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Jan. 1998
In the Bible we are told, " let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) Jesus told his disciples, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8) In the book of James the essentialness of "good works" is set forth in these terms: "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:26) There is an unbreakable connection between what is believed and works: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well." (1 John 5:1)
What purpose did "deeds" serve in the Apostle Paul's view of salvation? As evidence of repentance. Paul summarized his preaching before the Roman authorities, saying, "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." (Acts 26:20)
Over and over again God exhorts believers to do "good works." The apostle Paul tells the believers in Corinth, "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8) The objective for which the Apostle Paul prays is that the believers in Colossae might be engaged in "good works": "We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10)
The doing of "good works" is not just a matter of advice, of human wisdom or even godly exhortation. The doing of "good works" is not an option. The doing of "good works" is not an incidental or fortuitous kind of behavior that may or may not appear among the saved but is an integral part of God's concept of salvation. Perhaps the relationship of salvation and "good works" is like that of fire and heat; where there is fire there is heat. The meaning or doctrine of salvation is at stake: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10) The Bible tells us that the intended result of Christ's death on the cross was to bring into existence a people "eager to do what is good." The Bible says that Christ "gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:14)
There is no question that the doing of "good works" is something that pleases God. There is no question that the doing of "good works" is evidence that those people whom God has "called ... out of darkness into his wonderful light" are new creatures (1 Peter 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:6); there is no question that those people being God's children, being the sheep of God's flock hear and follow a different "drummer" (John 10:14,27). But the command to do such works does not tell us what a "good work" is. The command does not tells us what distinguishes a "good work" from any work. Unbelievers, "the wicked" and criminals do works too. Are all of their works good works? Are any of their works good works? What is the common ingredient (or ingredients) that distinguishes a work that is "good" from any kind of work.
"Meeting the needs" of others is not the answer. Many people may think that the "Golden Rule" which speaks of filling the perceived needs of others tells us what the distinguishing element is. The "Golden Rule" in (Jesus' Sermon on the Mount) says, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12) This sounds like a simple statement that answers the question--but it doesn't. If the idea--filling a perceived need--was an adequate guide to holy living then it would seem that giving an alcoholic a drink of whiskey would be a godly work. Would not that act be filling a need? It certainly fills a lack that the "alcoholic" perceives as a need. What about giving a person who has been starving for a long time a big meal? Is that a good work? Is that filling a perceived need? Perhaps an individual in that condition may want a big meal but that amount of food can so overburden a stomach unused to much food that it would endanger the life of that starving person. When a doctor's only action is to satisfy the desires of his/her patients, that is, to give a pain killer to patients who want relief from their pain is the doctor doing a good work? Is the giving of medication that gives relief which masks or hides the symptoms of a disease that needs treatment a "good work"? Some students have perceived a "need" to cheat on a test because it was an important to them that they pass the test. Is the passing of a test at any cost a "need" that should be filled? Even the "Golden Rule" does not say what makes a work "good." While the "Golden Rule" is an excellent reminder that selfishness is a contradiction of God's values (Mark 10:42-44; Philippians 2:3) it still does not tell us what distinguishes a "good" work from other kinds of works.
Although God's repeated commands to do good works do not define what good works are the bible contains many indications or pointers to the common elements in them. What are the common ingredients in the kind of works that the Bible speaks about with approval?
The Bible speaks of kinds of works that are not "good" in God's eyes, works that lack an essential ingredient that good works must have. One of the essential ingredients is the proper motive. The objective for which works are done makes a difference. Works done for the wrong reason do not please God. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus makes the point very clear: "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [They got what they wanted!] But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:1-4)
Doing even what the letter of God's law specifies can turn into a sin if done for the wrong reason. (1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:11-15; Zechariah 7:5; Malachi 1:6-8; Matthew 6:16-18)
Another criteria which works must meet (according to the Bible) to be considered "good" is they must be the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) or the outworking of Christian faith. Works that aren't the product of belief are not pleasing to God. This truth is clearly expressed in the book of Hebrews which says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11.6) The apostle Paul pointed to this connection between obedience and faith when speaking of the very reason for which God commissioned him: "Through him [Christ] and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." (Romans 1:5) And again, "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:3) And again, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." (Galatians 5:6)
The Bible itself makes it clear that not every work is a "good" work but only works that have certain characteristics/ingredients.
