What Are "Works"?

[Teflon93]

There is no shortage of threads debating the salvific implications of “works.”

What are “works”?

Please provide quotations, sources, and examples to illuminate the nature of “works.”

 

[geezerbob]

A good place to start is Mt. 25:31-46. OT reference to essentially the same thing is Is. 58.

 

[guanophore]

A good place to start is Mt. 25:31-46. OT reference to essentially the same thing is Is. 58.

Eph 2:9-10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are created in Christ for the purpose of these activities, because they are all for His glory. Every person is called to a different ministry, but each of us have deeds we are called to accomplish in life.

1 Tim 2:9-11
women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire 10 but by good deeds, as befits women who profess religion."

Good deeds are like an ornament, that brings the beauty of the spirit from one’s heart into the world.

9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband; 10 and she must be well attested for her good deeds, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. 1 Tim 5:9-11

Among these good deeds are faithfulness in marriage, being a good parent, being hospitable, serving the ministers of God, caring for the sick, and looking every day for ways to manifest God’s love to those around us.

24 The sins of some men are conspicuous, pointing to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good deeds are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden. 1 Tim 5:24-25

Good deeds, having been created by God, and springing from His Spirit within us to will and to do His good pleasure, bring the light out from under the bushel, and bear witness to the world of God’s love for mankind.

 

[Tom]

There is no shortage of threads debating the salvific implications of “works.”
What are “works”?
Please provide quotations, sources, and examples to illuminate the nature of “works.”

The problem is, Scripture uses the same word, “works” to describe two entirely different things. The Apostle Paul refers to works “of the Law” which are the things a Jew needs to do to comply with the Law. This is often confused with the “works” described, in James for one, which is discussing works of Christian charity. Keep in mind the argument of the day between the other Apostles and Paul, whether a person needed to be a good Jew in order to be saved. Paul argued correctly that no; people did not need to perform works “of the Law”; that gentiles were included in salvation, and no, you didn’t need to convert to Judaism prior to becoming a Christian. In fact Christians were considered an extension or continuation of Judaism. Paul is absolutely correct, we don’t need to perform works “of the Law” he’s not saying we don’t need to do the works “of Christian charity” ordered by Jesus. There is no contradiction in Scripture, we don’t need works “of the Law” we do need works “of Christian charity”.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

There is no shortage of threads debating the salvific implications of “works.”

What are “works”?

Please provide quotations, sources, and examples to illuminate the nature of “works.”

There are many “works.” Those works which lend themselves to strengthening our faith are what are called “meritorious works.” Scripture calls them “worthy deeds.” Same thing.

Greek: “*axios” *(worthy, meritorious)
Greek: “*ergon” *(deeds, works)

** Acts 26:20 **" they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds (ergon) worthy (axios) of their repentance."

Examples:

Spiritual Works of Mercy:

• To instruct the ignorant;
• To counsel the doubtul;
• To admonish sinners;
• To bear wrongs patiently;
• To forgive offences willingly;
• To comfort the afflicted;
• To pray for the living and the dead.
  Corporeal Works of Mercy:
• To feed the hungry;
• To give drink to the thirsty;
• To clothe the naked;
• To harbour the harbourless;
• To visit the sick;
• To ransom the captive;
• To bury the dead.

 

[SyCarl]

The problem is, Scripture uses the same word, “works” to describe two entirely different things. The Apostle Paul refers to works “of the Law” which are the things a Jew needs to do to comply with the Law. This is often confused with the “works” described, in James for one, which is discussing works of Christian charity. Keep in mind the argument of the day between the other Apostles and Paul, whether a person needed to be a good Jew in order to be saved. Paul argued correctly that no; people did not need to perform works “of the Law”; that gentiles were included in salvation, and no, you didn’t need to convert to Judaism prior to becoming a Christian. In fact Christians were considered an extension or continuation of Judaism. Paul is absolutely correct, we don’t need to perform works “of the Law” he’s not saying we don’t need to do the works “of Christian charity” ordered by Jesus. There is no contradiction in Scripture, we don’t need works “of the Law” we do need works “of Christian charity”.

I do not think that there is a great deal of difference bewteen what constitutes the essence of works of the law and works of Christian love. Jesus tells us what the Law is in Matthew 22:-35-40.

35One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,

36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"

37And He said to him, " ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

38"This is the great and foremost commandment.

39"The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’

40"On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

If the Law is to love God and neighbour then there is little difference between this acts required for the Law and the act of Christian love. I think the main difference is if we are doing the works of the Law we are doing them to establish our own righteousness, but to do them properly is to do them because God wants us to and we want to please God. We should not do them for want of reward or fear of punishment.

 

[Tom]

I do not think that there is a great deal of difference bewteen what constitutes the essence of works of the law and works of Christian love.

Circumcision would not be required to be a Christian, eating pork would be required to be a good Jew, but not for being Christian. Does a Christian need to perform ritual cleansing? No.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

There’s a distinction between “meritorious works” and “natural works.” To perform “meritorious works,” one must already be in a “state of grace.” In other words, meritorious works are not possible unless already previously justified and remain justified by God’s grace. So, you can’t do “meritorious works” to transition to a “state of grace,” either initially or after haven fallen from grace by mortal sin.

