Good works explained (PART II)

Unto God
In PART I of this series, I have said that we must consider works from the perspective of God. Some time back I wrote an article on Keeping Christmas; you may access this article, here: Keeping Christmas. In the writing of that article, I believed the inspiration for the story there, of the 3 men (friends) came from the Spirit of God. That story, as well as whether or not, Christmas is of any significance depends on whether Romans 14:6 is being subscribed to.

He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God (Romans 14:6).

Things we do which we regard them NOT unto the Lord, chances are that they are NOT good works. This is, of course, a “big picture” guidance.

Going fishing!
Is going for a weekend fishing at the seaside, a good works? Now, looking at the activity per se, perhaps, it is NOT a good works; what does fishing at the seaside got to do with the Lord? Of course, directly, the activity per se, does NOT have anything to do with the Lord.

Let us twist it a little bit; if the Lord says to you in a dream or a vision to go to such and such a seaside, at such and such a time, to fish there, and He will show you what to do when you are there, it will be a completely different thing; your going to fish at that seaside that weekend is a good works, in accordance to the will of God.

What if there is no such vision or dream, can it still be a good works? Well, it depends, and many different scenarios can come into the picture, but I will just mention 2 more to illustrate at the end of day, above all else, wisdom and judgment must be applied, with big pictures and certainties (what we know without ambiguity) kept in mind:

Let us say, now, you skip your weekend church services so that you can go fishing every weekend; that will NOT be a good works, will it? No, bad works more likely. Next, assuming you are NOT skipping church services, and you are going fishing, because you, too, need to take breaks and have some recreation, and fishing is something you would like to do, to unwind. In this case, maybe, that is a good works, if you believe with those unwinds, you are better able to cope with stresses of life and even more able to serve God because of your rested-ness, and God does NOT suggest to you otherwise. Is it unto God? You think about it! At the worst, it is perhaps, “no works”, but NOT bad works.

Not to be paranoia, but good works matters
I am NOT suggesting people be paranoia, always insisting everything we do must amount to good works. We should avoid bad works though. Doing much good works is good, but I cannot prescribe how much is enough or how much is NOT enough. I believe no one really knows, but the message of Romans 14:6 is NOT complete without me giving the next few verses following:

6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. (Romans 14:6)

7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. (Romans 14:7-9)

We can see from the above verses, a believer is NO longer supposed to live to himself alone; he cannot just do his own things only; he has to live to the Lord, meaning we belong to the Lord. 1 Cor 6:19-20 reads as follow:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Cor 6:19-20).

While I cannot tell you, how much good works are required of each of us, for even the words of Jesus on “Who are the sheep and goats” which spoke about the need of doing good works by believers, did NOT elaborate on the quantum required thereof, verse 9 above of Romans 14, clearly stated that Jesus Christ is the Lord of all believers. It is really heretic, in my view to teach, as it is being done by some Free Grace teachers, that Salvation and Lordship of Jesus are separate, that one can have salvation without submitting to His Lordship.

In my separate article, “Who are the sheep and who are the goats”, I suggested that readers should seriously consider that the sheep referred to by Jesus are believers with good works. You should read it.

In “Luke 6:46 - PART I – Salvation and Lordship are together”, I argued that salvation and Lordship are necessarily together, for I believe, at the end of day, God is only admitting to Heaven those whom He knows will come under his Lordship. True, He is the Lord of all (regardless our acceptance of Him), but He is after a kingdom in Heaven of men who would embrace His Lordship wholeheartedly (we know that angels who did not, were “kicked out”). If you are NOT, why should you be there? To oppose God, or to incur wrath in Him? Yes, I mentioned in that article, works per se, is NOT what God is after, but obedience to His Lordship is; however, it is also clear that good works is a product of a life of submission unto His Lordship.

Will I make the mark?
If what I said is of truth, how do we know if we would make the mark {on submission to His Lordship, and therefore, good works}, and God will admit us (to Heaven)? I cut paste this from my “Salvation and Lordship are together” article mentioned above:

“We live in faith, through faith, and by faith. And faith is spelled as “R I S K”. I used to want that it should be a clear-cut issue, yes or no (it is common human tendency), but you know what, that is being legalistic! There is one thing, we cannot miss when we study the ministry of Jesus when He walked the earth, and that is He was against legalism. If it were 100%, or God MUST do it, it is NOT faith, it is legalism.”

There is no clear-cut answer; that is what a life of faith is about, we try to know more of God’s ways and will, for us, put into practice, and obey as much as possible, and rest in our trust in God, in His justice and righteousness, in His love and faithfulness (Ps 89:14), and in His wisdom and judgment. A scripture that is close to what I am trying to portray is this:

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence (1 John 3:18-19).


Warning, nothing is hidden, though
Two set of verses pointed very clearly nothing, including sins, bad works, and good works, are hidden. 1 Timothy 5:24-25 read as follow:

24Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. (1 Tim 5:24-25).

As a side, verse 24 actually suggests that some people’s sins (including believers) are known and judged summarily (without delay), for some others, their sins would be known and judged later (but NOT ignored, or escape judgment). This, in my view, contradicts some overly grace teachers’ teaching that believers will NEVER be judged anymore when they had already been judged on entry into salvation; in line with their erroneous (in my view) notion that even the FUTURE sins of a believer had been forgiven him at his MOMENT of entry into salvation. Verse 25 clearly said that good works are treated by God likewise; some are noted summarily, and perhaps, even “rewarded”, but others that are NOT yet openly made known, they will be surfaced later, NOT hidden, NOT lost, NOT, not taken into account subsequently.

The other verse which confirms God knows everything concerning the believers is this:

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his [a],” (2 Tim 2:19a).

The footnote [a] to the NIV version of this verse actually references the verse back to Numbers 16:5 where a group of Levites was trying to usurp the powers and the sacred duties assigned to the High Priest. The incident and how it was finally settled, showed among others, 2 things: one, God knows who are His and who is supposed to do what, and what was done by who, nothing is hidden from God, and two, as was previously pointed by me in my separate article, “Don’t play, play, words from the mouths of favored men of God can be powerful”, God can just be listening to the words of His favored servants, and do as the servants pronounced!

Simply put, we cannot fool God, for God neither slumber nor sleep (Ps 121:4); whether or not our works are unto Him, He knows; whether or not, we are doing in submission to His Lordship, He knows. Those who read my Salvation and Lordship article mentioned above, would remember that I said this, “Submission is not blind or Lordship cannot be accidental. By submission is not blind, I mean one does not submit to nothingness, in other words, when one submits, one is submitting to someone or something, otherwise, it is not submission. Lordship is not accidental, is to mean you cannot say, “But, I also did that what, can’t you, God, just count it that I done it, in submission to you?” Good works is about works unto the Lord, and it is about submission unto the Lord, even as it is works from and of faith, the understanding we arrived at, from PART I of this article series.


Must submission necessarily implied works?
Not must, but it almost inevitably does. Very simply, being submissive to one, means we do as being told; yah, we do something. To me, even loving God is works! Love does NOT do nothing! We are told to love God. Does that tell us to do nothing? Or do our own things? No, loving God is NOT doing nothing. Still have doubts, read again 1 John 3:18-19 (given above). We do, do our own things, but that is NOT exactly connected to submission.

I have a son, and he does, do his own things (play computer games, etc, etc), but his doing such, per se, do NOT indicate his submission to me, his father. If I tell him NOT to do his own thing (say, play computer games) for an hour, and he obliges, that is submission. Sure, if I had not told him that he could NOT do his own things like playing computer games, he, by playing computer games does NOT indicate that he is NOT submissive to me, but it also does NOT indicate that he is submissive.

