The relationship between salvation and good works is an important biblical doctrine. At its core, it teaches that salvation comes first, by God’s grace through faith, and then good works follow as a result. Let’s explore this doctrine in more detail:
Salvation Comes First, By Grace Through Faith
The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our own good works. Verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 state this explicitly: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Salvation is a free gift that we receive when we place our faith in Christ.
Our good works cannot earn salvation. Titus 3:5 says “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.” Romans 4:5 states “And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” We are justified and made righteous in God’s sight purely by faith, apart from any human effort.
So the biblical order is clear – salvation comes first, by God’s grace, when we put our faith totally in Christ. Our good works play no role in securing our salvation. It is a free gift of God’s mercy and grace.
Good Works Follow as a Result of Salvation
While good works do not earn us salvation, the Bible teaches that they will and should follow as a result of our salvation. When we are saved, we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and begin to produce good works.
Ephesians 2:10 tells us “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” So we were saved in order to do good works – they are part of God’s purpose for every Christian.
James 2:14-26 provides a strong exhortation that genuine, living faith will always be evidenced by good works. Faith without works is useless and dead. Rather, biblical faith will show itself through righteous deeds.
Titus 2:11-14 describes how God’s grace trains us “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” Salvation leads to a process of sanctification that bears fruit in how we live.
So while good works do not earn salvation, they flow naturally as we are transformed by God’s grace. The Holy Spirit enables us to produce fruit such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
We Are Saved For Good Works
A key truth that ties this together is that we are saved for the purpose of doing good works. God graciously saves us so that we can bear fruit that honors Him and blesses others.
Ephesians 2:10 makes this clear: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Before we were saved, we were incapable of truly pleasing God. But now we can live upright and godly lives, through the Spirit’s enablement.
Titus 2:14 says Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” We were redeemed to become zealous for good works that please our Savior!
So salvation happens first, by grace through faith. Then as a result, we are empowered and motivated to do the good works that God has planned for us. Good works are the evidence of a transformed heart and the purpose of our salvation.
We Do Not Earn Salvation Through Good Works
This naturally raises the question – do our good works in any way contribute to earning or maintaining our salvation? The resounding answer from Scripture is no. Here are some key reasons why:
- Salvation is a free gift that we cannot earn or merit in any way (Romans 3:24, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). If we could earn it, it would not be by grace.
- Our best good works are still tainted by sin and imperfection (Isaiah 64:6). We can never reach the perfection needed to earn salvation.
- Our salvation is guaranteed by God’s promise and secured by Christ’s finished work, not by our efforts (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:38-39).
- If salvation depended on our good works, no one could be secure in their salvation. Our works fluctuate up and down.
- Believers are judged by their works, not for salvation, but to determine heavenly rewards (2 Corinthians 5:10). Salvation is by grace alone.
So the Bible leaves no room to say that we earn or keep our salvation by good works. They flow from salvation as a fruit, not as a contributing cause. This preserves God’s free grace as the only basis for our salvation.
How Should This Impact Us?
Understanding the biblical relationship between salvation and good works should motivate us in the following ways:
- Humble gratitude to God – Since our works did not save us, we have no grounds for boasting. Our salvation is wholly due to God’s grace.
- Assurance – Our salvation rests completely on Christ’s work, not our own record. He is able to make us stand blameless before God.
- Delight in obedience – We now gladly obey God out of love, not duty. Our service flows from salvation.
- Careful to maintain good works – While works do not earn salvation, they validate living faith. We should diligently obey and serve Christ.
- Strive to please God – Knowing we are saved for good works motivates us to live holy lives that bring glory to God.
In summary, the biblical view of salvation and good works humbles us, assures us, frees us to obey joyfully, and motivates us to live for God’s glory. We walk in good works because we have been saved for them – to the praise of God’s glorious grace!
Other Key Questions
There are a few other related questions worth briefly addressing about salvation and good works:
What is the difference between good works and fruit of the Spirit?
Good works refer mainly to outward deeds and actions, while fruit of the Spirit refers to inward Christlike attitudes produced in us (Gal. 5:22-23). The Spirit transforms us from within, which then naturally flows out in good works.
What about rewards for our good works?
While our works do not impact salvation, Jesus does promise heavenly rewards to his faithful followers based on their works and stewardship (Matt. 16:27; 1 Cor. 3:8). These rewards differ from salvation itself.
What happens if a believer lacks good works?
This may indicate spiritual deadness, and there are warnings against unfruitful living (John 15:1-6; Heb. 10:26-31). While we stumble, true believers will exhibit overall spiritual growth in good works through the Spirit.
How are we able to do good works?
We are able to do good works because of the inner working of the Holy Spirit, who gives us new desires and empowers righteous living (Ezek. 36:26-27; Phil. 2:12-13). Left to ourselves, we could produce no heavenly fruit.
Conclusion
The biblical relationship between salvation and good works is profound but clear. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ, not by works. But as a result, we are transformed and enabled by the Spirit to do the good works God has prepared for us to glorify Him. Good works necessarily evidence true saving faith. This understanding brings God all glory and gives us motivation to live abundantly for Christ!