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.
(
James
2:18, 22; Psalms
116:12, 13; 1
John 2:3, 5; 2
Peter 1:5-11; Matthew
5:16; 1
Timothy 6:1; 1
Peter 2:15; Philippians
1:11; Ephesians
2:10; Romans
6:22 )
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 necessary an actual
influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of
his good pleasure; yet they are 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.
(
John
15:4, 5; 2
Corinthians 3:5; Philippians
2:13; Philippians
2:12; Hebrews
6:11, 12; Isaiah
64:7 )
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.
(
Job
9:2, 3; Galatians
5:17; Luke
17:10 )
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 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 God's punishment.
(
Romans
3:20; Ephesians
2:8, 9; Romans
4:6; Galatians
5:22, 23; Isaiah
64:6; Psalms
143:2 )
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 unreprovable 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.
(
Ephesians
1:6; 1
Peter 2:5; Matthew
25:21, 23; Hebrews
6:10 )
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 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 to God.
(
2
Kings 10:30; 1
Kings 21:27, 29; Genesis
4:5; Hebrews
11:4, 6; 1
Corinthians 13:1;Matthew
6:2, 5; Amos
5:21, 22; Romans
9:16; Titus
3:5; Job
21:14, 15; Matthew
25:41-43 )