The Role of Works

John 6:28-29, Ephesians 2:8-10, James 2:17

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Pastor, that Bible verse I read this morning in my Bible reading says that we’re gonna be judged by our works.

What if I haven’t done enough?

How will I know that I’m actually going to be with God forever? ’Cause I’ve messed up a lot.

I get asked that question every so often. I have people share that with me every so often because there are some verses in scripture that talk about being, you know, judged by our works.

What do we do with those? What is the role of our works? What do we think about them?

Well, while there are some verses that talk about, okay, there are your works, we have to see them in the greater context of what scripture is saying.

Let’s start here with John 6:28-29.

So they said to him, “What should we do to carry out the works of God?” (John 6:28-29)

So they’re asking specifically about works, right?

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God: that you believe in the one he sent.” (John 6:28-29)

At its core, the work of God isn’t actually about doing different things for God. It’s simply believing in the one he has sent, believing in Jesus, in his life, his death, his resurrection, and even that is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it very clear that there aren’t special things you need to do to set yourself right with God.

“Indeed, it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

And so there aren’t these special works you have to do to have confidence before God. But then what about the verses that talk about works? What is the role of works? Well, Ephesians 2:8-9 goes on to verse 10, and in verse 10 it says,

“For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Do you see the progression? You’re saved by grace through faith. This is not by works, so you’re right with God, not by works, and it talks about being saved by by faith. It’s a gift of God, and then it talks about the works. See, the the works are actually part of the gift. They’re the result of being saved. When you’re set right with God, now you get to live life from God, partnering with God, embracing what God has for you. The works come as the result, and because they come as the result, there are verses that talk about works being some fruit of your faith.

So for instance, if you go and look at James 2:17, here he doesn’t use the fruit language, but he also talks at how faith, if it is alone, it has no works, is dead. If you believe in Jesus and have life with God, it’s going to show up in your life. You’re gonna live it out in different ways, but you live it out not to earn from God, but because you are right with God. And you don’t have to look at your life and say, “Okay, have I done enough?” That’s… That would be the very opposite of what these works are meant to be. They just simply are a sign, a fruit that you are saved. You can never do enough work to be saved, and you don’t have to.

Jesus has already done the work for you. He has lived that complete life. He laid it down and died on a cross, where on that cross he said, “It is finished.” He rose again and set you right with God simply through believing. That’s the ultimate work of God, which is even a gift by the Spirit, and now works flow from that, showing that you’re saved, never earning you being saved. That’s the role of works.