A Biblical Stance on “Good” Works in Light of Legalist and Antinomian Objections

Distinguishing between good works and works is crucial, as they are not interchangeable. Conflating the two results in a gross understanding of what God has instituted in His providentially preserved Word. What's the difference? The following will explain.

Good works, ordained by the Creator, are those the One True God has decreed and declared as "good," per His inerrant and infallible Word. Conversely, works, as defined by legalists, are the futile efforts of sinners to merit God's favor or delirious attempts to earn salvation. God's Word affirms the former but condemns the latter.

Before the world's creation, God decreed or determined the "good works" of His particular people (Ephesians 2:10). During their lifetime, the Holy Ghost works in the elect to carry out the will of God (Philippians 2:13). Consequently, the sheep of God for whom Christ died are "zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14), and should thus provoke other believers or saints to maintain "good works (Titus 3:8, 14; Hebrews 10:24), to the glory of the Triune God alone (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12).

Works, on the other hand, are cherished by legalists. Biblically illiterate people, admittedly or not, think works do, in fact, save but to no avail. The works performed by unregenerate sinners are "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6), "wicked" (Colossians 1:21), "dead" (Hebrews 6:1; 9:14), and "evil" (1 John 3:12). They are also known as works of the "flesh" (Galatians 5:19-21). God's purpose of election and discriminative grace excludes "works" (Romans 9:11; 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9), and the Word reveals that "...God imputeth righteousness without works" (Romans 4:6).

Antinomians will abuse the biblical doctrine of good works. They deny good works because they are lawless (Romans 8:7). They will conflate good works and works. They seek to pervert the grace of God and turn it into lasciviousness (Jude 1:4). They also do not believe in teaching about the Christian life or stressing the importance of conduct or morality. And, not surprisingly, antinomians do not practice church discipline per Matthew 18.

Legalists will also twist the biblical doctrine of good works. They will conflate faith and works and promote their perspective of progressive sanctification, which depreciates the Savior's righteousness and accentuates self-righteousness. Legalists also think good works give assurance of salvation to professing Christians. Yet, good works do not merit God's favor, nor do they save, and thus cannot in any way assure someone of salvation.

Christians cannot quantify their good works because God ordained them in eternity and works in His elect, per His will. Good works do not assure anyone of salvation because they do not save. The righteousness of God alone, excluding works, guarantees assurance of salvation; thus, assurance of salvation is the result of the righteousness of God alone. Rejecting these truths is equivalent to embracing a false Christ and a different gospel.

Christians must, therefore, reject antinomianism and legalism. They must also embrace good works, not as a means of justification or assurance of salvation before God; instead, God's elect embrace good works because they believe the Bible alone is God's Word. And, God's Word is the only perfect, inerrant, infallible, sufficient, "God-breathed," ultimate standard above all standards and the only rule of faith and practice that contains the true gospel of God's righteousness alone, excluding works, which God imputes to the elect.