So far I have spoken a great deal about "good works" yet in my discussion I have frequently mentioned behavior. What is the connection? The Bible states the factual connection very clearly: "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." (Matthew 7:18). "Our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Romans 6:6) The exhortations addressed to believers also point to the same connection: "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." (1 John 2:6) "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Peter 2:12) "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit." (Matthew 12:33) The "quality" of works or of fruit depends upon the quality of its source. The wicked-- those people who have not been "born again" (John 3:3,5,7), those people whom God has not rescued from the dominion of darkness have not received the Holy Spirit and therefore cannot produce the "fruit of the holy spirit" or works which point to God.
This truth can be summed up this way: Only believers (Christians) can display holy behavior and produce "good works." Who else but believers can have faith? (Hebrews 11:6, quoted about 30 lines above) Who else but believers can have the desire to exalt God? Can a bad tree bear good fruit? Can an unbeliever please God? The Bible says to believers, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) And again, "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ...." (1 Peter 4:11)
Even the works of Jesus' own disciples are worthless without the right connection to faith. Jesus said to his disciples, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
We have looked at some of God's teachings that indicate the essentiality of "good works" and we have noted some of the common ingredients of "good works." Now let's look at some examples of works which do not include those essential elements found in "good works." Jesus told his disciples, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit..." (John 15:8). God wants "fruit"--results that brings honor to his name, not works or behavior that cast "mud" on his name or reputation. Perhaps we can get the clearest image of what "fruit" is that brings honor and glory to God by thinking of what does just the opposite. Bad fruit or works that are not "good" are works or deeds or behaviors that "say" something untrue about God, more specifically, that convey the message-- "God is not almighty" and "therefore God is not worthy of all homage, gratitude, devotion."
Behavior that causes God's name and reputation to be held in contempt obviously is not "saying" that God should be treated with the utmost respect.
How do I convey the message that God is not Almighty and therefore not worthy of all my respect? There are many overlapping ways --more I am sure than are mentioned here. One way is by indulging in the kinds of behavior that is a violation or contradiction of God's holy nature; that is, by indulging in behavior that necessarily is irreconcilable to God's very being. Absolute purity cannot be present when there is contamination and vice-versa. (1 John 1:5; Habakkuk 1:13)
How radical is the contrast between the unholy condition believers were once in--before they were regenerated and became believers-- and the holy state they are now in as the children of God is set forth over and over again in God's word. The ways of the unregenerate were repugnant to God's holy nature; the ways of the regenerate are to be holy. God devoted a significant portion of his word to setting forth instructions and exhortations which state how God's "born again" children should behave in order to be holy as he is (1 Peter 1:15-16). "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8) and again,"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:12) and again, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) and again, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." (1 Peter 2:11) And again, "We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ... The death he [Christ] died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:2,10) and again, becoming a little more specific, "Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness..." (2 Peter 1:5-6) And again, in the words of the Apostle Peter, "In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." (2 Peter 3:13-14)
God does not limit his declarations about the behavior he desires to see in his children to generalizations. In case we might be tempted to set aside his commands through "convenient interpretation" God has filled his commands with very specific content. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ...You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips." (Colossians 3:5-8) And again, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I [the apostle Paul] did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21) God says what we were: "At onetime we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another." (Titus 3:3) And again, "The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
It is often what God says about specific behaviors that God wants to see in us or does not want to see in us that reveal to us how far our behavior falls short of the glory of God.
