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SD 16.5 Of Good Works
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Of Good Works

Section 16.5

We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because, as they are good, they proceed from the Spirit, and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment.

See also in WCF: 16.1 Compare: Of Good Works
Rom. 3:20
[20] For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Rom. 4:2, 4, 6
[2] For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. [4] Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. [6] just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
Eph. 2:8, 9
[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Tit. 3:5, 6, 7
Rom. 8:18
[18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Ps. 16:2
[2] I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
Job 22:2, 3
[2] “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. [3] Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
Job 35:7, 8
[7] If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? [8] Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.
Luke 17:10
[10] So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
Gal. 5:22, 23
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Isa. 64:6
[6] We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Gal. 5:17
[17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Rom. 7:15, 18
[15] For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
Ps. 143:2
[2] Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.
Ps. 130:3
[3] If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
See also in WCF
16.1
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Of Good Works

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16.4 16.6

Chapter 16: Of Good Works

Good works as the fruit of faith and obedience

Of Good Works

Section 16.1

Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy Word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon pretence of good intentions.

Of Good Works

Section 16.2

These good works done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto; that having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.

Of Good Works

Section 16.3

Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.

Of Good Works

Section 16.4

They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.

Of Good Works

Section 16.5

We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because, as they are good, they proceed from the Spirit, and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment.

Of Good Works

Section 16.6

Yet notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreproveable in God's sight; but that he looking upon them in his Son is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.

Of Good Works

Section 16.7

Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and to others: yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God; they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from God; and yet their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God.