Good Works
As we really immerse ourselves in the Christian lifestyle through the lens of Ephesians, it is encouraging to note that Christians in various eras have wrestled with the relationship of new birth and new life, of faith and works. In particular, I want to highlight the Westminster Confession of Faith and its chapter on good works (WCF 16).
These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life. (WCF 16.2)
Wow! Those Westminster divines sure knew how to pack a lot into a paragraph! Note a couple things: 1) good works are both commanded and the fruit of a true and lively faith. This is noteworthy because we often emphasize the nature of good works as one of thankfulness to what God has already done in our lives and yet we cannot escape that as members of the human race we are commanded to live according to the way that God has designed his world. 2) Note the sevenfold effectiveness of good works in the lives of the believer: thankfulness to God, assurance, edification of fellow believers, adorning the gospel for the unconverted, stops the mouths of adversaries, glorifies God, and ends in eternal life. What a list. I have been praying this week through this list and am enjoying having my eyes opened to how God is bringing about these truths.
I share these thoughts with you because we are going to be swimming in these waters throughout the next several weeks. This week in Ephesians 4:25-5:2 we will touch on truth and falsehood, stealing and honest industry, corrupt talk, anger, malice, bitterness and wrath. In the coming weeks we will deal with sexual purity, Christian living in the home between husbands and wives, parents and children and in the workplace between employers and employees. While living in accordance to God's revealed word on these topics is mandated, we can never do so without the Spirit's influence and when we do live this way it is for our benefit and God's glory.
PS. -- If you want to dive into Westminster a little more, I will be teaching on Good Works, Perseverance and Assurance (WCF 16,17, 18) in the north overflow during the SS hour!