Why Must We Still Do Good Works?

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Romans 6; Lord's Day 32
Psalters: 90, 41, 109, 271
  1. Why
    1. This question is answered incorrectly in two opposite ways.
      1. On the one side, Arminians and Pelagians say good works are necessary to be saved.
      2. On the other side are the Antinomians who say that there is no necessity for good work.
    2. Then why must we do good works?
      1. First, the Spirit within us has made a great change in us: renewed after Christ’s image.
      2. Second, we are experientially so grateful to God for His blessings.
      3. Good works are also necessitated by the graciousness of redemption (Titus 2:14; Eph. 2:10).
  2. How can we do good works?
    1. Objectively, redemption makes a real change (Eph. 4:17- 20-24).
      1. If one continues in sin (unrepentantly) and is ungrateful, then they may not rightly claim to be a Christian.
      2. Salvation means we are freed from being under the dominion to sin, to have to sin all the time.
      3. Redemption by Jesus’ blood is followed by the renewal by His Holy Spirit after His own image (Eph. 5:1,2).
      4. And good works are given to us by God (they do not have their origin in us).
    2. There are subjective reasons for why believers do good works.
      1. First, the saved realize God commands them to do good works.
      2. Second, their returning love to God does good works (His commands are not grievous).
      3. We cannot be saved without good works, because faith without works is dead (cf. Heb. 12:14).
  3. There are fruits to our good works.
    1. By his good works the believer is benefitted because he is assured of his faith.
    2. Also others are gained to Christ by our godly conversation (I Peter 3:1; Matt. 5:16).
    3. May the consciousness of free, gracious salvation motivate you unto eternal gratitude to God’s glory.