works (Eph 2:9). For more about this see https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/what-we-cant-do/. There is an eternal Sabbath rest for the people of God, in which we cease from our own works (Heb 4:1-10), although according to Heb 4:11 entering into this rest is a work or labour. However, what happens after we are born again? Do the finished works of Christ on the cross mean we are not expected to do any kind of good works, and it is only Jesus that did any works?
The first thing we would say to this is that it’s really all about love and the state of your heart. If you have truly been born again, your heart will have been changed by the Lord and made pure. Hence any good works you do will be out of that purity anyway and because He lives inside you.
- 1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned (sincere, without hypocrisy).
- Pr 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
- 2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Mt 12:34-35 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
So does the Bible say we are to do anything as Christians? Are we instructed to do good works, or just sit back and do nothing because “Jesus has done it all”?
It is a command in Rom 6:12 to “Let not sin reign”. It is a command to do this, so we are being told to do something.
In Mt 28:19 we are told to go and teach all nations. That is a command to do something. As we go, Jesus is with us (verse 20) and that’s the only way we can obey the great commission. Only being part of the vine, and by abiding in Him can we bear fruit (John 15).
Jesus lives in us and has given us authority. For example, according to Mark 11:22-26, “whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”
In Scripture, we are told to do many other things too. These works are not in order to be saved and notbecauseof someone telling you what to do through control and manipulation or for a religious ritual. No, the works are to be done out of love and obedience and because Jesus lives in us, empowers us (Acts 1:8) and has made us pure and holy. God has created us for good works (Eph 2:10). Many other scriptures very clearly call us to do good works: Mt 5:16, 1 Tim 2:10, 5:10, 25, 6:18, 2 Tim 3:17, Heb 10:24, 1 Peter 2:12.
The book of Titus is a wonderful letter, in which Paul discusses how we are justified by the grace and mercy of God (2:11, 3:4, 7), the sacrifice of Christ (2:14) and not our own righteousness (3:5). He opposes Jewish fables and the commandments of men (1:14), reprobates to good works (3:16) and strivings about the law (3:9). Yet all the way through the letter, Paul exhorts us to live righteously and godly (2:1-12), be zealous of good works (2:14), be ready to every good work (3:1) and be careful to maintain good works (3:8 and 14). So we are to maintain good works, not, as some people claim, repent from good works. Just to make it clear again, the only negative things the Bible says about works are that
1. We are not saved by works (Eph 2:8) or works OF THE LAW (Gal 2:16)
2. We are to rest from our OWN works (Heb 4:9)
3. We are to repent from DEAD works (Heb 6:1)
4. We are to put off the works of the FLESH (Col 3:9)
The Bible continually encourages us to do good works e.g. Mt 5:16, 1 Tim 2:10, 5:10, 25, 6:18, 2 Tim 3:17, Titus 2:14, 3:1, 8, 14, Heb 10:24, 1 Peter 2:12. Paul says to be careful to maintain good works in Titus 3:8 and 14 NOT repent of good works. Yes, repent of dead works (Heb. 6:1 – i.e. works of the law in self effort to try to earn salvation), but not repent of good works you do after you are saved. When you are saved you are made righteous and holy and your works will be good works because you are made righteous and freed from sin. It is then Jesus doing the works in you.
Some people also neglect the fact that there is a reward for man doing good works. See https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/rewards-according-to-works
The Bible also clearly says that faith without works is dead (James 2:20 and 26). Faith is made perfect by works (James 2:22). But as we have already seen, these works are not to be of the law. Furthermore, Jesus only spoke what he heard from the Father (John 12:50) and did only what he saw the Father doing (John 5:19, 30), and that’s what we are to do (1 Cor 2:13, 1 Peter 4:11). Neglecting to say that good works are needed for a reward is unbiblical and can create lazy, disobedient Christians who God can do nothing with. Reward according to works needs to be taught, along with the importance of building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, building the right sort of work, hearing God, doing what he is doing, and obedience to Him.
Some people claim that faith does not save you, it only causes you to realise you are saved. This is incorrect; the truth according to Eph 2:8 is that we are saved by grace through faith, hence faith saves you. But note it is the faith of God, as we have already stated – see Eph 2:8, faith is the gift of God. In Gal 2:20 the correct translation is “faith of the Son of God” not “faith in the Son of God. The faith comes from God, and does not originate from ourselves. We are saved by grace through faith (faith being a gift of God), not by works.
Some people believe that all striving is self-effort and futile. Of course if we are striving in anger and violence (Mt 12:19) (Strong’s number 2051), or arguing over trivial matters of the law (2 Tim 2:14, 24, Titus 3:9) (3054, 3164, 3163) that is not right. We intend to add other scriptures here on strife (2052, 2054) and how it relates to striving. But the Bible in fact encourages striving, except in the above cases. We just need to change the way we think about the word striving to line up with the Word of God. Have a look at these scriptures:
- Lu 13:24 Strive (75) to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
- Ro 15:20 Yea, so have I strived (5389) to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
- Ro 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together (4865) with me in your prayers to God for me;
- Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together (4866) for the faith of the gospel;
- Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving (75) according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
- Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving (464) against sin.
Thanks to Mike Bickle for inspiration on this subject of striving. For more, helpful information, see Part 1 Notes of his excellent series on grace.