What Are Good Works?

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: I Corinthians 10; Lord's Day 33
Psalters: 268, 141, 404, 246
  1. Their right standard.
    1. The law of God is the only objective standard for identifying good works. Biblical proof:
    2. This excludes all other standards.
    3. The principle behind this criterion is two-fold:
      1. One, God created all and controls all the absolute monarch of the universe.
      2. Two, God gives instructions in order to establish a personal link between Himself and His subjects.
    4. In the law God demands the heart: His law is fulfilled only with love (Romans 13:10-12; Matt. 22:37-39).
  2. Good works must proceed out of faith.
    1. Biblical proof: Rom. 14:23; Hebrews 11:6.
    2. The root of man s being is the heart (Prov. 4:23), and by nature man s heart is totally depraved spiritually.
      1. Faith is God s gift which binds us spiritually to Christ (John 15:1-8).
      2. Christ bears fruit through us, and without Him we can do nothing good (John 15:1-5).
    3. God s work of grace in us produces a small beginning of the new obedience.
  3. All good works must have the correct goal or purpose of the glory of God.
    1. Man s works all have a purpose or an end. Every deed of every human is ultimately either unto man or unto God.
    2. To be good a work must have as its goal the glory of God.
      1. God created all things in order that they might radiate His glory (Rev. 4:11).
      2. Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31).