To be submissive to God, you are to do (or NOT to do) something; in other words, you effort or labor (well, to refrain is also effort-lah) in accordance to the desires of God. Of course, if God says, “Go, play some computer games, and have some fun”; then that too, is works. Love God and love people are works, worship God is works, even as such are acting in submission to God.

Jesus’ bringing us salvation through His works on the Cross, the redemptive works of our Lord, when we embrace that salvation, we have said, we also need necessarily embrace submission to His Lordship, for His redemptive works include redeeming our works or purpose aspect of our lives. If you read my separate article, “Works of redemption of our Lord”, you will realize that the Lord NOT only wanted to grant us eternal life (spiritual redemption), and give us, in our next life, an incorruptible body (final part of physical redemption), but also to give us back works or purpose of life (works/purpose redemption). All 3-fold redemptive works start immediately upon entry into salvation, but they are NOT FINISHED in the blink of an eye, despite Jesus’ saying, “It is finished” on the Cross.

Overly grace teachers who tell you that you are FINISHED, NOT work in progress in anyway, are creating their own theology. Just because Jesus said, “It is finished”, did NOT mean you are finished, perfected. Jesus was simply expressing He (NOT you) has finished the works His Father had wanted Him to do. Jesus knew what He must do and He did what He must do to complete the assignment God had given Him. Honestly, if I do what I WANT, going forward, I cannot be sure of my eternal life; and I have NOT my incorruptible body yet, physical redemption surely NOT finished for me yet; and directly in connection with what we discussed here (works), I have a long way to go, in learning submission, and do works pleasing unto God; I am a Christian of many years now, but still I am NOT fully aligned to God’s ways to function fully in the works/purposes He has for me, rather I am still spending a lot of time doing “my things” (Please, I am NOT suggesting you condemn yourself; that would NOT be what God would have intentioned, even if you are a lazy bum or a selfish fellow. You are exhorted to move in the right direction, and NOT to condemn yourself in the existing spot.) Seriously, to walk in the redemptive works of our Lord, we are to produce fruit from good works in our lives; it is NEVER JUST basking in grace, even though, you can bask in grace, and sometimes, and for some believers, some basking, indeed, would do them good, but that is another matter, altogether. Christians are to do good works (Eph 2:10).


Anthony Chia, high.expressions - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matt 3:10).

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Good works explained (PART I)

What is good works? The works of a philanthropic? The big, big good undertakings, like that of Mother Theresa? What about I give my lunch pack to another? Is my working to earn an income to support myself and to provide for my family a good works?

Common definition of works
What is a works? A works is something on which exertion or labor is expended; a task or undertaking. Very simply, a works is an action, a laboring or a deed. When we do something to produce something, that is a works. This is one definition, but is this the definition used in Scriptures?

What is lacking in the common definition
I believe as a minimum, we have to add “from whose point of view” into the definition. We need to interpret Scriptures theocentrically, meaning we have to interpret Scriptures from the perspective of God. In other words, whether what is done is works or not, must be viewed from God’s perspective; if God says it is works, it is works, if God says it is NOT works, it is NOT works.

For example, I can say Mr A is NOT working, but you may disagree and say he is; then another person may say Mr A is NOT working, he is playing, and Mr A himself may express that he is both working and playing! This illustrates the importance of attaching  “from whose point of view”.

Believing per se is NOT works
So how does God view works? For one thing, believing per se is NOT works; these scriptures tell us so:

James 2:14-18 –

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

James 2:20-24 –

20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

James 2:25-26 –

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

What about words or verbalization?
Are words or verbalizations, even “silent verbalizations”, works or not? I believe we have to divide such into 2 categories to consider. One category is verbalization of belief, and other, action through verbalization.

Action through verbalization
Actions through verbalization include all such actions like preaching, giving a lecture, instructing, teaching or singing; and they are works, mostly, theocentrically; are all works, generally (using the common definition) {Similarly, actions with mouth (not verbalization), such as eating, drinking, biting, kissing, etc are similarly mostly works (not necessarily good works), theocentrically; are all works, generally}.

Verbalization of belief, works or not?
First, let me pose this question, “Do you consider believing in your heart (NOT yet verbalisation) that Jesus Christ died for you, a works?” No, a mere belief or "faith" (or rather, I prefer to say, an incomplete unit of faith) is NOT works. This we have seen above, supported by verses from Apostle James, particularly James 2:22, 24.

How about confessing with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and Savior? In other words, is the verbalization of your belief or "faith" in Jesus Christ, works? For THIS verbalization of belief, there is agreement, but NOT strong agreement (some still do NOT agree) that it is works. I will elaborate a little more below.

Verbalization of belief on salvation
How does one enter into salvation? Typically, he believes in his heart, and confesses with his mouth that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior (Rom 10:10). So, is that works? Because, we are accustomed to saying salvation is by grace, through faith, and NOT by works, many of us will NOT even look at the verbalization of our belief, as works. I can appreciate that, but I also have no issue with saying that the confession with one’s mouth is a deed or works, using the common definition. But could it be regarded as a works theocentrically?

If believing with one’s heart that Jesus died for him, is NOT deed or works, and confessing with one’s mouth, the same, is also NOT deed or works, theocentrically, what is the significance of the calling for both, in entering into salvation?

Now, I said that typically, how one comes into salvation is by believing in his heart and confessing with his mouth (and that is what is said in Rom 10:10), but it really does NOT necessarily be that a confession with the mouth must be had; if for example, he was asked to come to the front of a sanctuary, and given a salvation form to fill in, and he did that, even if there was no verbalization, the person has entered into salvation. The coming up to the front of a sanctuary and filling in of the salvation form are actions acknowledging the belief in the heart (motive/purpose – to acknowledge). If you look at it that way, confessing with one’s mouth serves exactly the same function, acknowledging the belief, and is therefore, equivalent.

But I still have not answered the question of whether or not there is a unit of works here, theocentrically. Perhaps, this way of looking at the matter is admissible: Salvation believing is NOT works, theocentrically, confessing of that belief, for the first time, is works theocentrically (making confession of our salvation faith, the first good works of a believer). The point is that when it is the first time, the very act acknowledges (motive/purpose) that salvation faith.

Doesn’t contradict salvation is by grace, as far as I can see it
I see no real inconsistency with saying that the confession of one’s belief in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, completing the entry into salvation, as works, and the saying that salvation is by grace, through faith, not by works. The intent and purpose of saying that salvation is not by works, is to point to us not being able to earn or merit our entry into salvation; surely acknowledging our belief that is in our heart is no more meriting than stretching our hand out to receive or saying I will take it, when a gift is offered; rather this action pleases God, for it is in agreement with His will. As one's stretching forth his hand to receive a gift is NOT regarded that the receipient has merited or worked for the gift, in the same way, a non-believer coming into salvation, that he lifted up his hands or verbalised his belief, cannot be treated that he has merited or worked for the gift of salvation; it does NOT contradict "Salvation is a gift", by grace. But that lifting up his hands or verbalising his belief forms the first works, completing the salvation faith.

Actually viewing the process of entry into salvation in the above manner points us to “faith” in Jesus Christ is NOT faith in Jesus Christ, until the belief in Jesus Christ is acknowledged by the person; or when acknowledged, the belief in Jesus Christ becomes faith in Jesus Christ. The works of acknowledging the belief (in this case, in Jesus Christ) is what completes the faith. Belief in this sense is incomplete faith. I believe this is what James was trying to say in James 2:22, 24.

Confession and profession
Confession essentially is to acknowledge something that is already there. In this case, the “something” is the belief in the heart. Our confession acknowledges that belief that is already in the heart.

