The misunderstandings regarding works
As used in the New Testament, as a whole the term works can be misunderstood. And the concept of Law as defined by the Old Testament does not exist in Christianity. The Law failed, there were 613 Mosaic Laws and that was still not enough to cover all situations and acts of wrong. The Laws could not develop a relationship between God and His people because if they broke one you were out. They could sacrifice animals but that only appeased God’s wrath, but not get forgiveness or salvation, because For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:4
The teachings of Christ and the Apostles have a spirit and an overall intent for good that covers billions of situations, something that the Law could not do. Something that we can apply to our lives to do the best we can do and even learn along the way in our walk with Christ without fear of losing our relationship with God because we error a little here and there.
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works
This is not what the scriptures say but it is what a lot of people remember and it is how many apply Christianity to their lives and to the Commandment that we should love one another, as well as the responsibilities of Christians ….Which is why some are resistant to my motto to Be good and do good.
The scripture actually says…
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Romans 3:18
This scripture is actually referring to works as the observance of the Mosaic Law. And this leads to a curse for Christians that try…..but that is another topic. But again, This scripture is actually referring to the observance of the Mosaic Law not Good Deeds.
I have a long essay on this but the bottom line …. We are not saved by Good Deeds but we can go to Hell for not doing them. The Sheep received eternal life and the Goats…the Goats went to Hell. Matthew 25:31-46 Saved is a moment in time, from there we workout our Salvation with fear and trembling....Philippians 2:12...to appear in the before Christ to receive judgment ….for what we have done….For the good we have done…. Eternal reward for the good we have done or to Hell for the bad we have done. 2nd Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
But the case in point is that some people equate the word works to the Good Deeds of Christians. So how did this confusion start?
The Greeks have a few words for works and Good Deeds so you have to look at the context that the words are used in, in the actual scriptures. And do not always relay on the translations….look it up for yourself.
In the beginning of the Protestant reform they were struggling with the Catholic Church’s control and requirements for salvations, and all the rituals as well as some of the Catholic klondike doctrines that still dog Protestantism to this day.
Martin Luther was not alone in the reform effort because other groups had already broke away from the Church. But history shows him as the central figure at the beginning of the reform and the leader that lost control of it and it went from a reform to a fracturing of the Church.
And of course he rejected the Church’s claim of total authority over salvation ….and rightly so. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works…But what was he talking about? Did he believe that Christians should not do good for one another? No. He was talking about the rituals and ceremonies and pomp and circumstance of the Catholic Church and you could say adherence to all the doctrines of the Catholic Church.
People think that Luther's central claim is that faith alone justifies (that is, makes a person righteous in the eyes of God) the one who believes in Christ as a result of hearing the gospel. So people took it that Martin was not big on Good Deeds or charity….But actually that could not be more wrong and he wrote on Good Deeds and charity, but history marginalized his interest in such things.
As time went on a lot of Christians did not believe that Christians needed to do anything. And rejected the scriptural beliefs as well as Martin’s teachings that Christians have responsibilities. That there are things we should do for others that pleases the Lord and is part of loving one another….not just lip service.
Lazinessism and the don’t doers religion….Odd terms but descriptive, some of the beliefs that lead to Calvinism, Once Saved Always Saved and Universalism. If you do Good Deeds, that means you do not have faith in Christ’s salvation. Good Deeds = Works and It is what you don’t do that makes you right with God. These are concepts that are crept into Christianity after the 17th century. The fact that the topic of “works” in the scriptures is usually referring to the futility of the “works of the Mosaic Law” gets lost.
So now a days you will hear people say that Good Deeds have nothing to do with salvation. And they are right, Good Deeds do not save you….they are right …. sort of. On this topic it would be good to read James 2:14-26 and more importantly about the sheep and the goats Matthew 25:31-46 and pay close attention to the last two verses….. Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either. And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.
So does this mean that saved Christians that do not help others will end up in Hell or that Christians that do not help others were not saved to begin with? Either way people that do not have compassion for those that need help and actually do not help them will go to Hell for it and maybe they did not have the Spirit of Christ in them to begin with. It is a serious matter. So it is true that Good Deeds do not save you but not doing Good Deeds can land you in the place of eternal fiery torment forever. That is the fact that gets lost after the 17th century. The do nothing approach to Christianity, where did it come from. Part of it was the scriptures that talked about Christians separating themselves “from the world” So the concept of monasticism and asceticism were born.
Defined here as….
Monasticism have their origins in the New Testament, which describes practices like fasting, celibacy, and withdrawing into the isolation in the desert or wilderness. Even to the point of living in caves, cliffs, and trees and towers most their lives.
Asceticism is a system of spiritual practices that includes self-discipline, self-knowledge, interior vigilance, and developing virtues. Monasticism emerged in the late 3rd century and became an established institution in the Christian church by the 4th century. These people were considered the most pious and most right with God in their era.
The problem with this is that it defeats and ignores a good part of the meaning and spirit of the New Testament….the New Covenant because it is all about “self” These people did nothing for anybody but themselves….they were only concerned with the advancement of their own souls to Heaven. Some of the most well known Christian leaders made no effort to actual apply Christianity in their lives and the lives of others, other than the concern for their own salvation….celebacy….no families….and isolation.
Protestantism rejected the concepts of monasticism and asceticism but still it was about self. Not being the light to the world and did exactly what Christ said not to do….They but the lamp under a bushel basket. So they developed a bunch of man-made sins and Lazinessism and the don’t doers religion was born. Rightness was defined by what you didn’t do….that you did not sin against the man-made sins like sex, drinking, smoking, gambling, dancing, playing card or dice games etc. This replaced monasticism and asceticism in defining piety. But Lazinessism eventually worked against them because over time people did not want to go to church….works! To much work and it fell into the category of the dreaded “works” column. The early Christians risked their lives to gather and worship the Lord….now a days a lot of Christians do not even try. And the Christian life was not about doing anything, mostly not doing anything. And the application of Christianity became like a club….and you sign up and don’t do the man-made sins, and you are good to go.
The truth is….Accepting Yeshua as your savior and Acts 2:38 is only the first step in a long Journey from there you workout your salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12 The Way….the way of life, the way to Heaven.
Christ would much prefer that you exhaust yourself doing good. And if you stumbled along the way He would pick you up, pat the dust off and send you on your way because He is pleased with what you are doing. And in the end the conversation with Christ will be pleasant.
So love God and love one another and obey God and go to church and stand with other Christians and worship the Lord and give to the church and charity and certainly help those you can and those that Christ places in your path and you will gather riches in heaven. Stay away from condemnation and gossip.
Be good and do good.
The Johnny Appleseed of Truth
