Good Works

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” -Titus 3:8 [KJV]

There is often a disagreement among men about “good works.” Some saying that there is no such thing and others emphasizing or over-emphasizing them. What are we to think? We are to believe what God says about them. First, God says we are to “be careful to maintain good works.” A good work has to have certain characteristics. It is not good if it is trusted in as a part of our justification before God, such are evil works. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).

No unbeliever does good works because good works rise out of heartfelt thanks for God saving us by grace in Christ alone. Then, all good works are done for the glory of God alone --- “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Next, they are not produced by the flesh but by the Holy Spirit, being the “fruit of the Spirit” which those who are saved by grace are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). A poor woman like Dorcas was “full of good works” (Acts 9:36) and those who are rich are instructed to “do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate" (1 Timothy 6:18). Paul tells us that rulers in authority are “not a terror to good works” (Romans 13:3) and that they become those who profess to believe the gospel.

Furthermore, I think that most often good works have to do with our brethren and the preaching of free grace is the message and motivation to do them: “being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” I think that true believers don’t talk about them, they just do them out of love to Christ and love to the brethren. When asked when they did such things, Christ will say, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me” (Matthew 25:40). All who are saved by grace do good works without trusting in them or thinking about them!

-Gospel report by preacher Gary Shepard