What about Good works?

A religious survey here in Ireland had the following as its final question: “Do you think that you will go to heaven when you die?” A great many answered either “Yes” or “I hope so!” When asked for the basis of this  belief, most ventured the following: “Because I’m basically a good person!” “Because I do not harm anyone!” “Because I do the best I can. Because I treat my family/neighbour well.”

At this point, however, we must consult the Holy Scriptures for God’s Answer to this most vital question. The first port of call is the Old Testament where Isaiah 64 verse 6 says: “But we all are as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses [good deeds] are as filthy rags.” (Note that it says our righteous deeds, not our bad deeds .)

This may be a shock as most people in Ireland are brought up with the assumption that doing good deeds will earn God‘s favour. Looking further into the New Testament, we see Titus 3 verse 5: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved.”

“This very plain statement says that we cannot do anything to save ourselves. Our eternal salvation depends totally on the mercy of God. As if further proof were necessary, Ephesians 2 verses 8-9 says:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.” The Apostle Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) emphasises here that salvation is a gift of God, not earned by works of any kind. Is there anything required of us to receive this gift? Look back to verse 8 for the answer. “For by grace are ye saved through faith. ” The small word “faith” holds the key to the title of this leaflet. To have faith in someone means simply to believe in or trust that person. The Lord Jesus Christ (in conversation with the religious leader Nicodemus) said in John 3 verse 16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ”

God’s Word teaches that by placing your trust completely in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour from sin and not depending on good works of any kind, you can be sure of getting to heaven when you die. ” These things I have written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5 verse 13).

Many people brought up in the Catholic faith (as the writer was) might conclude from the foregoing that there is no use for our good works in God’s order of things. This could not be further from the truth. After stating in Ephesians 2 verses 8-9 that we are saved by faith and not by works, the very next verse clearly states the place of good works: “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (verse 10).

This means that after placing our faith in Christ for our eternal salvation, our lives thereafter should be characterised by good works. The important difference is that good works do not merit entry into Heaven.

However, elsewhere the Bible clearly teaches that we are rewarded in Heaven for good works carried out on earth after we have trusted in Christ.

A SUBTLE DIFFERENCE – BUT ONE THAT OUR ETERNAL DESTINY DEPENDS ON.

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