To me, there is a difference between confession and profession, although it is commonly used interchangeably. Maybe it is easier to see the difference when we reference it to sin (instead of salvation belief). When someone committed a sin against you, that is a fact, although not necessarily known to others. When he confesses that he has sinned against you, it means he acknowledges that he has sinned against you. Subsequently, when he makes mention of the same sin with you, he is not confessing, for what is already confessed, stays confessed. More correctly, to me, in the latter, he is professing (stating), not again confessing. Similarly, for belief in Jesus Christ, in the first time, we confess (acknowledge) our belief, subsequently, we profess (state) our faith.

What about subsequent professions?
When one has entered into salvation he is a believer or a Christian. His believing in his heart and his confession with his mouth made him to be a Christian. Now, what if he repeats (and repeats) he is a Christian, any works there or good works there, theocentrically? If it is MERE profession, my answer is “No”, for the motive/purpose of first time confession (to acknowledge the belief in the heart) has been expended. The first time mouthing of the belief was to acknowledge (motive) the belief of the heart. Subsequent profession of the same faith must be for a fresh motive/purpose. Now, if we just keep repeating without a motive, it is just vain repetitions, which do NOT please God. In Matt 6:7 we read this:

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

In general too, MERE mouthing of words do NOT constitute works, theocentrically, unless it is loaded with a motive/purpose. For example, you are saying you are a Christian in crisis situation to encourage others, that your God is mighty to save, your professing you are a Christian is a works, a good works, for it was loaded with a noble purpose of encouraging others in a time of crisis.

Mere talk or talk per se
We have seen that if you verbalize your faith with the intention to encourage another, that is a works or deed. Of course, if you speak to discourage another, that is a works or deed, too, albeit NOT a “good” works or deed. Lying is works or a deed, for when you lied, you talked with a motive, albeit with a bad one. What about mere talk or talk per se?

We often hear people saying talk is cheap, or even NATO (No Action, Talk Only). In such, perhaps, is also found a guide as to whether or not, talk or verbalization is works. For example, if before us, there is a thinly dressed, empty-handed young girl, understandably lost her way, outside, in the open, late at night, in freezing winter season, and we are indoor, around a warm fireplace, chatting and looking out of glass windows in front of us, and we only talk about the girl’s plight and the possibility of her freezing to death in the night, and do nothing for her, our talk is cheap talk, and we are just being members of NATO, so to speak, no action, talk only. There is no works in such cheap talk. Well, we could say we have a motive, we just wanted to pass time and we just took her as a subject of conversation. In that case, it is an occasion of talk per se, or mere talk, and there is no works there, in relation to the young girl’s plight, and in God’s eyes.

We can talk all we want, how much of it amounts to works
The point of such lengthy deliberation on words or verbalization or speech or talk, is to remind us that we can talk all we want, the crucial point is whether any of it amounts to works, and good works. Actually, a lot of us talk a lot; we use up a big chunk of our time in talking, in words, in verbalization (even writing, well, consistent with change of time, with electronic communications, SMSes, emails, chats, etc). There is indeed a need for us to see that bigger and bigger portions of our such verbalizations fall into good works, not bad ones, and not into no works. How do we do that? The way is to cleanse ourselves from corruptive ones, and to avoid more, those verbalizations, speeches or talks that do NOT amount to good works, and to do more of those that do, not forgetting our motives (or purposes) are key.

What about physical actions?
The framework is similar. For example, if you are simply walking for no apparent reason or motive, what you are doing is no works, but if you are walking with a motive of getting to a place where there is a phone to call for help for someone in distress, your walking can possibly be a works, a good one; if you are walking to a place to fetch a boulder to throw at someone already fallen into a well, that is surely works, but a bad one.

Remember, it is to be from God’s perspective
We will NOT go into quarreling over whether or not there is such thing as absolutely no works. Works is always in relation to or relative to someone or something. Even a man’s walking aimlessly maybe no works to us, but to that man, walking aimlessly, serves a purpose, whatever that purpose may be (even to give him time to calm down, for example, is a purpose), it is a works in his point of view (he did not do nothing, he was trying to calm down). But we are to remember that we are to view works from God’s perspective.

So, what constitute good works in the eyes of God?
Although it is NOT necessary to begin this discussion with the confession of salvation belief (or faith, as is more commonly referred to), I will start there. If you feel very strongly that it is wrong to treat confession of salvation faith for the first time as works (the first good works of a believer), you can still skip the next paragraph and go on with the one following.

The first confession (actually, there is only one confession, all subsequent ones are really professions, not confession) of salvation belief (even if it were not verbal, e.g. came to the sanctuary front and filled in the salvation form) with acknowledgment as a motive/purpose, has made the salvation belief a complete unit of faith. Putting it in another way, faith, even salvation faith is of 2 components, a right belief, and a conviction; and it is only when the conviction is so strong and strong enough to propel the person to an action like speaking the belief out, walking to the front of the sanctuary, or filling up a salvation form, that, that faith unit is made complete, and becomes righteousness-countable to God, and all works from belief conviction is good works in the eyes of God. 

What faith is
We know from Scripture that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). My understanding of faith is that a complete unit of faith or faith that is righteousness-countable to God is of 2 components, a right belief and a strong enough conviction in that belief. The right belief must be based on the Word and truth of God, His will and desires.

For example, if you think it is right to steal from another, and you go and steal from another, your belief is NOT a right belief, although you may think that you have the correct belief, that stealing is ok, but based on the Word and truth of God, that belief you have is NOT a right belief. The other component of faith is the conviction of that belief you have. If your conviction is strong enough, you will act on your belief, and we have an action or works. If you do not feel strongly enough stealing is the thing to do (your conviction not strong enough), you will not do it.

Also noteworthy is that our motives/purposes are invariably linked to our belief system. There is a lot of truth in the common saying that we hear, “You are what you believe”. Scripture puts it this way:

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:45-46)

He {Jesus} went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (Mark 7:20-22)

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. (Matt 12:33-35)

In Scripture, where is our belief lodged in? It is in the heart.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Rom 10:10) – concerning salvation

That is why the set of verses quoted here made reference to the heart of man. God looks at the heart, for it is there that our belief is lodged, and they shape the thoughts or meditations of our heart. Before God commissioned Noah to build the ark, and sent The Flood, this was what God said:

The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time (Gen 6:5).

This is what King David told his son, Solomon:

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts (1 Chr 28:9)

If it is not yet apparent to you, I will say it, “Many people confuse faith with belief”. One does NOT yet have a faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior until he has believed (a belief) in his heart, and confessed with his mouth (threshold-crossing conviction reached). Until one completes the second portion of the salvation process which NOT necessarily be confession with his mouth, it can be his coming to the front of the sanctuary and filling up a salvation form, he, at most, has a belief, NOT a (complete unit of) faith in Christ Jesus. What pleases God is, a right belief (as defined above) AND threshold-crossing conviction of that belief. When there is that combination, we have a faith unit, and we inevitably have an action or works. And because the action or works is based on a right belief, it is pleasing to God, and therefore, is said to be good. Righteousness-countable faith = right belief + works (motivated from that belief conviction). A NOT yet righteousness-countable "faith" or a non-expended "faith" (strictly, still an incomplete faith) = right belief + that belief conviction. When the conviction exceeded the thrusthold of inaction, works kicks in, and we have a "faith" in action that can be righteousness-countable by God. Therefore, another way of saying “without faith it is impossible to please God” is “Without good works it is impossible to please God”.  That way "faith" was used in Scripures, I believed, was in line with what described in Heb 11:1 - "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen", meaning when "faith" was used, works was already factored in or expected; in other words, the "substance...." and the "evidence...." are NOT to be taken as applied on the "God's part" only but it is also to apply to the "Man's part".   In other words, it is proper to say, "Without faith it is impossible to please God", and improper to say, "With belief  I will please God"; it should be "With faith I will please God".

