WHAT DOES "CHRISTIAN WORKS" MEAN?

Bob Mills

“No man comes unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus’ made this statement to impress upon us that Salvation is not earned by good works. Good works are the result of being a Christian, not the way to attain God’s approval. The young man in (Matthew 19:16) realized that, though he had kept the law all of his adult life, something as still lacking. In fact he says as much when he says, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet ?” (Matthew 19:20) There are many like him.

Christian works is something we do because we are Christians; not the way to become Christians. Many, who make no pretence of being Christians, do charitable things. Their motivation, like that the rich young man, might be in hope of working out their own way to be saved. For them, the more people who see them, becomes a powerful motive.

Some have been taught that they are already Christians, because of some one else’s decision on their behalf when they were infants. In every example of baptism in scripture, a repentant believer asks for it to be done to him. No infant needs to repent. In fact, Jesus said of children, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4) Baptism is not a work, it is an act of faith and obedience to Christ. It must be requested.

Works are something a believer does to or for another. In writing to Christians, James tells us, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27) He also said, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves,” and, “What doth it profit my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works ? Can faith save him?” (James 2:14) “Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works, show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18)

Yes, Christian works, are the product of being a Christian. One becomes a Christian when his faith is strong enough to produce his repentance from his old sin, and he is baptized to remove that sin, upon which he receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, to help him to live a fruitful Christian life. (Acts 2:38) His works are the result of the Spirit’s guidance in fulfilling the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:18) and as the Spirit leads him.

The natural fruit of the Spirit is: (Galatians 5:22-25)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.