good works

Is all work equal? Yes and No

Dan Doriani
Aug 5, 2021
At this moment, two contradictory ideas about work compete for our attention. On one hand, economists say the desire to work is waning. People aren’t rushing to return to work after the disruptions of Covid. Specifically, employers can’t obtain laborers for entry level jobs. People would rather be...

The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

Stephen Unthank
Jan 29, 2021
“But the fruit of the Spirit is… joy.” Joy, that ultimate of teleological pursuits. It is the reason we exist. What is the chief end of man? It is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. [1] More than mere happiness, though not less than, joy is the deep culmination and end of all we were created...

A Walk Worthy of the Calling: Ephesians 4:1-3

Keith Kauffman
Dec 18, 2020
Just to lay my cards on the table: whenever the New Testament references the calling of believers, it is always a reference to our salvation or its fruits in our lives, what theologians have termed the effectual call of God [i] . Yes, there is the general call of the Gospel that goes out to all the...

Legalism, Lawlessness and Pastoral Ministry

Nick Batzig
Jun 28, 2018
In recent years, many have enthusiastically welcomed the resurgence of interest in the Marrow Controversy for the simple reason that there is no greater need that any of us have at any given time in our Christian lives than the need to learn to navigate the treacherous waters of legalism and...

The Justification of Works by Faith

Aaron Denlinger
Aug 4, 2016
The Protestant Reformers, following Scripture's lead, roundly rejected the notion that believers might be justified in part or in whole by their own good works. Sinners, they maintained, are justified wholly on the basis of Christ's perfect righteousness imputed to them, a righteousness...

Just Add Water (2 of 4)

fturk
Sep 30, 2014
This is the second of 4 parts in response to Dr. Mark Jones on the question and meaning of Baptism and the Lord's table as the question stands between Baptistic types who practice a closed table and Presbyterian types who practice a more-open table. Two items as caveats, as listed previously,...

Chapter 16.3

Rick Phillips
May 3, 2013
iii. 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, beside 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...

Chapter 16.2

Rick Phillips
May 3, 2013
ii. 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...

Chapter 16.1

Rick Phillips
Apr 30, 2013
i. Good works are only such as God has commanded in His holy Word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention. With their typical pastoral wisdom, the Westminster divines realized that legalism works in both negative...