Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The Message Of The Cross

The Message of the Cross is a message of Faith and Grace. One places their Faith in God’s Redemption Plan and God works supernaturally in the heart of the one who believes. In the initial Salvation experience, the Work of the Holy Spirit regenerates the individual, making them a new creation in Christ. We are not perfect by any means at this point, but we have been adequately prepared for the perfecting or maturing process. 

The Believer should also ask for, and experience, the powerful Baptism with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other Tongues. This assures the Believer that he or she has the full potential of the Holy Spirit’s Power made available at Calvary. The Holy Spirit’s “perfecting power” works on the same basis as Salvation. The Believer places their Faith in the Cross, in God’s Redemption Plan, and Grace, the effectual Working of the Holy Spirit, begins the process of conforming the Believer into the Image of Christ. Salvation and Sanctification then are both carried out by Faith and Grace (Col. 2:6). We cannot “work” for our Salvation and we cannot “work” for our Sanctification. In both processes the Believer learns to “rest” from his works! We labor now to enter into this rest on a daily basis! This is the Message of the Cross.

Are Righteous Works Wrong?

Righteous works in and of themselves are never wrong. Theology should always prepare us for reality. In other words, if what we believe is right, the evidence that we are on track is that we are being supernaturally equipped to carry out righteous works. Notice in our Text above that the Believer is “created in Christ Jesus.” This is where the supernatural Work of God is done. God working in us is the result of our “resting.” Philippians 2:13 says, “It is God Who works in us both to will and to do of His good Pleasure.” Therefore, God is at work in the Believer who is at rest. He places both the desire (the will) and the Power (to do) of His Will (His good Pleasure) within us. All this produces the “unto good works” that are spoken of in our Text. God has predetermined the lifestyle of the Believer. He desires that we, through rest, Grace, and Faith, be equipped by Him to display Holiness and Righteousness to the World. So, doing right is always right! Jesus didn’t come to save us in sin, but from sin.

Can Righteous Works Be Wrong?

If the Believer begins to trust in works as the means to righteousness, then the Believer has been deceived by “that which is good.” Works are never the means by which a Christian or non-Christian can become righteous or the means to maintain righteousness. All true Biblical Righteousness is imputed as a result of properly placed Faith. When God “working in us” begins to produce works or the desire for good works, we can easily misplace our object of faith. We begin to think this way, “If I perform this action, then I am righteous.” When this occurs we are being deceived by that which is good. If not corrected, it will soon produce self-righteousness, which says, “I am better than they are because of what I do.”  Or, “I am holy because I am performing righteous acts.” Again, righteous acts are not wrong! They are the result of properly placed Faith. However, we must guard against placing our Faith in any good works as the means by which we achieve or maintain righteous standing with God.

Where Do Works Fit In Then?

A righteous life stands as a testimony to the Power and Glory of God’s Redemption Plan. Actions that help us better understand God’s Ways such as, Bible reading, prayer, Church attendance, witnessing, giving, etc. are all the result of properly placed Faith. These are actions that help the Believer to better understand God’s Will and God’s Ways. Bible study and prayer aid in opening up the truth of God’s Word to us. Actions such as giving, preaching, teaching are the same. The Fruit of the Spirit’s Work in us is love, peace, gentleness, etc. A righteous life declares that God’s Ways work. A righteous life stands as an open rebuke to those who act in an ungodly way. Right is still right and wrong is still wrong. Good is good and evil is evil. These are all actions that the world needs to see in Believers. However, none of these actions produce righteousness in and of themselves. Acting right towards others, both the lost and Saved alike, creates a Testimony of a life-changing, attitude-altering God! That’s why James says that faith without works is dead. Works are to testify of and glorify God, not the Believer. And we are to glorify God in our heart and with our body because we are not our own, we are bought with a price! So, Work on! But never place your faith in what you do as the means by which righteousness is attained to or maintained. And don’t fail to exhibit a righteous life empowered by the Spirit through Faith in the Cross!