Even the works that religion is so zealous to emphasize is by grace through faith and not of ourselves. We boast in nothing. What we do (or avoid) is not meant to be 'spiritual exercise' to strengthen or secure our position with God. Doing good works will not wipe out the struggle with condemnation. It will not make faith perfect. This is the job of Jesus and it's finished. It will not be the proof that faith is alive. Grace, faith, and works are not synonymous.
Walking by faith is not a "look at me" proposition. With that said, works can become an important part of our lives in Christ. God desires for us to focus on Jesus and the Spirit who lives within. He is our life and certainly wants to flow through us. The fruit of the Spirit is not a to-do list or a program for gradual self-improvement ... and it's not even our fruit. He is the vine who produces the fruit, we are branches humbly allowed to bear it. It's an exciting path. But it does not determine who God has made us to be as children who have been ensured and guaranteed with an eternal inheritance.
A couple of Bible verses misapplied here and a couple of verses there ... and all of a sudden—POOF! The slippery slope begins to rear its ugly head as even well-meaning subscribers to the message of God's unlimited grace begin to pivot when they declare faith needs to be seen outwardly through what one does. Otherwise (they say), the faith may be inauthentic or even dead. The talking point is all too common: "We're not saved by works, but" ... and they will begin to withdraw in the direction of proclaiming the need to prove or show evidence of faith.
Without realizing it, we're back to a mixed message that is not the gospel as it was communicated by Paul: "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness."
Jesus cautioned His disciples to avoid the "look at me" approach used by hypocrites who feel it is necessary to be seen with their doing. It is based in law, not faith. After all, faith is the evidence of that which is not seen. We walk by faith, not by sight. Anybody can perform outwardly and do good deeds ... and they don't have to be self-professed believers in Jesus to demonstrate something positive. Our motivation in Christ should be different than the self-righteous approach of boasting that desires to be seen. It's from a place of perfect love that God demonstrated to us through Jesus and it leaves us with nothing to prove outwardly for others to see or judge.
So ... what about this 'fruit stand' that church brands along the side of the road are always trying to advertise? Even as one of their steady customers, religious fruit inspectors may have cited you with having dead faith if 'your' fruit isn't being seen outwardly. That's not a very reassuring place to be—because how in the world will you know you've achieved success and that all is well in the faith department? After all, it's by grace through faith that one is saved.
Jewish people under law could display fruit that looks good outwardly. Wolves in sheep's clothing can do the same. People who don't believe in Jesus can also go full throttle when it comes to doing good works and showing compassion—faith is not required to feed and clothe people. Faith isn't dependent upon fruit that is seen in order to stay alive. But the God kind of faith—apart from the effort of works—is able to trust the Spirit of God from within to allow us to bear His fruit that He produces. It's better than our inconsistent attempts and keeps our boasting in Jesus instead of ourselves.
The sad reality for many weekly churchgoers is finding themselves wondering if they are doing enough to remain in God's good graces. They've been told about the risk of having dead faith if they lack in works. People who came to believe in Jesus by grace through faith—apart from works—didn't see the rug getting pulled out from underneath them when they had been previously told Jesus was their solid ground. Just exactly what works are needed? What specifically qualifies to keep the heartbeat of faith pumping?
They've heard misguided Bible teaching which they may have assumed was true and it sparked fear instead of love. They veered down a path in thinking faith is established and maintained based on their understanding of Bible verses ... or trusting in how their church leaders interpret them. Human perspectives labeled as absolute truth are limited and can change. There is a better place of peace, and it surpasses our understanding and our Bible academics. Our works are not the basis for justification or faith, but rather, experiencing the perfect love of God will allow for faith to be expressed from the inside out in a multitude of different ways.
For those of us who have experienced the gospel of abundant grace, it can be interesting to think back to the BG days (before grace). The Christian "religion" so often touts the need for believers in Christ to "do" things to maintain salvation and God's acceptance or approval ... while trying to work on finding the right combination of works to keep their faith alive. Bible verses get quoted with misapplied context and without people thinking them through.
As the song says:
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk ...
Well now, I get low and I get high ...
Somebody help me ...
Religion screams that we need to demonstrate an outward walk as some sort of proof of our belief. Paul emphasized that we walk by faith and not by sight. We are gifted with God's righteousness—justification—and salvation apart from works. It occurs by grace through faith. "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" (Roman 4:4-5).
Let's confront the fear-based notion that faith is dead apart from works. If this were truly the case, it would require the application of grace plus law; and right standing with rules attached. It not only pushes people backwards and upside down to the time of their roller coaster Christianity during their BG days, but even further back to an obsolete covenant containing the impossible Mosaic law the Jewish people were under before the death and resurrection of Jesus. The faith that saves cannot be considered dead while salvation remains alive. They go hand in hand and cannot be separated. Religious legalists will suggest otherwise, but they fail to spell out precisely what works and exactly how much is required in the New Covenant in order to keep faith off of life support.
While works can be an important part of our life in Christ, the good news is that the gospel and our eternal redemption is rooted in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
The gospel of grace is founded upon the gift of God's righteousness and justification because of what Jesus did to bring so great a salvation. It is not based on a merit system that brings blessings and approval for your good works while withholding the same because of poor performance. And while works can be good and profitable, it certainly isn't the mechanism by which we are made heirs, nor does it secure salvation or justification. This occurred by grace alone, according to a promise from God ... the hope of eternal life.
Paul had been tied to a religious system of works which highlighted his performance. He counted it all as rubbish so that he "may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith."
Religious zealots will resist ... but it is all about the reality of "Christ in you, the hope of glory." The "proof" of such a faith which results in being justified, saved, and made righteous is found in an empty tomb and a risen Savior. While there are eyewitnesses to this event who have recorded it in writing, we have an even greater witness who is unseen and often ignored. It is the Spirit of God who inwardly bears witness to us of the truth of a risen Jesus and that we are indeed children of God.
Someone who out-performs the majority of Christians with extraordinary works and extends compassion towards others outwardly, could do so with great consistency without ever having claimed to believe in Jesus Christ. They could demonstrate what appears to be fruitful behavior through their works and actions without having faith that brings justification.
On the other hand, a believer in Jesus Christ may have faith without demonstrating it outwardly in ways that we or certain religious people think that it should be expressed. But that doesn't mean they are not saved and justified. The effort to produce and then boast in works is not proof of faith. Faith is the evidence of that which is not seen. Perhaps this is why Paul said we look at what is not seen ... because justification and righteousness is granted to those who-do-not-work but believe in Him who justifies the ungodly.
