Course Corrections - Part 1

If you intend flying, your planned track takes in multiply variables to ensure you arrive at your destination, and not in the middle of a desert or somewhere unintended - oops. You must take magnetic variation into account, the density of altitudes, the wind (it changes at various heights plus it is not entirely predictable), useable/reserve fuel, and weights and balances, etc.  If you calculate the track and make a 10 degrees error (either by putting the wrong figures into your flight plan or failing to adjust for changes in wind and weather enroute) after a few hours you will be miles off course. It is where you are going that is all important: destination. The adjustments you must make may be small, but they will prove to be significant.

So, to us. I wish to present a few concepts we constantly refer to which aren’t quite correct, the result being, we are off course. These are: good works, being led by the Spirit, and faithfulness.

Part 1

When the gospel is preached in most Western churches, and an appeal is made to respond to the claims and Lordship of Christ, what it said is invariably along the lines of: our good works are insufficient for salvation. No matter how good we may be, it will never be good enough. To find Christ is to abandon any saving efficacy in good works.

The problem with this sentiment (which doesn’t fully express scripture) is it tends to either create or allow for Antinomianism. Derived from the Greek words "anti" (against) and "nomos" (law), this is a theological concept that doesn’t demand believers obey the law after receiving grace through faith. It suggests that the believer is free to live without concern for moral precepts or ordinances – they don’t’ save us. Even if this isn’t the intention Western Christianity is dogged by weak discipleship because people are convinced that good works aren’t good enough and maybe aren’t even important – not really. Therefore, faith becomes a static belief (fire insurance included). Obeying the commands of Christ sounds too much like achieving salvation by good works.

Secondly, although my goodness isn’t a salvific goodness, good works are vital. Paul writes in Ephesians 2.10, “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” The apostle does not see good works as an add on, peripheral. And John writes, quoting Jesus, “Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” John 5.28-29 NRSV. Jesus is quoting and elaborating on Daniel 12.2, where it speaks of people arising to everlasting life or everlasting shame and contempt because of their actions; he is not brushing aside good works like a good reformation man. They matter.

In Matthew 25.31-46 where Jesus refers to the judgment of the nations, the basis of going to eternal life or eternal punishment is premised on how people treated God’s people in poverty, jail and distress. These famous verses are not talking about how we treat the poor (other verses can and do) but about how the world treats the church. It matters.

All to say good works aren’t something that are an addendum to faith, a codicil to a will. They help determine our destination, and they prove our discipleship.

This is different than relying on good works, or thinking oneself to be inherently good – surely, we have grown out of that delusion. Which leads to what Paul is saying.

He is saying we aren’t justified by the good works of the law. He isn’t referring to moral or ethical works. He is saying, very clearly, that the works of the law don’t justify us because justification comes before the law and apart from the law – by faith. Abraham was justified by faith (he believed what God said to him); Habakkuk wrote “but the righteous life by their faith.” Habakkuk 2.4 NRSV. We aren’t made right with God by the ritual/actions of the law, two of the most important being: circumcision and Sabbath keeping.  Paul isn’t talking about good works; on the contrary he applauds them as being a vital part of God’s salvation project in each person and community. 

Good works are not the works of the law. Paul never denigrated good works, but he did put aside the works (covenant markers) of law as having any redemptive power. Getting it right keeps us on track; missing the point ends in wrong outcomes – miles off course.

In Course Corrections part 2, we will look at what being led by the Spirit is, and what faithfulness is. In both cases common perceptions are often off track.