Why Do Christians Do Good Works Even If They're Not Saved By Good Works?
There is the question asked by the typical haughty legalist and Pharisee of this day, "Well if you say Christians are saved by faith and not by works which is nothing more than a license to sin, why do you still do good works if you believe they don't save?" Good question. Now it's time to really show what authentic faith results to.
Now here are the reasons why Christian do good works even if they are not saved by works:
1.) Christians are prepared to do good works by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 15:10)
Ephesians 2:10 is clear that the Christians are prepared to perform good works. Does it something have to do with maintaining salvation? Not at all otherwise Ephesians 2:8-9 would not agree with it because to do good works to stay saved is still works salvation. Instead, it's a result of God's grace that causes a Chrsitian to do good works. When a person gets saved, they get prepared to do good works because Christians are saved to serve, not to sin. There is a renewal after all. Again, a Christian does not boast of his/her good works, rather it's doing good works out of a real heartfelt gratitude of being given salvation when they did not deserve it. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:10 that his good works are but a result of God's grace, not his.
2.) There is the inward renewal of the Christian (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
When a Christian gets saved, there is the renewal inwardly. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It's a day by day renewal. The outward body perishes but God's work will start and finish in the believer. Daily renewal inward will work itself to the outside.
3.) God's grace promotes righteous living (Titus 2:11-15)
Compared to the allegations done by the works salvation crowd, salvation by grace through faith does not promote any license to sin. The grace of God rather teaches persons to live upright in a world gone mad. This is not doing good works because they should but because they want to do good works. It's a proper use of free will. Salvation by grace changes the man's lifestyle not by their efforts but rather by God's efforts. Christians will not live like the rest of the world only by God's grace.
4.) Christians are counted for righteousness (Romans 4:5-7, Philippians 3:8-9)
Romans 4:5 is clear that it was not by man's effort but by God's work. One is counted for righteousness by believing upon the Lord Jesus Christ. To be justified means to be set right before God and to be counted for righteousness means to be included for righteousness Does that mean living sinfully ignoring morality? Absolutely not. Rather, it results to the works of righteousness as a result of God's work because of being included of righteousness. Philippians 3:8-9 is clear also that it's not the righteousness of man but God and every good work he's done is but "dung" to win Christ. So far with being counted for righteousness, no Christian even if saved by grace will live like the rest of the world.
5.) Jesus' sheep hear Him (John 10:26-28)
Jesus was clear that those who do not hear Him at all are not His sheep. The Christians hear the voice of Jesus Christ and they obey Him not to be saved or to stay saved, only because they are saved and it's by the grace of God. John 8:43 warns that those who hear not are not of God. Those who forsake the fellowship are not of God either to start with (1 John 2:19).
6.) God works in the believer making them work out their salvation (Philippians 2:12-13)
Philippians 2:12 is frequently misrepresented as adding works to salvation ignoring the words are "work out" not "work on". Rather, it's what would be quoted by Pastor John Macarthur as, "It didn't say work for yuur salvation, it says work it out of you, it's your salvation- that is living a life consistent on the inside, it's a call for a godly life." How is it worked out? When a Christian relies on God's grace, remember it is God's work in them to do the work. Trusting in the flesh only leads to more sin. After all, Jesus paid it all and His work is in the believer, and that work will result to good works in the life of the believer.
7.) Jesus after all came to save the people FROM THEIR SINS (Matthew 1:21)
Indeed, Jesus came to save the people from their sins. Doesn't the blood wash away sins? Yes it does. 1 John 1:7 says that the blood of Jesus washes away from ALL SIN. Romans 3:24-25 declares that the declaration of the righteousness of Christ in the believer remits sin giving them a new life. And being saved means a new life is coming though some it inconsistently but still, they bear fruit. As said, it's impossible to be a Christian without resulting to any change. So that means it's really doubtful for anybody to claim they are a Christian saved by God's grace yet they continue to live sinfully and worse, many of them are actually works salvation proponents who make fun of the doctrine of salvation by faith alone.
8.) Jesus never leaves or forsakes those who are His (Hebrews 13:5)
The fact that Jesus never leaves or forsakes those who are His means this- He is there along the way. He pushes the Christians to do good works but He picks them up when they fall, He never fails to chastise and after all, in John 15:1-10 has Jesus doing the work of having the Christian bear fruit. Christians walk with Jesus daily so He's always there to know every last failure they have and He always straightens them up. As said, if a Christian is straying away, he/she can always expect punishment to get him/her back on track.