Sure I knew - many years ago, when I decided to yield my life to the Saviour; when I personally accepted Yahweh's offer of salvation through His Son Jesus. Oh yes, I knew that faith was vital. But my question remains: Are works important? And is it heresy to preach the importance of doing good works? This Sabbath we are going to find out. In this study I will quote many verses to show you that a person's ‘works’ are important, more important than most Christians remotely imagine.
Oh no! when I use the word works, I most certainly do not mean these practices, which, sad to say, have been adopted from paganism by the fallen Church. Trying to earn or pay for salvation by these futile ‘works’ is totally against all Bible teaching.
In this article I use the word ‘works’ as it is used in the Scriptures. Here we find that Works fall into two categories:
Galatians 5: | 19: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20: Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21: Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” |
Galatians 5: | 22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24: And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” |
Colossians 1: | 10: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” |
Galatians 2: | 16: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” |
James 2: | 14: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” |
The implied answer to this question is: No faith alone cannot save him.
James 2: | 17: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22: Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23: And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” |
Are Paul and James contradicting each other? The answer is: obviously not. The Bible doesn't contradict itself. Paul is simply saying that justification is by faith in Jesus Christ. And James is saying that to be effective, faith must demonstrate itself in works. If good works are not present, then the so-called ‘faith’ is in reality - ‘dead faith.’ And dead faith will certainly not get anyone anywhere; least of all into the Kingdom of God. In other words, a believer is justified by ‘living faith’ in Jesus Christ.
Titus 2: | 7: “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.”
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Acts 9: | 36: “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.”
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1 Timothy 6: | 18: “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.”
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2 Timothy 3: | 14: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15: And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” |
Hebrews 10: | 24: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”
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Titus 2: | 12: “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” |
Titus 3: | 8: “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works,”
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Titus 3: | 14: “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” |
2 Timothy 4: | 14: “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:”
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Matthew 7: | 21: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” |
Hearken to the Saviour’s warnings to the seven churches and all mankind in the
following verses.
Ephesus
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Revelation 2: | 2: “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.”
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Revelation 2: | 5: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
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Smyrna
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Revelation 2: | 9: “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”
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Pergamos
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Revelation 2: | 13: “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.”
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Thyatira
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Revelation 2: | 19: “I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.”
Jezebel
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Are works important? Of course they are important. If works weren't important, why did the Master mention them so often in his letters to the seven churches? I can tell you, that your works (the fruit, outcome, actions, your deeds) are the best - perhaps the only - indicators that you are a true believer. If you don't have accompanying good works (obedience) you don't have faith. We could even say that:
Matthew 7: | 22: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” |
The prophet Samuel said the same thing to king Saul, who had violated Yahweh’s
commandments:
1 Samuel 15: | 22: “And Samuel said Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” |
Matthew 12: | 36: “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
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Jeremiah 25: | 14: “... and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.”
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Matthew 16: | 27: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
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Revelation 2: | 23: “And I (Yehshua The Messiah Speaking) will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”.
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Revelation 20: | 12: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” |
Matthew 16: | 27:“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
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Revelation 20: | 12: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” |