A second way I convey the message that God is not Almighty and therefore is not worthy of respect is by indulging in kinds of behavior that God tells us he hates. When I behave in an unholy manner I am not only behaving in a manner inconsistent with God's holy nature but am thumbing my nose at the specific instructions God has given which tell me of specific attitudes or activities which he has said he hates. (Deuteronomy 9:18; Proverbs 8:13; 11:20; 17:15; Isaiah 61:8; Romans 1:25-31)
How revolting unholy behavior is to God is indicated by the severity of the consequences that he has caused to follow (sooner or later) the forbidden behaviors or the absence of holy behaviors. The Bible says "the wrath of God is coming." Why? Because people engaged in kinds of behavior that God hates. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature...lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming." (Colossians 3:5-6) The Bible says that people who are engaging in certain kinds of behavior "will not inherit the kingdom of God." What behaviors disqualify a person for the kingdom of God God has listed for us--(see quote of Galatians 5:19-21 in preceding section). God's revelation of his "feelings and values" shows that he is far from being tolerant of such behavior: "Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed...For those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." (Romans 2:5,8) And again, "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
Yes, God feels strongly about unholy behavior. If he didn't he wouldn't have sent His only begotten Son on a "suicide mission" --to die on the cross --so that believers would not have pay for their transgression of God's revealed will. (Isaiah 53:5,10; Acts 2:23; Romans 8:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Yet another way I convey the message that God is not Almighty and is not worthy of all my respect and devotion is by revealing by my works or behavior that I --a mere creature-- feel wise enough and powerful enough to ignore or set aside God's statements about the kind of behavior he wants to see in his children. What message does the behavior that presumes that obedience to God's commands is only an option convey? (How would the Internal Revenue Service react if I looked upon the payment of taxes as an option instead of as an obligation?) Not only does the setting aside of God's commands convey the message that the behavior God wants to see in his children is nothing more than a suggestion but it sends out the message that the suggestions are not important enough to be taken seriously --despite the fact that God's word tells me that the "wages of sin is death" and that the only begotten Son, the sinless Son of God had to pay that price (Luke 24:26) in order that "whoever believes in him shall not perish [for his or her non-conformity to God's holy standards] but have eternal life." (John 3:16).
If my behavior "says" that I take God's commands lightly or disregard altogether God's clear statements of how he wants his children to live why should the world of unbelievers be different and believe God is worthy of all respect and obedience? Willful disobedience to God's commands conveys the message--"Let God's reputation and his opinions "go hang." It is saying, "What do I care if God is not pleased!" (Exodus 5:2) Behavior which conveys this message has a "loud voice" that will be heard both by believers and unbelievers.
Yet another way behavior can convey the message that God is not Almighty and is not worthy of respect is by showing that God is not worthy to have his statements taken as the truth. God says it is impossible for light to be darkness or darkness to be light; He says they are mutually exclusive. "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ...What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-15) If I profess to be one of his "children of light," if I profess to be a new creature but continue to act like those who God says are under the dominion of sin (that is, the unregenerate) what does my behavior "say" about the impossibility of light being darkness? The Bible says "...our old self was crucified with him [Christ] so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin...". (Romans 6:6-7). And again, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24) The Bible contains very definite statements about the character and "condition" of Christ and the condition of those people united with Him: "...And in him is no sin. No-one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No-one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him....No-one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:5-6,9)
If my behavior is not guided by the prescriptions which the Holy God set out for his children (Psalm 119:11), if my behavior isn't patterned off of that of Jesus-the sinless Son of God (1 John 3:3)- but instead falls into a category of behavior which even most sinners find "disgusting," "decayed," "loathsome," or "corrupt" what message does that convey about God's statements about light and darkness or absolute purity and contamination being mutually exclusive? And what message does such behavior convey regarding God's power to bring about children who are light? (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Is there a better way? Is there a better way to shout to the world 'God is a liar'; is there a better way to shout to the world 'God is not mighty enough transform people'; is there a better way to shout to the world, 'Some of the statements in God's word are pure hogwash' -- than by showing that the people God said he has redeemed behave no differently from the "unredeemed"--the unbelievers that God says are under the dominion of sin? How loud is the "voice" of behavior!
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Now let's look at examples of kinds of deeds or works that exalt God, works that "say" to the world, "God is absolutely holy, works that "say" to the world, "God is Almighty and therefore worthy of ALL respect, honor, and worship. (This is what the term 'worship' means--to ascribe worth to the object of worship-- which in the case of Christians is God--the God of the Bible, Jehovah.
We can point to God with our voices "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name." (Hebrews 13:15) This is not an option. "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I [Jesus] will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32) "But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God." (Luke 12:9) The Lord says, "...Those who honour me I will honour, but those who despise me will be disdained." (1 Samuel 2:30) And again, in the words of the apostle Paul, "... if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
Verbal witness or explanation is essential. "In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15) But verbal witness is not all. Who has not heard the expression, "Your actions speak so loud I can't hear your words"?
