“I Know Thy Works.”
Revelation 2:2
Our Lord Jesus
Christ says, "I know thy
works." He makes this statement seven times (2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8,
15). He says to every church, to every professed believer, to the true believer
and to the mere false professors of faith in him, “I know thy works.” He does not say, “I know thy feelings,” or “I
know thy desires,” or “I know thy profession.” He says, “I know thy works.”
The works of God’s elect are
important.
Our works have no merit before God. Our works can never atone for our sins. Works cannot save us, justify us, sanctify us, or earn us some imaginary special place of honor and reward in heaven. Anyone who is even faintly familiar with the teachings of Holy Scripture knows that God’s grace and God’s salvation in Christ are absolutely free. All who know the Bible know that the believer’s standing before God is a matter of free grace alone. We earn nothing from God by our works, except his wrath.
Yet, if you
think good works are insignificant, useless, and of no value because they are
not meritorious, I am afraid your religion is but a sham, a show, a pretense.
Grace always produces good works. All true believers walk in good works for the
glory of God. There is no such thing as a saved man or woman who does not live
(in the habit of his life) in willing, voluntary, submissive obedience to
Christ as his Lord. Our obedience and works are far from perfect. In
themselves, they are just filthy rags (Isa. 64:6), of no merit whatever before
God. Yet, God’s saints do perform good works. It is the nature of spiritual men and women to walk in the
Spirit (
The principle of grace reigns in all believers.
All who are
saved by the grace of God, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, perform good
works from a principle of inward grace. The apostle James tells us most plainly
that, “faith without works is dead” (James
The grace of God secures good
works in his people.
God has ordained
that all who are saved by his grace walk in good works for the honor of his
name (Eph. 2:8-10). And that which God has ordained, God will bring to pass. He
will see that his people walk in good works. The indwelling presence power, and
grace of God the Holy Spirit makes all believers new creatures in Christ (2
Cor.
Don Fortner