There’s been a debate around for decades, and probably centuries, about how important (or not important) it is as a Christian to do ‘good works.’ Whenever researching any question my college professors recommended going first to the original source. In the case of gospel doctrinal questions, our original source is the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as found in the scriptures. So, as I thought about this question, I turned to a well-known parable that Christ shared about a man who owned a vineyard.  The man asked his two sons to go work in the vineyard that day. The first son said, “I will not,” but later repented and went to the vineyard to work. The second son said, “I will,” but did not go. The Lord asked which of these two did the will of his father. (Matt. 21:28-31)

Most of us that call ourselves Christians understand that we cannot by our actions alone be saved. We are saved through the atonement and grace of Jesus Christ. But, and this is a HUGE but, many Christians do not realize that our thoughts and actions DO matter. Are we staying focused on our Savior, listening for the promptings of the Holy Ghost and then DOING what we are prompted to do? Or are we giving lip service to our discipleship and not putting our beliefs into action? Which choice demonstrates our commitment to the Lord and our conversion to His teachings?

Many years ago I knew a man, we’ll call him Burt, who had a quick wit which made him a lot of fun to be around. However, as I got to know him I learned he was selfish, cruel to his wife, a heavy drinker and partier, and dishonest in almost every way. One day we were talking about religion. He proudly proclaimed that he believed in Jesus Christ and that he had been saved by Him. I was a little surprised by this and asked him to tell me more.

Burt claimed to be a very religious man who went to church each week, confessed his sins and repented. Then, he would go about the next week doing all the things he’d done the week before – because he could repent again at the end of that week and he would still be saved (his words).  He felt he was in good standing with God because of his weekly confession and repentance. He was exactly what Paul described in his letter to Titus: “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)

Burt had deceived himself or convinced himself that it was enough to hear the gospel and go through the motions of a ‘religious’ man but had not made the effort to write these things in his heart (see James 1:22).  He did not want to understand what it really meant to be a follower of Jesus Christ for if he did understand, he would have had to change his ways. (If you are studying the New Testament, this will sound like the behavior of the Pharisees and Sadduccees.)

Our works and our thoughts are an important part of our journey in becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ. Our actions are the outward evidence of our inward commitment to follow the Lord. Burt did not understand that his thoughts and actions mattered when it came to his salvation. And he certainly did not understand what repentance involved. (That’s a discussion for another time.)

“For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified…[Those] which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another…)” (Romans 2:13 & 15)

The Savior set the example for us. He went about doing good, healing, and serving. One of his last lessons to his disciples was about serving: He washed their feet and then at the Passover when an argument began among them about who would be the greatest in the kingdom the Lord quieted the discussion with a lesson about His mission, and theirs: it was about service to one another.

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:15-17)  (See also James 2:24)

Praying that you will find happiness in the knowing and the doing, in the name of Jesus Christ,

Audrey