So, for the question of what constitutes good works in the eyes of God, from the exposition thus far, is: good works is works from and of faith; works apart from faith cannot be good works, for everything that does not come from faith is sin (Rom 14:23). Good works is works coming from faith, for it is coming from a right belief, and brought on by the conviction of that belief busting the threshold of inaction; and it is good, for faith pleases God.

Without good works it is impossible to please God
To me, the Apostle James had this understanding when he said this:

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do (James 2:18).

The Apostle James was saying if you claim there is a faith, there must have been a deed, too. Why? Because faith without deed is no faith (no complete unit of faith); at most, it is only a belief (an incomplete faith). When a belief becomes a faith, a deed would have been done. In other words, the deed evidences the belief, and when and only when there is a deed is there a (complete) unit of faith, or faith is faith only when it is an evidenced belief, evidenced by a deed, coming about when the conviction of that belief has busted the threshold of inaction. James said, “I will show you my faith by what I do”.


Although what is expounded so far, does not yet completely answer the questions and similar ones posed at the beginning of this article, I believe it has provided the beginnings of what can be used to better understand the topic of good works, viewed from the perspective of God. Watch out for other parts to this multi-part article.


Anthony Chia, high.expressions - The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good (Ps 14:1, KJV).

PS: Added: 04/08/2011 - The above led us to good works as faith in action or faith in exercise.  Additionally, my latest revelation is that faith is to be exercised through love (Gal 5:6, 1 Cor 13:2).  Therefore, finally good works is from faith in action through love.  For exposition of the more excellent way, of faith is to be exercised in love, read my separate article, "You need faith, and you need love"

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You must choose to cleanse yourself from ignoble

2 Tim 2:20-21 (NIV) - 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. KJV - 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

We backtrack to verse 14 to start from there
To interpret this text, we first have to go back a little further up the 2 Timothy 2 passage.

Quarrel about words
In verse 14, we read Paul was reminding Timothy to warn the BELIEVERS against quarreling about words, saying it was of no value, and only ruining those who listen. How should a believer behave then? Paul, in verse 15, said instead, we are to do our best to present ourselves to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth; in other words, do NOT quarrel about words, but be an approved workman (who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word).

Godless chatter
Paul also warned against godless chatter, for such only promotes further ungodliness. What is godless chatter? What could possibly be the godless chatter then, in Ephesus? Not wanting to import from extra-biblical materials, all we know from Scriptures, was that it possibly included loose talks NOT in line with the truths of God. Such talks if indulged in, would corrupt godliness (v16), and might lead to believers wandering away from the faith (v17).

In verse 17, we read that 2 characters, (I called them) H & P, they indulged in such godless chatter, including talk that men (living men) were already resurrected {i.e. you and I are already resurrected} (v18). From verse 18, it was clear that the 2 characters mentioned by Paul were once believers, but had since wandered from the faith, and their teaching (false teaching) were spreading like gangrene.

God’s solid foundation
Then in verse 19, Paul was asserting that regardless of distortions and false claims, God’s solid foundation stood firm. What was Paul referring to, by “God’s solid foundation”? To me, I simply call it the central pillar of the faith – God knows, or what others would call, God’s omniscience.

Those who use the NIV Bible will find that verse 19 was footnoted back to Num 16:5 (on Korah's rebellion). In Num 16, in the relevant passage where the verse was referred to, we found an account showing God knew who were in the truth and who were not; in other words, Paul was trying to say that men, including believers and so-called servants of God, they could think what they wanted (including H & P referred to, in the passage), God knew who was in the truth – Was it Paul or these other false teachers (or believers) who perverted the truths of God (or made claim of who they were, but were in fact, not)?

For the benefit of readers, I am also putting down below, verses 14-19 of 2 Timothy 2:

14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus {H & P}, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” {footnoted to Num 16:5, NIV84} and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Tim 2:14-19, NIV84)

The “But”, what it implied
Then, Paul went on to give us verse 20 (and 21), which is the subject of this article. Now, the KJ version of verse 20 has “But” at the start of the verse, which the NIV Bible has omitted. There are Bible scholars who argued that the “But” is significant, and it meant to tell us that a different “house” was being painted in the verses preceding the verse 20’s “large house”. I believe there are 2 errors in that interpretation.

Firstly, there was no “house” painted in the preceding verses. Proponents argued that God’s invisible church was painted in the preceding verses (preceding to vv20-21), whereas the large house of verse 20 was referring to the physical church. No, the preceding verses we have just covered above, they spoke nothing of a “house” or invisible church!

Secondly, when we leave the “But” in, the construct of verse 20, reading it with verse 19b of “and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’”, does NOT call for suggestion that there was another “house” preceding verse 20. Rather, it pointed to, the “But” meant “despite so” What “so”? It was despite “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

When verses 19 & 20 are read together, it meant that despite God knowing who {which person(s)} was His, and every believer must turn away from wickedness, there were still those who cleanse NOT themselves from ignoble, and there were those who would, and when they did that (cleanse themselves of ignoble), they would be instrument for noble purpose (or vessels unto honor), useful to God, and would be prepared to do any good work – this is how it should be read, in a nutshell.

Therefore, Paul, by that, had said, characters such as H & P who did not cleanse themselves from ignoble, which in their case, godless chatter, which in turn corrupted their belief in the faith, they would NOT be vessels useful for the Lord. Paul, in subsequent verses to verses 20 & 21, elaborated a lot more of what constituted ignoble.

The rest of the ignoble
Before we expound the message of verses 20 & 21, let us complete the study of the ignoble, bearing in mind Paul already mentioned quarrel about words (v14) and godless chatter (v16). The pointer suggesting Paul was still on the same theme he started, “to avoid ignoble”, is found in verse 22, the verse following from our subject verses of 20 & 21. This pointer is best seen in the KJ version, just as the “But” of KJ version’s verse 20 was of significance. Verse 22, KJV, “Flee also youthful lusts….” The “also” here, pointed to Paul wanting to point to other ignoble apart from the two he had mentioned, quarreling about words (v14) and godless chatter (v16).

And so, in verse 22, Paul named evil desires of youth (this connotates the desires of the [fallen] flesh; to flee from it), unrighteousness (to pursue righteousness instead), unfaithfulness (be faithful instead), unloving or not loving (to love instead), and unrest promotion (pursue peace instead). Paul said to cleanse ourselves from the ignoble, and set ourselves to pursue the noble, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Consequence of NOT avoiding ignoble
In elaboration, Paul, in verses 23-26, explained that we are to have nothing to do with foolish and stupid arguments, for they would produce quarrels; the Lord’s servant must NOT quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, NOT resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. Paul was explaining that if we do NOT cleanse ourselves from the ignoble, we might end up being taken captive to do the devil’s will.

Some more ignoble
Paul was one of those biblical authors who, I often said, wrote with great flow, often with singular theme running over many verses and even chapters. Here is no exception; there were some more ignoble; he listed in 2 Tim 3. I will not put down the verses here in this article but you can read them yourselves; these are the some more ignoble he listed: loving self, loving money, boastful, prideful, abusive, disobedience or rebellious against parents, be ungrateful, unholy, love not, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, give in to brutality, not loving the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, loving pleasure instead of loving God, pursuit of a form of godliness but denial of its power (2 Tim 3:1-5). Have nothing to do with such people who are set on such ignoble (v5).

