Good Works

Although we accept salvation as a gift from God, we have a dangerous tendency to think we deserve credit for good works. Who doesn’t want to be recognized from time to time, to be appreciated for their effort.

While it’s impossible to avoid desiring interaction with others--after all, God did create us as social beings--we need to be careful. Thinking we’re responsible for the good we do isn’t consistent with Scripture. We receive our ability to do good we have by grace through faith. Paul said, it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose. (Phil. 2:13 NIV)
Jesus, our prime example, demonstrated this for us when He said, the son can do nothing by himself, he can do only what he sees his Father doing. . . . (Jn. 5:19 NIV)

Good works always originate with the Father. He delivers the possibilities to His followers through His Holy Spirit. We follow His leading. So we do good works, but not on our own. They’re a response to God’s grace.

Originally published August 23, 1985.