Grace & Works

Grace verses Works, wow… I hope by now we all know that salvation is a FREE gift from God, right? Many times one side of the Religious coin says that we must some how earn salvation and the other side says we can live like hell and still live for God. Well both sides are off center. I believe there is a balance in God’s Kingdom.

The other day a lady told me, “God doesn’t want us walking up to Him with Spiritual Things that we have done for His Kingdom.” She made a reference that bringing these things to God was a type of works. It is true that our salvation is not based on our works; we could Never earn the gift of salvation! But saying that God doesn’t want us bringing Spiritual things to Him or God doesn’t want us doing Good Works is just short of being foolish. I believe, when we bring to God our offerings He is pleased. Again offering is not limited to money but also our time, energy, and our Good Works. Watch this; it was Christ’s nature to do Good Works right? Then is it fair to say that if we have Christ’s Spirit within us that we will also do Good Works? Good Works is Christ’s Nature and if we truly are Born Again then we have His Nature within us; the nature to do good works!

Now some will say “I try to do good works for the Lord.” Well the problem is you’re trying; Good Works is not about you trying to do good but its Jesus’ good working inside of you and manifesting in the form of Good Works!Grace is not meant to give us an excuse not to bare Good Works. Many Christians sit back and do nothing for God’s Kingdom and use Grace as an excuse for their own Spiritual laziness. James 2:20 says, "... faith without works is dead." So what does that mean? It means if I’m hungry and you have faith - I am still hungry. It is only through your good works in feeding me that Faith truly becomes a witness to me.

If you truly have Jesus in your heart then you will do good works like feed the hungry. Jesus Himself said in -Matthew 25:35-36, "I was hungry and you fed me, I way thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." Sounds like Good Works to me. So as believers let’s thank God for His amazing Grace and go and do good works that His Kingdom may be exalted!

Pastor Howard Swick