When good works aren’t good enough
The works that bring praise and glory to God are not the works conceived only of man’s design but “good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us”
By LLOYD I. CASTRO
FEAR OF ETERNAL SUFFERING in hell and hope for everlasting bliss in heaven have led people to make great efforts to acquire traits of virtue and do works of goodness. Many, however, do not consider Church membership as one of the good works that must be done. Or, if they belong to a church, usually by accident of birth or by personal choice, they believe all churches or religions are of God so that the one to which they belong is as good as any. Or perhaps they hold on to the notion that membership or non-membership in any church is immaterial and that they can please God and hope to be saved as long as they possess goodness, however shallow, and perform good deeds, whatever these may be.
However, these beliefs not only lack scriptural basis but outrightly oppose apostolic teachings. The popular notion that one merely has to do good works to be saved is blatantly false. Apostle Paul said that man by himself cannot do good, as is expressed in his letter to the Roman Christians:
“I know that good does not live in me—that is, in my human nature. For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it.” (Rom. 7:18 Good News Bible)
Man’s inability to do good
Apostle Paul, speaking not only for himself but for all humankind, said that he can desire to do good yet is unable to do it. He explained why:
“My inner being delights in the law of God. But I see a different law at work in my body—a law that fights against the law which my mind approves of. It makes me a prisoner to the law of sin which is at work in my body.” (Rom. 7:22-23 GNB)
Since Adam, man has rejected God’s law and instead let another law, that of sin, reign over him. Human nature has become such that it is weak and slave to sin. Not even the righteous are free from this prison. The wise King Solomon proves that “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins” (Eccles. 7:20 New International Version).
No matter how careful a man might be in handling his affair, one way or another, he falls prey to blunders, temptations, and mere neglect to think, say, or do what is lawful. Hence, he sins (I John 3:4). Righteous he may be by human standards but not by God’s, for all have sinned except our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:10-12, 23; I Pet. 2:21-22). Thus, the whole world of sinners cannot but face God’s justice:
“Now we know that everything in the Law applies to those who live under the Law, in order to stop all human excuses and bring the whole world under God’s judgment.” (Rom. 3:19 GNB)
God’s verdict is to destroy all ungodly men by fire on the Day of Judgment (II Pet. 3:7, 10). Man’s goodness and good works could not be used as justification of basis for his salvation. Otherwise, it would be as though God is indebted to him:
“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.” (Rom. 4:4 New King James Version)
Salvation is by grace and not as payment for debt. God does not owe any man salvation just because that man did good works. On the contrary, it is man who owes God because no matter how righteous he may be, man still has sin which he must pay through death (Rom. 6:23). He will be punished in the lake of fire, which is the second death (Rev. 20:14).
The work pleasing to God
This must not lead anyone, however, to think that he should do away with goodness and instead set his eyes on evil since his goodness will only be in vain come Judgment Day. Good traits and works, of course, have great value—in this life, in the eyes of other people, and to society in general. Awareness of man’s true state as discussed above should lead one to find that which will enable him to do the good works that bring honor to God. Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians indicated that he knew of people blessed to have found it. In fact, he exhorted them:
“That you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Col. 1:10 NKJV)
It is clear from Apostle Paul’s inspiring words that there is a way by which man can be fruitful in every good work that he “… may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him.” But is he not the same apostle who said that man cannot do good? How can a person do what is good? Which is that good work one should be fruitful in? Apostle Paul gave light to this, too, as he taught the early Christians to be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Philip. 1:11 NIV).