_|_ | C O P | N E T Faith and Works A Sunday School Lesson College Level Introduction ------------ + Need for salvation: "Sin" is disobedience to God and violation of His rights. It is such as God is infinite that sin against Him is infinite, too, being directed towards the infinite God. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), and since the sin of Adam (or that of anyone else) is infinite, only an infinite death would redeem him and free him and his children from paying that price. Only the infinite God, incarnated and crucified on our behalf, and thus becoming the infinite sacrifice for our sins, would satisfy God's infinite justice (and in the same time, satisfying His infinite mercy and love for mankind). + No salvation without the Blood of Christ: All the righteous who have satisfied God with their good works in the Old Testament waited in hell until the Lord Christ brought them out after His crucifixion. Christ's blood is available, ready to save and capable of salvation. "He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." (I John 2:2). It is sufficient for the remission of sins of all people throughout all generations. Yet, there are certain conditions that must apply for a sinner to be worthy of that blood; these are (1) faith, (2) baptism, (3) sacraments (i.e. Holy Anointment or Chrism, repentance, and the Holy Communion or Eucharist) and (4) good works. We concentrate here on the importance and the necessity of both faith and good works. Faith ----- + Faith as a condition for salvation: The importance of this condition is confirmed when the Lord Christ says, "He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18) Thus, we can gain salvation if we believe, and without faith there is no salvation, "For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24) How serious are these words! Christ's blood exists and is capable of saving, but would not save us against our will. Faith is a necessary but not sufficient condition for salvation. It qualifies us to be baptized and for the sacraments. + What is faith? " ... faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) Saint Paul tells us also "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in faith; Prove your ownselves." (II Corinthians 13:5) This faith must be a living faith, and one that is supported by works. A lifeless faith which is devoid of works can not save anyone, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith and have not works? can faith save him? ... The devils also believe and tremble." (James 2:14,19) Saint Paul also clarifies that saying "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5:6) Good works ---------- + The importance of good works: The absence of good works means that faith is dead and fruitless. Therefore, good works are the fruits of faith and the evidence of its presence, and with such, faith is perfected. Good works, however, are not from our volition only. We need the support of God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit within us, for Jesus said "Without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5) + Evil works lead to perdition: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelling and such like: of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21) "For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." (Colossians 3:6) Furthermore, evil works also annihilate the work of faith, "They profess that they know God but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16) + Judgement according to works: We may lose the Kingdom of God if our hearts are void of mercy and love, no matter what faith we have, it would avail us nothing, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matthew 16:27) Jesus also said about the evil doers " ... depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger and ye took me not in: naked and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison and ye visited me not." (Matthew 25:41-43) Good works the fruits and evidence of faith ------------------------------------------- + A living faith must bear fruits: Good works are also the fruits of the work of the Holy Spirit within us and are the fruits requisite for the life of penitence which we should live. John the Baptist came out crying "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance. ... every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruits is hewn down and cast into the fire." (Luke 3:8,9) If we are God's children, and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, then we must have good works about which is said "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, temperance." (Galatians 5:22) and also "to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27) + The time is right to do good works: The Lord indicates to us how He intends to cut down the fig tree which gave no fruits, "Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Matthew 21:43) If we fear to be cut down like that, we should make haste and do works meet for the sons of God. We should act fast, "redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16), for the axe is laid unto the root of the tree. If we do not have these works, what evidence would show that the Holy Spirit works in us? + Good works are the evidence of God's sonship: We are not God's children simply because we have been already renewed, baptized, or sanctified; because Jesus told the Jews "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham." (John 8:39) and also "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) + The importance of behavior and good works: Saint Paul says "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us" (II Thessalonians 3:6) for the "evil communications corrupt good manners." (I Corinth 15:33) Faith and Good works together ----------------------------- + Neither faith alone nor good works alone can save: Saint Paul teaches us that faith alone is not sufficient for our salvation, "And though I have all faith so that I could move mountains and have no charity, I am nothing." (I Corinthians 13:2) and he also says that good works that are done without the faith in Christ's salvation, like those done by the Jews according to Moses' Law only, is not a justification for us, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28) The two of them, faith and works, are required for our salvation through the grace given to us by God as His children, "For by grace are ye saved through faith... Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9). "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:20,26) "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:17) "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified" (Romans 2:13) "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23) Conclusion ---------- + "Christians have often disputed as to whether what leads the Christian home is good actions, or Faith in Christ. I have no right really to speak on such a difficult question, but it does seem to me like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most necessary." C.S. Lewis + A wonderful list of good works is given by Saint Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 13. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _|_ This article is one of many more articles about the Coptic Orthodox | Church, the Christian Apostolic Church of Egypt. These articles can be | retrieved from Copt-Net archives at http://pharos.bu.edu/cn/Menu.html COP|NET For more information, contact Copt-Net server at CN-request@cs.bu.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------