What those set on ignoble are like
In verses 6-9 of 2 Tim 3, Paul likened them, people who are set on ignoble, as follows: worms who make their way into homes and gain control over the weak-willed women (use of women, I believe, was symbolic, rather than actually saying they prey only on women); they are men loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires; men who are always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth; men of depraved minds, some, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected (serious warning, considered fallen away, no longer accepted), others, will not get very far, for their folly will be clear one day to all.

Paul used himself as example of being noble-minded
In verses 10-11 (of 2 Tim 3), Paul used himself as illustration, and named some of the noble. Paul said, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings …..” In those 2 verses, we find Paul implied the following noble: live a godly life which includes spreading the Gospel, be of faith and exercise faith, be of patience, be loving, be enduring or persevering, embracing persecutions and sufferings (NOT that we should particularly love them, but can expect them, and if we are in them, we are to be prepared to face them and endure them, even with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit).

Marks of nobility and ignobility
Paul then spelled out a mark difference between those who are focused on noble and those, on ignoble: Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted but the Lord does rescue (He rescued Paul from all, said Paul), while evil men and impostors (those who set on ignoble) will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (themselves).

Exhortations for Timothy and for us, too
He then rounded up 2 Tim 3 with exhortation for Timothy (v14 – “But as for you, ...”) to continue in what he had learned (be cleansed from, and to avoid, ignoble, and be focused on the noble) and had become convinced of, because of what he learned from the life of Paul (and his team), and from the Holy Scriptures.

Paul’s life attested to the Word, in other words, Paul’s life bore testimony to the truth of the Word or Scripture. Ultimately, Paul must, and he did, point Timothy back to Scripture, for our experiences (even those of Paul) do NOT produce theology; theology comes (and MUST come) from Scripture; our experiences only testifies to it.

Paul adeptly said it, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17).

The message of 2 Tim 2:20-21
So what is the message of 2 Tim 2:20-21?

20 {But} In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Tim 2:20-21)

Earlier, in passing, I have said that when verses 19 & 20 of 2 Timothy 2 are read together, it meant that despite God knowing who {which person(s)} was His, and every believer must turn away from wickedness, there were still those who cleanse NOT themselves from ignoble, and there were those who would, and when they did that (cleanse themselves of ignoble), they would be instrument for noble purpose, useful to God, and would be prepared to do any good work; and that is how 2 Tim 2:20-21 should be read. I will now elaborate more on the message of the 2 verses.

The large house referred to, in verse 20, is the current house of God, the church on earth. The “articles” or “vessels” in KJ translation (KJV), are referring to us, believers or Christians. I preferred the KJV words of vessels. Alternatively, as a parable, we could look at ourselves as “substances”. Some of us are as gold, some as silver, some wood and others, clay. Is it not true, the believers in the church of God are made up of people from all sorts of prior backgrounds, with all sorts of prior aims and purposes, some given in noble purposes, some, ignoble?

Paul was saying, despite (meaning I preferred to adopt the KJ version which began verse 20 with “But”) God knowing who had entered into salvation (became a Christian or believer), and every believer was supposed to (and must) turn away from wickedness, believers entered from all sorts of prior backgrounds, given to all sorts of purposes, some noble, some, ignoble. Their prior backgrounds (likened to gold, silver, wood or clay) and purposes or focuses (noble or ignoble), are not the issue, if the man cleanses himself from the ignoble, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. If he does not, he will not be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

So, it is NOT a matter of whether you are gold or silver or just wood or clay, or whatever your prior background was; it is whether or not, having entered into salvation, you are going to cleanse yourselves from the ignoble. What are the ignoble? I have already expounded above. Are we going to flee or get rid of those ignoble from our lives, or using the term of Paul, cleanse ourselves from the ignoble? That we might have those ignoble previously, is NOT the issue; it is, after entering into the house of God or the church of God, are we cleansing ourselves from the ignoble? If we are NOT willing to do that, we CANNOT be instruments for noble purposes, made holy and useful to God to do any good work.

Do not say, “So what!”
You may say, “So what! So what if I am NOT useful to God to do any good work? What is the big deal?” It is big deal. We have seen what Paul said when he rounded up the subject in 2 Tim 3:16-17:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.(2 Tim 3:16-17).

What is the purpose (or at least an important purpose) of Scriptures? Verse 17 - “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for EVERY GOOD WORK.”

We are saved for good works – Eph 2:10 – “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Eph 2:10, an isolated verse? No, similar thing is said in Titus: Who gave himself for us, that he {Jesus} might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of GOOD WORKS (Titus 2:14. KJV).

What did Jesus say about trees that do NOT bear good fruits? Matt 7:19 – “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” The “tree” is symbolic for man.

What does Jesus said about those who called Him, “Lord, Lord” and want to enter the kingdom of heaven? Matt 7:21 – ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

What did the Apostle James said concerning faith without deeds? James 2:14 – “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” James 2:17 – “…., faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:20 – “You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless {dead}?”

Jesus’ redemptive works on the Cross for believers are of 3-folds, spiritual, to ransom us back from damnation to Hell, that we may have eternal life, physical, culminating with the granting of incorruptible body after we have died or rapture, and lastly, works or purpose, even though we might not be fully assigned in current life. For better understanding of works is part of redemptive works of Jesus, read my separate article – “Works of redemption by Our Lord”

If you are still NOT convinced of the big deal of good works, try reading Matt 25:31-46 on “Who are the sheep and goats” told by Jesus. Read my separate article on the same, “Who are the sheep, and who are the goats”

You have a choice to make
The important message of 2 Tim 2:20-21 is that we have to cleanse ourselves from ignoble so that we may be instruments of noble purposes, useful to God for good works. If we do NOT know where to start, to do good works or to serve God, start with cleansing ourselves from ignoble.

To me, this is a very important text for people who want to find their places in connection to serving God. This text will NOT tell us specifically what we are “called” to do, but it tells what we need to do to prepare ourselves for service.

FIRSTLY, We have a choice - we can choose to be pursuing noble purposes or ignoble purposes. Even though we have become a believer, we still have a choice, that is why when verses 19 & 20 are taken together, they spoke of, despite God knowing who {which person(s)} was His, and every believer must turn away from wickedness, there were still those who cleanse NOT themselves from ignoble, and there were those who would; there is an onus that lies with the believer!

The text is also a parable
Do NOT say I am clay, NOT gold, so I am only fit to be made into, say, a spittoon, unlike another, the gold, who can be made into, say a meal bowl fit for a king’s use – the portrayal of a man as substance of gold, silver, wood or clay is just a parable placing of the subject (man) side by side with another, the metaphor, substance (gold, silver, wood or clay).

Man is LIKE the substance of gold, silver, wood or clay (I use “substance” as it would imply all, and any, article. The particular article would subsequently be determined by the purpose desired. In some Bible translations “articles” is NOT used, instead the word used is “vessels”. Therefore, it is more appropriate to say the comparison is with the “substance of” rather than articles. And in the Bible we commonly find man being likened to the substance of gold being refined in fire), but he is NOT gold, silver, wood or clay. This is an important point because if you interpret man as the substance, and NOT “like the substance”, you end up with the problem of clay is clay, and gold is gold, one CANNOT be changed into the other. 

The Apostle Paul, separately, also talked about foundation being built from gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw in his epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor 3:12 - If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ). (If you want to know what a parable is, and a better idea of how parables are to be interpreted, you can read my exposition of the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, here).

If you would take yourself out of the ignoble purposes, God can transform you from “LIKE clay” to “LIKE gold”. It is what you purpose that matters, and that is a choice. For example, do you want to be useless or useful? To be useless is ignoble, to be useful, is noble. Do you want to be a pew warmer or do you want to do something more during a church service? Do you want to use your intelligence to con people or do you want to use your brain to help solve problems? Do you want to spend your money on weekends, shopping, drinking and clubbing most of the time, or do you want to set aside some of the money and time for some more meaningful purposes?

