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Date: Thu, 14 Sep 1995 09:32:33 +0200
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: Catechism, 34
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Q. Since we are saved merely of grace through Christ, why must we then
yet do good works?
A. Not to merit heaven thereby (which Christ has done), but because this
is commanded me of God.
It is said that we are saved merely of grace through Christ. Some draw a
wrong conclusion, and say that good works are no longer necessary, since
Christ has done all (they say). But let we not err. God has _commanded_
us to do good works. Not to merit heaven thereby, but because it is His
will. Those, who say that they are saved through Christ, and are not
doing good works, prove thereby that they are not saved. For, why do
they forsake God's will, by neglecting good works? Scripture teaches us,
that we have to do good works. "We are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) The people who are saved through
Christ, have an extra reason to do good works. They are saved through
Him, and will show their thankfulness in their conduct.
Q. What purpose then do your good works answer?
A. That I may thereby testify my thankfulness to God for all his
benefits, and that he may be glorified by me; and that also I may be
assured of the sincerity of my faith, by good works, as the fruits
thereof, and that my neighbours may be edified thereby and gained to
Christ.
The question is: what purpose do our good works have? In the answer, we
read four targets:
1. I testify my thankfulness to God for all His benefits.
God gave, and still gives many benefits to me. The greatest thereof
is, that He has saved me through Christ, in His free grace. Should
we then not show our thankfulness through our conduct? What would
it be, when we would forget Him, Who has given us so many benefits?
2. He is glorified by Me.
The father is glorified, when His children bear much good fruit, as
Scripture says: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much
fruit." (John 15:8) How is the Father glorified by our good works?
Herein, that the people see that we bear much good fruit, not
through anything in us, but since the Father works that fruit in
us. Formerly, we were dead in sins and trespasses. But after the
Father has brought us to life, we began to bear good fruit. Herein
is He glorified. He is the God, who brings forth the light out the
darkness.
3. I am assured of the sincerity of my faith, by those good works.
Since good works are the fruit of a sincere faith, I may be assured
of my own faith by the evidence thereof. Wicked people cannot bring
forth good fruit; only renewed people can, through the hand of God.
That is what Peter says us: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give
diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do
these things, ye shall never fall:" (2 Peter 1:10) After Peter has
summed up many good fruits, he says: "Give diligence, brethren, to
make your calling and election sure." That is: be diligent in
proving your election, and faith, through the good works.
4. My neighbours will be edified and gained to Christ.
This is it, what Christ said us: "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) When the people see one doing
good works, and when they see him like a light shining in the
darkness, the people will begin to think and to say: "Look, he has
something that we lack. He serves God. So, that must be something
excellent. Look how he shines as a light. We nowhere see that. His
God must be the true God. Let we also go with him, and let we
subject ourselves to the one true God".
Q. Shall they also be saved who do no good works?
A. No; for the Scripture says, that neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor whoremongers, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers, nor such like, shall inherit the
kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6:9 and 10, unless they turn to the Lord.
This is the truth: when any tree does not bring forth good fruit, he
will be thrown away. "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the
trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn
down, and cast into the fire." (Matthew 3:10) A tree which does not
yield fruit is useless. It is better to cut it down, then to let it
uselessly cumber the ground. "Behold, these three years I come seeking
fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the
ground?" (Luke 13:7)
If the people who do not good will be cut down, how much the more
they who are really wicked. If the useless people, who commit no great
sins, are awaiting God's judgement, how much the more they who are
evildoers. Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, they all await
punishment, unless they turn to the Lord. Likewise the whoremongers,
thieves, covetous people, drunkards, revilers, robbers, and the like.
They all have no place in the kingdom of heaven, but their place is in
the "outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
(Matthew 8:12)
Let these things then stimulate the lazy, lest they be cast away.
Let those people, who "rest" in Christ without doing good works, then
awaken. Awake, you sleeper, before it is too late. Turn to God; forsake
your former evils; forsake your laziness; ask for forgiveness.
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Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Listowner of chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
Web: https://christian.net/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/cate: cat-034.txt
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