Will any of our good works contribute to our salvation?
(John 3:16-17; Rom. 8:18-23; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Tim. 6:17-19) Blog: Sep. 01-07, 2019
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Human beings were created to work. Our work became more difficult when sin entered. Since then no fruit is produced without diligent human effort and the resistance of nature. God has made ample provision for all our needs so that out of our abundance we may supply the needs of others. Throughout the Old Testament God emphasized his desire that the poor, the unfortunate, and the stranger be cared for and that he despised the worship of those who neglected to do this. When Jesus came he spent his time helping those in need even though he also was poor, needy, homeless and mistreated. The early church was diligent in caring for the needy and attentive to apostolic instruction in this regard.
The Gospel (Matt. 19:17; Mark 1:1; John 3:16-17; ; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Eph. 2:8-10)
1. Who is the Gospel about? The Gospel is about Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.
2. What did the Gospel accomplish? The Gospel accomplished the salvation of everyone found in Jesus.
3. How can a person be found in Jesus? A person can be found in Jesus by accepting him as their personal Lord & Savior & remaining in this dependent faith.
4. If Jesus said that a person must keep the commandments in order to be saved, who then can be saved? The only people who can be saved are those who find in Jesus, their Substitute, the obedience that the Law requires.
5. What are we shown in the Gospel? In the Gospel we are shown the perfectly obedient life of a human being who was counted sin for us that we might be counted as having the righteousness of God in him.
Good Works (Matt. 5:16; 26:10-11; 2 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 2:8-10; Col. 1:10; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; Tit. 2:14; 3:8; Heb. 10:24)
6. If we are saved by faith alone is there any reason we should do good works? Yes, we should do good works in order to give glory to God & to show our love for him who has done so much for us.
7. Will any of our good works contribute to our salvation? No, not a single one of our good deeds will contribute to our salvation.
8. What place does Paul give to good works in Ephesians 2? Paul says that our good works don’t bring us salvation but that we are placed into Christ by faith so that we can do good works.
9. According to 2 Corinthians 9:8 and Colossians 1:10 with God’s grace how many good works should be manifest in our lives? God desires us to abound in every good work.
10. In his letters to Titus and the Hebrews what else does Paul tell us about good works? Paul tells us to be zealous in doing good works & to stimulate one another to do good works.
11. What good work did Mary do for Jesus that he commended? Mary poured perfume on Jesus as her gift of love for him.
Balancing Faith and Works (Rom. 7:15; 8:18-23)
12. What universal condition hinders us in doing good works? The sinfulness of our nature opposes us in doing good works.
13. When will the sinfulness of our natures be removed? The sinfulness of our natures will be removed at glorification when the voice of God pronounces the everlasting covenant at the time of the seventh plague (Rev. 16:17).
14. Are “the needy” restricted to those with physical needs? No, “the needy” we are to help include also those with spiritual needs.
15. How are we to help the spiritually needy? We are to help the spiritually needy by giving them the Gospel & spiritual guidance from God’s Word.
16. What is the goal of all our efforts to help the poor and the needy? To reveal to people the gospel of their salvation is the goal of all our efforts to help the poor and the needy.