When you set your eyes on the noble purposes, and take yourself out of those ignoble, and plant yourself into the noble ones, the Lord would then be able to come in to set you apart for good work. You may still be like the clay but as time goes by, your heart may slowly turn to gold; and after some more time, maybe you will be all gold to God, and to men too!

There is something noble (NOT ignoble) for everyone
SECONDLY, just like in a huge room, there are many articles serving many different purposes, there are many tasks comprised in the noble purposes of God – there is always one for everybody.

There are many noble-purposed tasks we can put our hearts to. Joining the worship team to lead others to high worship to God counts as one; even worshipping from the pew to bless God and other members of congregation qualifies too (you will be surprised how many people go to church services and NOT sing when it was time to sing); serving as a service usher is easy enough, and it counts; being a helper in the church Sunday School is a good one; giving towards a needy cause sponsored by the church is another; praying for the sick; spending time and money to go on missionary work with your annual leave is good, and intercessory work is commendable. I am sure you can come up with more.

No, I do NOT consider it as the intent and purpose of the Apostle Paul to say, here, that there are both noble and ignoble purposes in the church of God, some of us do the noble and some, the ignoble. About the sovereignty of the Creator, that He could use us in any capacity He desires, that comes from another Scripture passage (Rom 9:21-24), we should NOT confuse the two! (see PS at end of article)

Always remember this
It matters NOT your prior background (like gold, silver, wood or clay) and prior noble or ignoble focuses, what is important is that in the large house of God, when you have cleansed yourselves from the ignoble, you are useful for God for good works. It matters NOT if you were previously gold, silver, wood or clay, speaking in parable terms, as you serve, the Lord will transform you from being like clay or like wood to like silver and eventually like gold. When you set your eyes on the noble purposes, and take yourself out of those ignoble, and plant yourself into the noble ones, the Lord would then be able to come in to set you apart for good work.

You may still be like the clay but as time goes by, your heart may slowly turn to gold; and after some more time, maybe you will be all gold to God, and to men too! The same can still apply for believers who have fallen from grace or have back-slidened; you can come back and re-dedicate your life to the Lord, and go from there.


Anthony Chia, high.expressions – To serve God, we must choose to cleanse ourselves from ignoble, avoid ignoble, set our eyes on noble purposes, and plant ourselves into the latter. It is not some works are common, and some are royal, but that even the good works of ushering for a church service is/can be as noble as that of ministering holy communion, for example.

PS: 2 Tim 2:20-21 and Rom 9:21-24 should NOT be confused together. The former is focused on our responsibility, on our need to choose and effort (“cleanses {purges} HIMSELF from…”); the latter explains the sovereign rights of the Creator. If you are like me, believing that there is the God’s part, and there is the Man’s part in God’s scheme of things, which I believe was also what the Apostle Paul believed in, you will appreciate that we do NOT explain both texts in the same way. Perhaps, I will write on Rom 9:21-24 another day. [Added 07/07/2011 - has since been written: The potter and the clay - His sovereignty.]

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The works of redemption by Our Lord

Today, I am going to touch on a somewhat sensitive topic, but yet, a very significant one, which, I believe, more recently, the Holy Spirit has impressed upon me. More directly, it concerns a dimension of redemption which has not been properly emphasized as such, and indirectly de-emphasized by erroneous “overly grace” teachings.

Spiritual redemption
Many are of the view the redemption of our Lord, Jesus Christ, is simply a singular spiritual dimension, the giving of eternal life to our spirited soul (For understanding of why I used spirited soul instead of spirit or soul, read my separate article, Man is body, soul and spirit {Tripartite}). In other words, Jesus died on the Cross that we may have eternal life. Indeed, this is the common belief that is shared by all “legitimate” Christians.

Physical redemption
In addition to that spiritual dimension (of eternal life for our spirited soul), some believe the work of redemption included a redemption of the physical. In other words, in addition, there is also the redemption of the body. While at one extreme, there are those who believe not, any physical redemption; the other extreme is occupied by those who believe physical redemption is both immediately full and effectual. Such are also most likely to regard redemption of the spirited soul as being both immediately full and effectual. It is NOT the intention of this article to look at the issue of the redemption of the spirited soul being both immediately full and effectual or “already in possession”. It is however, my intention to cover the issue of whether or not physical redemption of the body is necessarily both immediately full and effectual. This, of course, is hinting that, there is a third class of believers who believe while there is physical redemption, i.e. redemption of the body, upon entering into salvation, such physical redemption is only partial, for the time being. This, I will expound further, after I have introduced the third dimension of the redemptive works of Jesus, which is the other purpose of this article.

Works redemption
So far, we have mentioned, firstly, spiritual redemption, redemption of the spirited soul, and secondly, physical redemption, redemption of the body of a person. The third dimension, though, is not uncommon to have been taught in “balanced” churches, but NOT so much as a dimension of the redemptive work of Jesus, is works redemption! Because of the over-emphasis by “overly grace” teachings, “works” has been de-emphasized by many. The over use of the saying, “We are not saved by works.” is partly responsible for the incorrect perspective we hold on the subject of works. I strongly believe that redemption should be taught to include works redemption, for it is only in this way, works is given the proper position that it should take, in the walk of a Christian.

Direct word on works redemption
Frankly, it is NOT that the Word of God had not been direct about this issue; I believe it has been that we have chosen to construe the word of God deferring to our desire to be free from accountability. As a direct word, God gave us Eph 2:10 -

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10, KJV).

Below is my own private commentary on the above verse of Eph 2:10:

“Because of its constant use, Christians tend to remember the preceding two verses (vv 8 & 9), or its appealing part – the “by grace” part; whereas verse 10 is so conveniently ignored because it is not appealing, because it calls for sacrifice on our part or it encroaches into our lives. Verse 10 implies that we are to see {“For” here, means “seeing that; pointing to another truth, often greater truth”; or means “more importantly”; “For” in v8, on the other hand, means “since”} or to understand that we are created by God for good works; works which He had prepared in advance for us to do. So, when you and I are saved, we are to step into our destiny and that redeemed destiny included doing good works. Many of us, also park away this verse because we choose to believe we do not know what the good works are.”

Let me expand on this: Verses 8-10 are on the issue of redemption by our Lord, not just verses 8 & 9; it is error on our part to read verses 8 & 9 as having to do with redemption, and NOT verse 10. If you think, that is the only isolated verse (on good works), then look at this verse from the Book of Titus:

Who gave himself for us, that he {Jesus} might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14. KJV).

What does “redeem” mean?
When Scripture said that we are “redeemed” by the Lord, what does the word mean? It means to get back, or to regain, or to recover, and in the case of us, by the Lord, was with a payment which was termed as ransom; the Greek word used is lytroō (G3084). In other words, “redeem” implied there was a previous state or station, but that state or station had changed, and redemption would result in the state or station be changed back to the original state. For example, we read of this, in Lev 25:29, “And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it.” What it simply meant was that if the owner of the house sold his house, his state of being the owner of the house ceased, but when he redeemed the house back, he would once again be the owner of the house. Therefore, redeem ALWAYS talks about a reversion to the previous.

Indirect picture
This brings me to talk about the indirect pictures portrayed in Scripture concerning original state or station of Man. What was the early state of Man, before the Fall of Man, like? He was with a body, and although he was already a soul, a life principal, yet he was made living forever by God’s giving to him, a spirit. Was that all? No, we are to understand that he was righteous, for God said that what He had created was good, and God freely fellowshipped with Man, in the early days. Was that all? No, we are told that Man was to do the bidding of God, in other words, Man was with works, and the works, then, was to tend the Garden of Eden.