Furthermore, natural works have no supernatural benefit. Without grace, one can perform all the natural works they desire, and yet they still will not have become justified in the eyes of God. Only by God’s grace is one justified.

However, as Scripture tells us, the just can be “justified further still.” Rev 22:11 “he that is just (dikaios) let him be justified (dikaioo) still (eti)”.

The above translation of Rev 22:11 comes from the Douay-Rhiems Bible. Some of my Protestant friends have claimed that Rev 22:11 doesn’t say that. I tell them that if they look at the original Greek, it does say precisely what is translated above.

NT Greek: “dikaios”; adjective, “righteous, just, used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God”

NT Greek: “dikaioo”; verb, “to justify, to render righteous, to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous”

NT Greek: “eti”; adverb, “yet, more, futher, still”

So, those made just by the grace of God can indeed be given more grace, such that they are “justified still.”

Meritorious works strengthen our faith. It is God working in us, with us, and for us. Nothing can cause “little faith” to grow and strengthen such that it becomes “great faith” unless God himself adds grace upon grace. He crowns his own gifts with more gifts. In this way, the just are made justified still: through the grace received when we care for the poor, counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, pray for the living and the dead, etc. This is what St. Paul calls the “obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5; 16:26), or “faith that worketh charity” (Gal 5:6). God blesses the faithful with further grace as they perform deeds worthy of their repentance.

 

[Teflon93]

Good discussion thus far—you’re all hitting on various meaty aspects of what is meant by “works”. Thanks in particular to those who provide some examples and list, as these help to make the definitions more tangible.

 

[Future_Prodigy]

I have often wondered this too and it seems from a lot of my mediaeval studies classes that ‘works’ almost became synonymous with the receiving of the sacraments… a sacramental salvation, and without receiving them (with faith of course) salvation was denied. When you read some of Luther’s reactions to this sacramental magic, or grace, this view further comes to light.

What do you guys think about this? I learn a lot of things and don’t know if I agree with everything lol

 

[SyCarl]

Circumcision would not be required to be a Christian, eating pork would be required to be a good Jew, but not for being Christian. Does a Christian need to perform ritual cleansing? No.

But James is also talking about the Law. His letter is addressed to the twelve tribes in the dispersion which indicates that he had Jewish converts as his intended audience. In the first part of chapter 2 he is clearly talking of the Law.I see nothing later in the chapter that would indicate that he was altering what he was talking about. But Jesus has told us what the true meaning of the Law is. Paul also talks of works in the sense that Jesus does because when he talks about works and Abraham, he is talking about a period before the Mosaic law was given and even before circumcision was required. He also tells us in Ephesians 2 that we are created for good works, by which he clearly must mean something different than the Jewish ordinances.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

But James is also talking about the Law.

If by law you mean the law to love one’s neighbor, yes. He prefaces his teaching that we are justified by work and not by faith alone by stating in James 2, “If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food…”

Clearly his is speaking of the works of mercy, the deeds worthy of our repentence, no matter if they are of Jewish of Gentile descent. Likewise, the “work” of Abraham he refers to which “completed” his faith was obedience to God’s will, not strictly an ordinance of the Mosaic Law. This is not to say that it is OK to reject the ordinances of the Church. Elsewhere in Scripture it says, “Obey your prelates and submit to them” (Heb 13:17). God walks with the faithful and blesses them when they obey His will.

Consequently, St. James is referring to the “obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5; 16:26), or “faith which worketh love” (Gal 5:6), which St. Paul also taught.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

There is no shortage of threads debating the salvific implications of “works.”

What are “works”?

Please provide quotations, sources, and examples to illuminate the nature of “works.”

The key is to think about this in terms of ADOPTION.

Due to the Fall we lost our adoption as sons because we are born lacking sanctifying grace in our souls. When you are not an adopted child of God your works arent done in a relationship with God to further His Kingdom. This doesnt mean your good works are “evil” or anything like that. Once you receive sanctifying grace (Rom 5:5) in your soul you become an Adopted Son by definition and as a son (and heir) your actions contribute towards your maturing into an adult (as you grow through good works your capacity to love grows) and furthering the Kingdom.Romans 8: 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature** but by the Spirit**, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12**Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, **14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Galatians 6: 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
THIS is the essence of what Catholics mean by “meritorious works” done “in a state of grace”. It means with the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are able to do what is pleasing to God and God gladly rewards our obedience. THESE are the good works we can and MUST (not guaranteed) do in order to be found worthy to enter Heaven.

Traditionally Protestants have mistakenly taken a narrow view of salvation/justification to be a legal exchange (with adoption being accepted, but taking a backseat), when the key concept which is above all that Paul is driving home is receiving Adoption through the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Protestants dont really even believe in the concept of sanctifying grace (for example they dont believe Adam lost it because they dont believe it exists), and because of that they failed to grasp the essence of what Paul was getting at.

Tef, us Catholics are standing on the backs of giants like St Augustine and St Thomas…THEY through their gifts of God did most of the heavy theological lifting for us. As time goes on more and more are seeing that the Catholic Church has had it right the whole time.