Rewarded for Your Works

There are certain words that are "taboo" among people in the "Christian religious" world today. One such word is works. If you so much as mention that we must have good works in our Christian life, or even if you quote a Scripture that mentions works, people do not take a liking to it. For example, James 2:24 says:

"You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone."

Please do not get me wrong, I completely understand that these works flow out of a living faith. I am not in any way saying that works are the cause of justification, but I am saying that a man that is justified by faith will produce good works, per James 2:24. I have a friend that says this, "A pear tree is not a pear tree because it has pears on it. A pear tree has pears on it because it is a pear tree." In other words it is the tree that comes first, but the tree does produce good fruit.

Another passage that is seldom mentioned is found in Matthew 16:27:

"For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done."

Some translations say here, "according to their works." This is exactly the sense. Friends, if you are truly born from above, you will perform works of righteousness. Do not be afraid of believing this. These two Scriptures are proof enough that we must maintain good works, but there are many other Scriptures in favor. Why not take the time to look them up today?

Matthew Janzen