My Dear Friend,

A paradox is something that sounds as if it cannot be true, yet it is. The Bible's dual message about works is a prime example.

In some references the Bible is trying to convince us that works are not important: "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - not of [your] works, lest any man should boast [as having earned salvation]" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

In other references, Scripture argues that works are important: "Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Have I succeeded in confusing you?

Wonderful! Now I will attempt to unconfuse you. Together we will unravel this paradox so you can see how, contradictory as it may sound, both views of works are correct.

Part One: Futile Works

For millennia men have by charitable, religious, sacrificial, or sacramental good works tried to win favor with God to save their souls and, having attained righteousness, find peace and acceptance with God. And for millennia they have failed. Today millions are still busily occupied with these futile works. Why is salvation by good works worthless?

After Adam's rebellion, God, in His wisdom, wrote off the entire race that sprang from him as being hopelessly infected with not just sins but sin. Let's examine these key terms more closely.

Sin is that innate, self-opposing, trouble-making, fallen nature we inherited from Adam. Sins are all the ungodly desires, attitudes, words, acts, and omissions that spring from our sin nature. These ungodly initiatives take different forms in each one of us - stealing, lying, boasting, hating, cursing, lust, envy, laziness, rebellion, unfaithfulness, revenge, and so forth - but we all share the same sin nature.

Paul called this sin nature "the flesh," perhaps because it is a part of our entire earthly being - spirit, soul, and body - from birth to death (Romans 8:5). This sin nature is chronically prone to disbelieve and disobey God, habitually choosing to please and serve its self rather than its Sovereign. Oswald Chambers described sin as "my right to myself" and Paul said we are all to some degree bound and controlled by this twisted internal driver: "Jews and Gentiles ... they are all under sin [sin's power]" (Romans 3:9). Why did God proclaim all of us "under sin"?

His plan was simple: to save all of us by the sacrificial work of one Man! Not just any man, but one unique God-Man, God's very Son, possessing pure human nature and divine nature simultaneously. By His human nature this Man was a perfect substitute, or stand-in, for us. By His divine nature He had the power to do for us what we could not do for ourselves: Throughout His life He repeatedly denied the tempter's repeated suggestions that He exert His "right to Himself." And why? So that by His obedience this special Man could recover that most precious possession Adam lost through rebellion: righteousness, or right relationship and peace with God!

This unique God-Man came for all. And for all He lived sinlessly righteous under God's law. And for all He took our sins, of commission and omission. More importantly, for all He took the burden of our sin nature upon Himself in Gethsemane. There, in unimaginably deep agony, pressed under that immense burden, "His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44, KJV).

And for us He suffered multiple, brutal, psychological and physical indignities. He was betrayed, wrongfully accused, illegally convicted, raucously mocked, spat upon, slapped in the face, and struck on the head with rods. For all of us this punishment - the punishment we deserved! - was poured upon Him. To provide healing for all He was viciously whipped with the metal-and-bone-embedded, flesh-tearing thongs of a Roman flagellum (the "scorpion"). Then He was crucified for us all, pouring out His blood to wash away our sin.

Far worse than any of these physical sufferings, He suffered spiritual death, or separation from His Father, for us all on the cross. Finally, to pay the penalty of the law - a penalty we should have paid! - He died physically, voluntarily yielding up His Spirit to heaven, having secured for us all our atonement, or "at-one-ment" with God, by His shed blood.

Just before expiring, His cry from the cross revealed the exact period - three awful, desperate hours from noon to 3pm - during which this God-Man, the "last Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45), was separated from His Father so that we all may be united with Him forever: "My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). This was no random statement. A thousand years earlier David had prophesied that the God-Man would speak these very words (Psalm 22:1). Then, having died for the sin, and sins, of all of us, this Savior rose for our justification, proving that the heavenly Father had accepted His earthly sacrifice.

Consequently, all of us may receive His wonderful salvation by taking four simple steps:

• ACKNOWLEDGE our sin nature by saying "I am a sinner"

• REPENT of our sins, by turning away from everything we understand to be wrong in God's sight: "God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent" (Acts 17:30, NASB).

• BELIEVE on this special Man and His name: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

• RECEIVE Him, because "as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).

And this Savior's name? J E S U S, the Son of God, the Christ (or Anointed One), the Jewish Messiah! In Hebrew, Jesus' name is Yeshua, meaning "Yahweh saves." And there is "no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12, NKJV). Having accepted His Son's work for us - salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and His blood alone shed on the cross alone - we receive acceptance with the Father . . . and spiritual rebirth . . . and everlasting life . . . and the Holy Spirit. And the Father is adamant: no other works can save!

If we give all we have, it cannot save. If we participate in religious rituals, they cannot save. If we keep the sacraments, they cannot save. If we whip or slash ourselves with deep grief for our sins, it will not save. If we take vows of celibacy, poverty, and obedience to an abbot, this cannot save. If we walk on hot coals or sleep on hard floors, it cannot save. If we study the Bible day and night, this cannot save. If we attend excellent churches, this does not save. If we are baptized by immersion, affusion, and aspersion, this cannot save. If we share activities with saved people, this cannot save. Nor can any other good work we conceive, however sincerely, save us.

