Trying to be Good

From an email sent last night to my girls:

This evening, I'm reading from 1 Corinthians 3-4.

¹¹ For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— ¹³ each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. ¹⁴ If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

My ESV Study Bible simply says this:

 "Works that Christians do in Christlike faith faith and obedience will survive and be rewarded; work done in the power of the flesh or in disobedience to Scripture will not. Although those who have believed in Jesus have already been justified by faith: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1),

and will not face condemnation on the final day: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24, Romans 8:1 & 33),


God will still judge their works: "For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess to God.”

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10),

and reward them accordingly: "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:1-6, 16, 18; 10:41-42). Paul's point applies not just to church leaders but to anyone who contributes in any way to the building up of the church."

This applies to you and me. Let us examine our hearts, our secret agendas, our hidden motives. We can fool the world, we can fool ourselves, but God cannot be fooled. We want our hearts and motives to be pure and holy; they are already transparent to his all-seeing eye. We want our works to be the natural result of a heart that loves God and delights to do his will. We want our good works to be a testimony of his grace to the world. We want our labors to be enduring treasures that we can offer to God, not for any merit--our debt is already paid, and good works never earned anyone salvation--but as a tribute of praise and whole-hearted worship. If you struggle with doing good things so someone will notice and admire you, or if you are insecure about your salvation and hope to earn points with God by "being good," remember these thoughts:

1) We are saved solely by grace, not by any good works, for "if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:6) Salvation is specifically "not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:9)

2) Good works serve as testimony to an unsaved world: "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) "But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18)

3) Good works are an essential evidence of genuine saving faith: "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26)

4) The sweetest, purest offerings are these: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)

And, 5) God himself is working in you. "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

Good night, girls. I'm praying for you. Have a blessed week, "what e'er betide"!!!