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The Place of Good Works, April 26
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.
Ephesians 2:10
.
Let no one take the limited, narrow position that any of the works
of man can help in the least possible way to liquidate the debt of his
transgression. This is a fatal deception. If you would understand it, you
must ... with humble hearts survey the atonement. This matter is so
dimly comprehended that thousands upon thousands claiming to be sons
of God are children of the wicked one, because they will depend on their
own works. God always demanded good works, the law demands it, but
because man placed himself in sin where his good works were valueless,
Jesus’ righteousness alone can avail.
But are good works of no real value? Is the sinner who commits sin
every day with impunity, regarded of God with the same favor as the one
who through faith in Christ tries to work in his integrity? The Scripture
answers,“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
In His divine arrangement, through His unmerited favor, the Lord has
ordained that good works shall be rewarded. We are accepted through
Christ’s merit alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of charity, which
we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for
men are to be rewarded according to their works. It is the fragrance of the
merit of Christ that makes our good works acceptable to God, and it is
grace that enables us to do the works for which He rewards us. Our works
in and of themselves have no merit.... We deserve no thanks from God.
We have only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not
have been performed in the strength of our own sinful natures.
Christ is able to save to the uttermost.... All that man can possibly
do toward his own salvation is to accept the invitation, “Whosoever will,
let him take the water of life freely.”
Revelation 22:17
. No sin can be
committed by man for which satisfaction has not been met on Calvary.
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