Behavior also witnesses. While we can keep our mouths shut so that no sound and no clear message is necessarily conveyed we cannot keep our behavior from conveying a message, either the message that we believe God is Almighty and worthy of all respect or the message that we do not believe that God is Almighty and therefore that he is not worthy of all respect.
Our behavior points to God (Jehovah) when it demonstrates the reality of what God's salvation means. Our behavior is a positive witness--exalts his name and reputation when it shows the world that God did in fact bring about his purpose which was to create a holy, blameless people (Titus 2:14)
To believers God says: "You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5:5) The Almighty God is bringing that purpose to pass: "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor 3.18) This is part of God's plan for whoever believes in him. "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he [Christ] might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29) This not only is God's objective but it has been his purpose from the beginning of time. (Ephesians 1:4) And it is the Almighty God who has brought this purpose to pass for his children. "We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,... giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:10,12)
God's description of the people he has created is this: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)
Let us act like what we are. To repeat an earlier quote: "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8)
God is exalted by behavior that demonstrates that believers are concerned to avoid at any cost any behavior that would or might bring God's name into disrepute or to associate it with disgrace-- especially by witnessing against God before the world by showing that God's salvation, God's deliverance of a people from the dominion of sin (darkness) was flawed or perhaps totally unsuccessful.
Is not the behavior and the works which please God a result of the fear of God? "To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech." (Proverbs 8:13) "He whose walk is upright fears the LORD, but he whose ways are devious despises him." (Proverbs 14:2) "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:7) "...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
This truth about the connection between the fountain--the proper attitude to God--and the behavior or works which flow from it is vividly set before us in the lives of imperfect God-fearers in the Bible.
Job. He declared, "For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendour I could not do such things." (Job 31:23). Joseph. When the husband of the household was away and the wife at home said to Joseph, "Come to bed with me!" Joseph replied, "No-one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). Later "when the people [the Israelites whom God had delivered from Egypt] saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.... "Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.' " (Exodus 20:18, 20) Nehemiah. A governor of the remnant of the Jews that had returned from exile in Babylon said, "But the earlier governors--those preceding me--placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that." (Nehemiah 5:15)
It is the pure fountain, the Godly attitude, from which pure water flows. "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." (Matthew 7:18)
Another Old Testament Saint expressed his concern about God's values or reputation this way: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11)
When Jesus himself was tempted by Satan in the wilderness Jesus did not overcome the temptations by using his miraculous powers or resources. He used what every believer can depend upon. He recalled and based his behavior on the appropriate truths or facts which God sets forth in the Bible. (Matthew 4:1-10)
(Is not the behavior of Jesus-- knowing and depending upon God's truths set forth in the Bible--an excellent illustration of the reason believers should "hide God's word in their heart" as the psalmist said (Psalm 119:11, above) and the purpose and value of putting "on the full armour of God" (Ephesians 6:11-17))
Good behavior is motivated (in part) by a desire not to bring God's name into disgrace. God's children, believers, do not want to be those kind of people whose behavior "invites" people to dishonor God's name. God's children who care about their Father's reputation do not want him to be thinking certain thoughts about us; thoughts like--"How could you do such a thing to me?" Or to use the language of the Bible--"You who brag about the law, do you dishonour God by breaking the law? As it is written: 'God's name is blasphemed [spoken ill of] among the Gentiles because of you.' Do you who boast about the Law break it?" (Romans 2:23-24) Or, "Because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt..."(2 Samuel 12:14) Or, "It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. But you ask, `How have we shown contempt for your name?' You place defiled food on my altar...By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible... When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong?" (Malachi1:6-8)
Sometimes the intimate connection between behavior that conforms to God's precepts and the objective of glorifying God's name is set forth very clearly in the exhortations themselves. To slaves the apostle Paul said, "All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered."(1 Timothy 6:1) And again, do not "steal from them [your masters], but ...show that[you] can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive." (Titus 2:9-10). And again, that older women are to be instructed to teach the younger women, "to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no-one will malign the word of God." (Titus 2:5)
The Lord Almighty sums up that matter of obedience this way: "'A son honours his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honour due to me? If I am a master, where is the respect due to me?' says the LORD Almighty." (Malachi 1:6) Can God's children feel that their Lord (the term means "master") is not grieved by our actions if we behave in ways which show disrespect? Therefore let our behavior be a witness to our respect. "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:21)
Perhaps the kind of behavior that points to God more than anything else is behavior that reveals the believer's continuing dependence upon God's mercy and faithfulness. What greater witness can there be than a believer whose reliance on God's faithfulness shows up in the way he or she thinks about this life, in the way he or she lives through disturbing troubles, personal failures, all the while surrounded by a world full of sin and in perpetual turmoil? A light shows up best in a dark place. An individual who is at peace (Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:7) in the midst of the turmoil of this world, in the midst of troubles stands out.
The greatest witness to God is to show that we who profess his name are forever revealing that we remember that if it were not for God, that if it were not for his faithfulness to his promises, that if it were not for his everlasting quality of mercy each of us would be forever tossed to and fro by one anxiety or another and after this life was over would be forever lost.
Our salvation in the beginning was the result of God's merciful treatment of us--dealing with us not according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:10-13) but according to the merits of the sinless Son of God who took what we deserved. And our behavior since our becoming believers doesn't merit forgiveness now. Our behavior still falls short of God's perfect standard. In the New Testament (recorded after the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ) God tells us, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." (James 2:10) "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." (Galatians 3:10; cf. Matthew 5:48; Romans 6:23) The apostle John addresses believers with these words: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)
Believers are as dependant now on God's mercy as they ever were. (Romans 7:23; Galatians 5:17; Hebrews 12:4; 1 Peter 2:11) We must remember that. We must remember that wonderful declaration in God's word concerning the character of our God: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him" (Psalm 32:1-2; Romans 4:7-8) Who else but a repentant sinner could know what a precious jewel of mercy and grace that these words contain? Who else but King David who had committed the grossest of sins with Bathsheba and her husband whose existence was an obstacle to David would have recorded such an exquisite description of God's ultimate act of mercy? This Old Testament saint realized that it was against God that he had sinned (Psalm 51.4). What else could he do but depend on God's mercy? So he pleaded with God: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions." (Psalm 51:1) But in Psalm 32 David rejoiced in the knowledge that God (Jehovah) is a God who is merciful and does not hold every man's sins against him.
Believers must ever remember the on-going truth of the declaration of God which proclaims God's character and attitude toward us-- "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32)
Is there a Christian who because of his or her failures does not repeatedly fall back on, call to mind, God's promise to believers: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). At times even that promise seems inadequate to give us peace of heart and the Christian has to fall back on the declarations of God that refer exclusively to the work of God: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) And, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20); "I give [you] eternal life, and [you] shall never perish; no-one can snatch [you] out of my hand." (John 10:28) Believers must ever remember that it is their God--the merciful God--"who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy"--(Jude 24), that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6)
Believers must ever remember their God of mercy who said, "In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."(1 Peter 1:3-5)
We who are God's children must depend upon the truth of God's statement that reveals his mercy and power: "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
It is because of God's faithfulness to his plan, to his promises (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:17) that believers can be at peace in the midst of turmoil. But it is our knowledge of, and consequent dependence on, God's mercy and faithfulness that is what points to God.
What greater pointer to the Holy God, the Almighty God, the Faithful God, the Merciful God can there be than for the works and behavior of believers to be a constant witness to him to whom everyone (who does not wish to die in their sins) must look for mercy?
We began this meditation thinking about "good works" and what it is about them that distinguishes them from any works. Good works must exalt the God of mercy. To exalt God is an essential ingredient in good works. But this objective is not necessarily present even if individuals and/or mankind may greatly appreciate and be greatly benefited by works. Drug dealers can build hospitals! Hypocrites can pray long prayers! Works which do not point to God may actually have the effect of turning people's attention away from their fatal condition and away from God (to whom they must look for mercy and life) the way "pain killers" may hide the symptoms of a fatal disease and hide the need to go a merciful physician for treatment. Works which do not "say" to the world: "God (Jehovah) is great", works which do not "say" God is Almighty, works which do not "say" God is faithful to his promises, works which do not "say" God is merciful and holy--and worthy of all our respect and devotion may not be "good" works at all!
"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
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