It should be easy to appreciate the word, “good” here, has the meaning of being agreeable or being right, with God. That is why it is not unreasonable to say, when God said what He created was good or what He saw was good, He was saying the “object” was agreeable or being right with Him, or righteous. Therefore, to translate “good and evil” as in the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil as “…. tree of knowledge of being righteous and evil is NOT incorrect. Similarly, “good works” can be rendered as righteous works; both phrases we do encounter, in the New Testament (NT). Any works which is agreeable or right in God’s eyes is good works. In other words, works which God would like us to do is good works. The tending of the Garden of Eden was good works, so is the works of the Great Commission; and many more things can come under good works (including the worshiping of God).

Spiritual redemption explained
Now, when Jesus redeems us, what is He redeeming? As expounded by my separate article referred to above, on the Tripartite nature of Man, we know the spirited soul of Man lives forever (eternal life enabled), yet by The Fall, the spirited soul was cursed to live separate from God in Hell (eternal life “disabled”). Indeed, there was a change of state or station when Man first fell, for there was a law, NOT the Law of Moses, but a prohibitive law given by God to the first man, “You shall not eat of the …..” The breaking of a law is a curse (Gal 3:10, 3:13), and when Man broke that law, the curse, “You shall surely die.” kicked in. The death, here, must be understood NOT as the physical death, but death of the spirited soul as in its separation from God, although unless there is a physical death, final “death” of the spirited soul CANNOT be entered into. This understanding that physical death must precede final “death” of the spirited soul is significant, and we will return to it, in a little while. So, the very first redemption dimension is to revert Man back to eternal life enabled; in simple terms, we say we have once again eternal life (spiritual redemption), just as first Man, Adam, was originally with eternal life.

Physical redemption explained
Concerning redemption of the body, is there or is there not, redemption? To answer this, we need to have understanding of whether or not there was a change with regard to the body, when Man first fell. There are a few aspects to consider in addressing this issue of the body:

First, let me pose you a question; do you think Adam ever had (ate) the fruit from the Tree of Life? When I posed this question to Christians, most, if not all, were stunned; the reason being they were under the impression that Adam did not; and no one should have asked such a question, for to them, as far as they were taught, the only relevant question was whether or not, Adam ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Yes; the scriptures below, said that God stopped Adam from eating from the Tree of Life:

22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken (Gen 3:22-23, KJV).

But, people forgot that God had earlier, when He placed Adam in the Garden, said this:

16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Gen 2:16-17, KJV)

Therefore, it is NOT unreasonable to deduce that, at the beginning, Man was eating the fruits from the Tree of Life. I believe, that was indeed the case, that Adam and Eve had the fruits from the Tree of Life as one of their diet! In Gen 3:22-23, it was stated God stopped that, and put Man out of the Garden; the reason being, to prevent Man from living forever. Have you wondered why Adam and Eve were prevented from living forever? I can think of 2 reasons: one, Man was NOT created with the capacity to handle the knowledge of good and evil independently, without further input from God, and two, Man must NOT be allowed to live forever physically, because if it were the case, it would negate God’s punishment, for God had said Adam and Eve shall surely die if they ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Had Adam and Eve continued to eat the fruit from the Tree of Life, they would NOT die physically, and without physical death, they would NOT be able to enter into the 2nd death, which was to be “death” for the spirited soul. Those who insisted the death in Gen 2:16-17 was referring to 1st death or physical death is mistaken, for Adam and Eve did not die on the Fall; in fact, they lived on to procreate Abel, Cain and Seth, before Adam finally died at the age of 930 years old.

Without eating the fruit from the Tree of Life, Adam and Eve, and any man, for that matter, would die. Perhaps, with earlier consumption of the potent fruit, early men were able to live a very substantially longer life, but over time, with no more residual effect of the fruit left to pass down Man’s lineage, and with the fallen world’s effects, physical life on earth invariably became shorter and shorter. According to Scripture, we know the average age has settled to around 70 to 80 years (Ps 90:10).

One thing for sure, The Fall meant that Man would NOT have (or if you believe like I do, “no longer have”) the access to the fruit from the Tree of Life, and therefore, the body would NOT be able to live forever. For this aspect, does the redemption by our Lord take care of it? The short answer is “Yes”, but the picture is NOT sufficiently explained with just a “Yes” answer. Why?

This is why:

1. Jesus did not say that we would not die, physically.
2. Jesus talked about the incorruptible body for a believer as that which would be given after physical death or when we are raptured at End Time.
3. The fruit from the Tree of Life would be available for consumption for the believers, NOT in this earthly life (Rev 2:7, Rev 22:1-2).
4. The Tree of Life or the Garden of Eden just could NOT be found, no matter how hard men tried.
5. In reality, men die the physical death. According to Wikipedia (probably from the start of tracking), the CURRENT oldest “verified person” ever was a French woman, who died at the age of 122 years 164 days. Others died much younger.

From Scripture, our undisputable understanding is that the incorruptible body is given after our physical life has expired, and the fruit from the Tree of Life, also, can only be had, after our physical life has expired. While there are scriptures showing possible grant of full life span and long life by God, none, pointed to any hint of our physical body NOT giving way eventually or we would NOT die the physical death, at the hand of sicknesses or simply old age.

We should also note that punishments for Man {for the serpent, there are separate punishments}, for the Fall of Man, were of 2 sets, one, contained in Gen 2:16-17, and another, in Gen 3:16-19. The first set, I termed it as the primary or the spiritual punishment, as it pertains to the spirited soul, the second, the secondary or physical punishments, as they were meted out by God when by His grace, He allowed Man to live on physically, out from Garden of Eden. Those wanting a full understanding of The Fall of Man could read my series of articles on “The Fall of Man”. From my understanding of Scripture, the secondary punishments, exacted more, on the body of Men, were NOT bored by Jesus, meaning we cannot say Jesus has taken the fall for us, that we, for the man {gender}, he no longer need to toil for his food, and for the woman, she no longer have any childbearing pain, or her desire will no longer be for her husband or that her husband no longer to rule over her.

The correct understanding, I believe, is this: That Man was allowed to live physically (for Adam and Eve were NOT put to death upon their fall), was already mercy and grace granted on the part of God; secondary punishments, and as well as the lack of protection of the body of Man against eventual giving away (no longer the body was able to continue forever, as was initially possible for Adam and Eve, before the Fall), were NOT what Jesus had come to do away with. Yes, there will be the full redemption of the body, soul and spirit of Man, eventually, but there is NOT the UNCONDITIONAL promise of perpetual physical life or earthly life. The possibility of earthly life or physical life in itself was and is already a mercy and grace of God at work.

We read from Scripture, God did not just abandon Adam and Eve, on discovery of their fall, and even after that. Scripture revealed that, out of love, mercy, grace and compassion, God still cared for Man; God made covering for the naked Man, from animal skin, replacing the flimsy covering Man made out of leaves; God was pictured in Scripture to have been continuing his close fellowship with the first family (Adam and Eve, and their children, Abel, Cain and Seth). God’s love, mercy, grace and compassion continued on with the chosen people of God, then, the Israelites; and then, when Jesus came (his 1st coming), He continued to demonstrate the Father God’s love, mercy, grace and compassion to those living in His time, and through His disciples, began to make available salvation to even the Gentiles, extending the people of God to include any and everyone, who would believe in the Gospel. Jesus’ own manifesto included the declaration of the era {year; more than just a year, it is an era} of favor of God (Luke 4:19). So, even though Jesus had NOT come to do away with the secondary punishments on Man nor to grant eternality to our current physical body, while He has become the propitiation for sins for all men, He has also demonstratively announced through His workings of signs and wonders and miracles, including healings and deliverances, that God does care about the earthly living of His people, including if they are in afflictions, whether in sicknesses or otherwise. Scripture is clear, as believers, we are no longer of this world, although we are still in this world, therefore, physical life and health would continue to be transient or temporal. Any interpretation of any scriptures contrary to this truth is NOT of God.

