Good Works

Recently in our Wednesday morning Bible Class, as we have been studying the Formula of Concord, we had a discussion concerning good works. What are good works? What are civil good works? What are truly good works in God’s eyes? As we pursued the subject, it was stated that perhaps we all have not had a good understanding of this subject, so this article is being included to help us to understand good works.

First, there are civil good works, which are good works, and which are done in service to others. Civil good works can be done and are done by anyone, Christian or non-Christian alike. Civil good works, however, are not necessarily a good work in God’s eyes. Perhaps you may remember that I have said that a good work in God’s eyes is one that is: 1) motivated by God, 2) worked in and through us by God, and 3) done to the glory of God. This means that more often than not we are not aware when we do a good work in God’s eyes.

Second, when we understand that God created us to love us, we then get a better understanding of what is truly a good work in God’s eyes. So, we ask the question, “How does God love us?” He loves us through the means He has given to love us, the means of grace (Holy Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Confession and Absolution, the Word of God). Thus, the greatest good work is to be given the gifts of God, to be loved by God through the means of grace, being in Divine Service and Bible class. Indeed, it is only as we realize that all the things of this world mean nothing after we pass on or the Lord returns, that we can then truly understand the meaninglessness of the things of this world so that we are moved to be about the things of God. Yet the devil continually cons us into putting more and more emphasis, spending more and more of our time on the problems, frustrations, events, activities, etc., of this world.

We know that the unforgivable sin is the sin against the Holy Spirit. What is this sin against the Holy Spirit? We have defined the sin against the Holy Spirit ultimately as dying in unbelief, that is, dying rejecting the gift of faith the Holy Spirit gives through the means of grace. However, as we absent ourselves from the means of grace, the places and the means through which God loves us, we are sinning against Holy Spirit. And if one continues sinning against the Holy Spirit, refusing and rejecting the gifts of God, one’s eternal salvation could become at risk of dying.

Thus, as God created us to love us, so our greatest desire is not the things of this world, no matter how tempted we are to be in and of this world. Rather our greatest desire is to be when and where God loves us, to be in Divine Service and Bible Study as often as possible, so that through our response of faith given by the Holy Spirit through the means of Grace, we are loved by God, are strengthened in our faith, and give praise and glory to God. This work is the ultimate good work in God’s eyes.