The Definition Of Good

 "For 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. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:8-10

I am certain that many of those reading this recall at least hearing about Vince Lombardi. 

"It was the summer of 1961 and Vince Lombardi started Green Bay Packers training camp holding something that needed no explanation and said…“Gentlemen, this is a football.” In five words, he communicated his point: if you want to be successful, we’re going to remember the basics and make sure we’re executing the fundamentals. You never graduate past the basics. Yes, you build on them but you never move past them."  (Mark Tiderman, Jr.)

So I would hold up Jesus to you and say, "This is the source of our salvation and right standing before a holy God." The basics of our faith. Saved by grace through faith not by our "good" works. In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul wrote that 

"And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." - Romans 11:6

Grace is unmerited favor. Mercy, on the other hand, is not getting what we do deserve. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus that we cannot be good enough to merit God's favor. Once we are born again by faith then there are good works that God has prepared us to do by the power of His Spirit. If what we do does not have, at its root, a spiritual seed, then it will not accomplish God's purposes. 

I recall telling a group of what they called "Ex-patriots" (meaning that they were living in one country - Haiti - but were citizens of another - the United States) that if they were in Haiti and God had not called them to the work, then they should go home. That was not well received. Each one was doing a "good" thing in their mind - but if they were doing it without the prompting of God merely out of a desire to do a good thing, then they should not give God the credit. It was a work of the flesh not of faith. You are familiar with what the Apostle James said about faith and works.

"Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." - James 2:17-18

Good works are a natural result of faith. God purposed it. Faith apart from works is a dead faith - meaning it is not producing the fruit it was intended to produce. Do you remember the fig tree that was not producing fruit? If not look it up. Mark chapter 11. A faith that is alive will produce fruit – it can’t help it.

But works apart from faith are also dead. Doing good things apart from faith has no eternal value. It is possible for people who lack faith to do good things. It happens every day. But God is not in it.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10

Do you remember the story of the rich young ruler?

 "A certain ruler asked him [Jesus], Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good—except God alone." - Luke 18:18-19

Jesus went on to ask the man questions about his good works. The man said he did all of the things Jesus asked about. Then Jesus told him to sell all that he had, give it to the poor and follow Jesus. The man left sad. 

Why? Because his faith was in his riches and not in God. Good works are a reflection of our love for God – the first greatest commandment and that love is then expressed in our love for others and that is expressed through our good works. 

So how do you know if your good works - worked? Well, to be blunt – you don’t need to know. It’s not about you. It is about the God we serve. The Apostle Paul wrote.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. - 1 Corinthians 3:6

God gives the increase through our good works – we don’t. If you start looking for results from your labor then you open the door for pride to come in. And that leads to a place where you do not want to go.

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8

Man calls good what comes from man. God calls good what comes through man from God.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it.  Let your light shine and give God the glory.  

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone