Matthew 25:31-46 gives us a sobering thought about how we ought to live our lives. Do we care for the poor? Are we taking care of the needy? And it is so clear in that context, those whom the love of God does not manifest through good works, will be thrown in for eternal condemnation.
But are good works commandments in which we do IN ORDER to be saved? Or perhaps in a lighter tone, is it the will of God for us to focus our lives on good works and social morality?
Well, in Matt 5:13-16, Jesus told the Jews that they are the salt of the earth. Israel has always been God's chosen vessel to "be a light to the Gentiles" (Isaiah 49:6). From the call of Abraham, to the giving of the Law at Sinai, it has always been God's plan that his glory shall be revealed through God's holy nation and finally Abraham's seed. That is why Jesus came and repeat the words of the Law and the Prophets, to call Israel to " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.".
Hence it is obvious that good works are important, important enough that if we don't do them, it proves our faith is dead (James 2:14-17), and obviously dead faith has no eternal life in it. That alone should bring us to attention about God's expectations of a healthy spiritual life of a real Christian.
THE PITFALL OF LEGALISM
In Gal 5:2-4, Paul cautioned the Galatians that if they follow false teachers of their day , and believe in circumcision as a criteria for Salvation (Acts 15:1), they have fallen from Grace. Paul pronounces a double curse in Galatians 1:6-9 for those who proclaim such a gospel. That is because the Judaic false teachers in Paul's day, taught circumcision, a work of the Law as a means to Salvation, which is not right.
Like the Pharisees, the church of Sardis (Rev3:1-6) was being charged for appearing alive but actually DEAD. The Problem? They sought to be justified under the Law, which resulted in an outward Righteousness without the workings of the Holy Spirit.
Hence to put it to perspective, we are to add no other means to Salvation except by faith in Christ alone. Hence those who preach good works and commandments as a criteria to Salvation falls into the pit of Legalism which the author of Galatians and Hebrews went at lengths to warn us about. So what now?
So how? Should we put in any effort into laboring in good works or not? Lest we fall into Legalism!
OBEDIENCE AS EVIDENCE, NOT A MEANS
1 John 2:3-8 gives us a good description on how to test if one is a believer; by those who keep his commandments. John 14:15, Jesus told the disciples "“If you love Me, keep[d] My commandments.". So those who are genuinely saved, WILL love God and keep his commandments; do good to others.
So in view of all these biblical evidence, we can safely conclude the following:
1. Good works and Godly living are not a means nor criteria for Salvation. It can be fulfilled IF we are perfect (James 2:10), but the bible says we are all guilty of Sin (Rom 3:19-20). Hence we can only have Salvation by faith in Christ alone.
2. But we are created by God for good works (Eph 2:10, Col 3:5-6, Gal 5:13-14). A true Christian will put his mind on the things in the spirit, not in the things of the flesh (Rom 8:5-8). So a true Christian WILL do good works and have compassion for the poor.
Hence to put it to perspective, we are to add no other means to Salvation except by faith in Christ alone. Hence those who preach good works and commandments as a criteria to Salvation falls into the pit of Legalism which the author of Galatians and Hebrews went at lengths to warn us about. So what now?
So how? Should we put in any effort into laboring in good works or not? Lest we fall into Legalism!
OBEDIENCE AS EVIDENCE, NOT A MEANS
1 John 2:3-8 gives us a good description on how to test if one is a believer; by those who keep his commandments. John 14:15, Jesus told the disciples "“If you love Me, keep[d] My commandments.". So those who are genuinely saved, WILL love God and keep his commandments; do good to others.
So in view of all these biblical evidence, we can safely conclude the following:
1. Good works and Godly living are not a means nor criteria for Salvation. It can be fulfilled IF we are perfect (James 2:10), but the bible says we are all guilty of Sin (Rom 3:19-20). Hence we can only have Salvation by faith in Christ alone.
2. But we are created by God for good works (Eph 2:10, Col 3:5-6, Gal 5:13-14). A true Christian will put his mind on the things in the spirit, not in the things of the flesh (Rom 8:5-8). So a true Christian WILL do good works and have compassion for the poor.
Hence our call for obedience is not one which relies on human determination, but one with understanding the right gospel. It is firstly a humbling recognition of our spiritual state of hopelesss in the wickedness of our human nature, and secondly our only hope of Justification and Sanctification which is in Christ Jesus.
With that understanding in mind, we can thus avoid trying to justify ourselves through good works (which is legalism), nor neglect the imperative of obedience (Lawlessness) in the life of a true believer in Christ.
It means that we do good works, but we ought to know why we are doing it. Obedience is ultimately a response to the gospel, not a means to Salvation.
GOOD WORKS IN VAIN IF VOID OF THE GOSPEL
But are good works ALL that is reflective of a life of a Christian? There are many Non-Christian organizations who are very fervent in doing good works, feeding the poor, caring for the needy, building shelters for homeless, etc. What then, is the difference between Christian good works in Matt 25 and Worldly acts of kindness?
The book of Acts tell us that the evidence of the early church tells us that besides being generous to the poor (Acts 4:34-35), they were relentless in sharing the gospel with boldness (Acts 4:31, Acts 11:20-21). Paul said in 1 Cor 9:16 that "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ". Wow, he cursed himself if he did not preach the gospel, shouldn't we be doing the same??
What sets us apart is the word of God that is actuated by the evidence of our faith reflected in our conduct (Col 3:12-17). Good works is a means FOR the Gospel, not the concluding result of it. Without the preaching of the Gospel, good works will only elevate human kindness, which is filthy rags to God (Isaiah 34:6). The purpose of the gospel is to glorify God not men.
If we seek to do good works without sharing the gospel, the ultimate outcome will be glorification of man, not God.
With that understanding in mind, we can thus avoid trying to justify ourselves through good works (which is legalism), nor neglect the imperative of obedience (Lawlessness) in the life of a true believer in Christ.
It means that we do good works, but we ought to know why we are doing it. Obedience is ultimately a response to the gospel, not a means to Salvation.
GOOD WORKS IN VAIN IF VOID OF THE GOSPEL
But are good works ALL that is reflective of a life of a Christian? There are many Non-Christian organizations who are very fervent in doing good works, feeding the poor, caring for the needy, building shelters for homeless, etc. What then, is the difference between Christian good works in Matt 25 and Worldly acts of kindness?
The book of Acts tell us that the evidence of the early church tells us that besides being generous to the poor (Acts 4:34-35), they were relentless in sharing the gospel with boldness (Acts 4:31, Acts 11:20-21). Paul said in 1 Cor 9:16 that "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ". Wow, he cursed himself if he did not preach the gospel, shouldn't we be doing the same??
What sets us apart is the word of God that is actuated by the evidence of our faith reflected in our conduct (Col 3:12-17). Good works is a means FOR the Gospel, not the concluding result of it. Without the preaching of the Gospel, good works will only elevate human kindness, which is filthy rags to God (Isaiah 34:6). The purpose of the gospel is to glorify God not men.
If we seek to do good works without sharing the gospel, the ultimate outcome will be glorification of man, not God.
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