Part Two: Kingdom Works

Having been saved by Christ's work, out of loving gratitude to Him we should subsequently give ourselves to works - real, identifiable life acts demonstrating the genuineness of our faith. Not mere good works, but God works. For instance, we spread our Savior's message, train new disciples, and build up His spiritual kingdom, the church, in spiritual maturity in anticipation of His soon-coming return.

We pursue these labors "heartily, as to the Lord," or as if Jesus personally asked us to do them (Colossians 3:23). We are zealous about our divine tasks, knowing that the time is short, the world's judgment is approaching, and Christ greatly desires to save many in these last days and raise up a bride church that has been transformed into His likeness by trusting and obeying Him in various life tests.

Our post-salvation works are generally twofold. First, we work at knowing Christ. Second, we work because we know Him.

When the people asked Jesus, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God," He responded, "this is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He sent" (John 6:28-29, NKJV). Jesus was referring to our faith, which is fed by our devotional life. Each of us must develop and grow our own devotional life by seeking Christ daily at His feet in the "secret place" of private fellowship (Psalm 91:1; see Matthew 6:4, 6, 18). If we will faithfully seek Him, He will faithfully meet us and guide us every step of the way. As we continue seeking Him daily we grow more confident in Him and come to know Him intimately, accurately, and fruitfully. But this is entirely up to us. Right relationship with Christ is given us by grace. Close fellowship with Him and strong faith in Him come only if we seek Him.

So, we must take time to seek Him privately. We must study His Word. We must build a prayer life. We must give ourselves to praise and worship Him daily. We must seek His Spirit's guidance and obey it, whether joyous or challenging. The more we work at our devotional life - our deep, growing, private union with Christ - the more fruitful it becomes. Through His Word and by His Spirit, Christ reveals Himself to us more and more. This is the primary work we must work before we can do His works.

As we pursue this primary work, the "fruit of the Spirit," or traits of Christlikeness, begin appearing on the branches of our lives, proving that we are indeed living in close earthly union with our heavenly Vine (see John 15:1-8). Paul defined these various fruits as "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (or faithfulness), meekness, temperance (or self-control)" (Galatians 5:22-23). What do they look like?

Christ's love begins surging through us and we find it increasingly easy to love unlovable people. His peace keeps us calm in relentlessly turbulent troubles. His joy makes us joyful even in seasons of rejection and reproach for His name's sake. His goodness prompts our good deeds to neighbors, strangers, even enemies. His faith enables us to believe the unbelievable and His unfailing faithfulness makes us more faithful every day. His meekness enables us to live humbly, unnoticed and unpraised by all but Him. His self-control helps us control our emotions and bodily passions when pressed by strong temptations. And His long-suffering grace enables us to endure long, painful trials patiently and without resentment. These manifestations of Christlikeness testify of a great miracle: the divine Worker of righteousness and His supernatural Spirit are living in us daily!

Ministry works then follow. But here, too, we have a part to do. We must work out the grace Christ has worked in. We must use the gifts He has given us to bless others. We must go out and conduct whatever ministry He has called us to. We must share the messages He gives us, whether we are thanked or criticized. We must practice His charity, giving freely to churches, missions, and the needy. We must suffer for Christ, enduring thorny adversaries and carrying painful crosses of rejection and injustice. We must patiently endure tribulation and persecution for His name, people, and kingdom. And we must give ourselves to the highest and most vital Christian ministry: the hidden labor of intercession.

These labors are more than mere human initiatives. They are God's initiatives, works He predestined us to carry out before the creation of the world. Or, in Paul's words, we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV). In His amazing foreknowledge, God foresaw we would believe Jesus, receive His salvation, and gladly work in His harvest field. So, He predestined us - literally, marked out a path for us ahead of time - before He even created the cosmos. He cast us in a kingdom role in the great drama of redemptive history. But it is up to us to play out our role by fulfilling the life-deeds He scripted for us and gifted us to accomplish. And there's more.

God has promised to reward us for these works and we will enjoy our rewards forever! So, we have a double motivation to serve the great Worker. First, we love Him "because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Second, in His love He will reward us. I will simply let the New Testament speak:

• "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, in which ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Hebrews 6:10).

• "If any man's reward abide [enduring fiery testing] he shall receive a reward" (1 Corinthians 3:14).

• "For the Son of man shall come . . . and then he shall reward every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).

• "Rejoice . . . great is your reward [for enduring persecution faithfully] in heaven" (Matthew 5:12).

• "Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ . . . he shall not lose his reward" (Mark 9:41).

• "Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12).

What will these eternal rewards be? We do not know all of them, but some have been disclosed. Our everlasting blessings will be material and spiritual.

Houses and lands, yes, Jesus promised this. Authority to rule with Christ, yes, He promised that, too, if we suffer for Him. Honor, yes, that as well, if we overcome. The liberty to "inherit the earth," and enjoy to the full its land, sea, and sky (and perhaps space), yes, that's on the list. And many other things.

However, one blessing stands out. Like Mount Everest, it towers above all the others. It is the priceless treasure of access, closeness, and fellowship with Jesus! Forever! There can be no greater reward.

So, I hope I have unconfused you. The Bible's statements about works are neither contradictory nor confusing when understood in their proper context. There are tasks we cannot do (save ourselves) and those we can (work Christ's works). May we joyfully abandon the one and zealously pursue the other. How long?

Until the great Worker comes for His good workers.

Working His works,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES