1689 16.5
1689 London Baptist Confession
16.5. Of Good Works
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 satisfie 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 his 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 Gods judgement.
Proof texts
- Romans 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.
- Ephesians 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.
- Romans 4:6 — [6] just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
- Galatians 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.
- Isaiah 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.
- Psalms 143:2 — [2] Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Romans 3:20 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 6 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WSC Q85 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WSC Q86 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WSC Q85 · WSC Q86 · WSC Q87 · WCF 16.1 · HC Q86 · BC 6.3 · BC 6.4 · BC 6.5 · SD 16.1