This brings me to conclude for physical redemption, that while our body can be well for a season, FULL redemption of the body will NOT manifest in this earthly life. While we can ask for God to bless our body and heal our sicknesses, God has NOT made any UNCONDITIONAL promises ensuring our good health and long life. Perhaps, we should ask what we are doing with our life, before we ask how long we can live in good health and die not, yet.

[Added: 16/09/2011 - As to whether or NOT, what were accomplished by the 1st coming of Jesus, complete with His earthly ministry, and culminating in His sufferings, crucifixion and resurrection, included healing for such things as physical, emotional, psychological and demonic conditions/ailments, it must be said that, although it is NOT in the form of an unconditional promise, the authority and powers of divine healing have provided for, as a relief and temporal solution to Man's fallen body, pending the incorruptible body.  But this relief is continuation of the same God's grace, mercy, compassion and love of God for men while they lived, which could be seen even from immediately after the Fall.  However, it is right for us to believe that, through the coming of Jesus, there has been a heightening of this favor of God, for in Isaiah 61, as well as in Luke 4:18-19, of the "manifesto" of Jesus, the latter was tasked by God to declare the era {year here equates era} of favor of the LORD.

It is something that God had planned in, and it can also be seen in Isaiah 53:4, which, through the interpretation given by the Apostle Matthew (Matt 8:16-17), it was NOT necessarily to have been directly attributed to the suffering ON the body of Jesus, although it can (be linked to His bodily, emotional and pyschological sufferings), for one of the main reasons for His having to suffer those sufferings was because He did what He did, performing healings and miracles, in compassion and in the love of God.]

Works redemption explained
Now, I will expound further on the last dimension of redemption, works redemption. I have explained redemption implied a reversion to the previous state or station, and Man was with works from the LORD. Adam and Eve were to tend the Garden of Eden; that was their good works or righteous works for God. Upon the Fall of Man, Man lost the works, for God had to put Man out of the Garden of Eden. Therefore, it is NOT unreasonable to expect, in God’s redemption, this aspect is also redeemed. Of course, it is NOT that we must now find the Garden of Eden and tend that garden, rather we are to do the works God has intentioned that we do (Eph 2:10, Titus 2:14).

God did NOT create Man to do nothing except to bask in grace; He also did not create angels to do nothing. Doing God’s bidding or His works is fundamental in God’s creation of spirited beings, be it, Man or angels or any other heavenly creatures. It is amazing that so many believe in GENERAL predestination of PERSONAL salvation (which I do NOT subscribe to), yet people do NOT believe that Man is pre-destined to do good works when verses such as Eph 2:10 clearly pointed to that. When there is pre-destination of works, necessarily in redemption, there is a redemption in this aspect.

Not really a digression, I would like to point out that Satan, previously known as Lucifer (bearer or bringer of light), the once guardian angel of God, was created with works assignment, and his assignments possibly included leading worship in Heaven (Eze 28:13-14, Isaiah 14:11-12), but when he fell, he lost his works assignments, and became known as Satan, the adversary, deceiver or accuser. When Lucifer fell, he lost his works assignments; when Man fell, he too, lost his works assignment. Satan has NOT the chance to be redeemed, but we have, and are redeemed (for believers, that is), and so, don’t just do your own thing or just bask in grace!

The redemption of Man does not just involve a restoration or re-establishment of eternal life, eternal body, NOT on current body, though, but also works, even though, we may yet be fully assigned in our current life. It is NOT without reason, Jesus spoke about a number of parables on works and fruitfulness using the metaphors of trees or plants {Vine and the branches (John 15:1-6), The barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), and The sower and the seeds (Luke 8:5-15)} and gave the narrative in Matt 25 on the Sheep and the Goats (Matt 25:31-46). Works (good works or righteous works) is part of redemption, and when we look at works in its proper perspective, we can then begin to sort out what we must do to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phi 2:12).

There are connections between the 3 dimensions of redemption discussed here, but for this article, I shan’t go into it in details except to say 2 more things: one, to underscore that, indeed, works is an integral part of redemption, may I encourage you to read my separate article, “Who are the sheep, and who are the goats?”; two, does it NOT make sense God will have an interest in your good health and length of life, if you are doing His works, even if in truth, both good health and physical life have to be transient or temporal? What are we doing with our body or earthly life; do we do his works?


Anthony Chia, high.expressions – 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Cor 13:11-2). Lord, I cannot refuse to grow in your redemption of me, and I cannot say since the Kingdom of Heaven is NOT fully manifest in earthly living, I shall NOT walk out the redemption that you have ransomed with your own life. May I work out my salvation with fear and trembling, including be warned that I should NOT be found as goats, but as your sheep. Lord, may you bless me in good health and long life as I do (some of) the works you have intended me to do, in my earthly life. Forgive me, Lord, for where I fall short. Lead me by your Spirit that I may truly grow in your redemption of me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

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Correct understanding of salvation, and relationships between salvation, grace, faith and good works

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Eph 2:8)

What should salvation be for a believer?
Salvation is:

1. The way put forth by God, since The Fall of Man, for Man to be able to be saved from eternal
    destruction - the entering and remaining in the burning fire of Hell.

2. To be saved is therefore,
    a) to avoid going to Hell;
    b) to finally, enter Heaven, the dwelling place of God, to live with God;

3. Having being reconciled back to God (being justified), until we die (physically), or are raptured,
    to live our life consistent to one going to live with God; and that necessitates we learn to live
    under  the Lordship of God. A non-believer is a mutiny, and has to be reconciled back to God, and
    when he has been reconciled through salvation, he is to live under the Lordship of God.  Having
    being justified, a believer needs to come under sanctification, before proceeding to Heaven. For
    Salvation as Justification and Sanctification, read: "Salvation as Justification and Sanctification".

Per se, Salvation is NOT these…
Salvation is NOT about prosperity in earthly living per se. It is NOT even about long life, NOT about wealth and health (health even), NOT about worldly accomplishments, NOT about leaving a worldly legacy, NOT about being philantrophic, as such. The truth is that salvation is about Heaven and Hell, and it is about the Lordship of God. The truth is the truth, regardless of people NOT liking to think about it or be reminded of these things.

Ah, it is really deferring to men, to sugarcoat the salvation of God. When we sugarcoat, when we add layers of sweet stuff over a thing, the thing is NOT gone, but the purity of it is hidden. What is worse is that situation can become such that the sugarcoat became the thing that people desire, instead of the gem inside. When this happens, the truth is missed.

Of course, salvation (sozo) includes health, physical and emotional; the meetings of our earthly needs; and being in able form, to do lots of “good works”; yet these are just the things that can accompany the main objectives of salvation, and are which, we as believers, can look to God to provide.

So, if today, we, as believers, are NOT in good physical health, or NOT at all wealthy relative to the Jones, salvation did NOT short-change us, God did NOT do any injustice against us, or God has NOT been unfair to us, for salvation is NOT about these things, per se.

A journey back (to God) or a journey to destruction
Life on earth is transient. Relative to eternity, it is really miniscule. Since The Fall of Man, life on earth is a short journey (and it has gone shorter and shorter since The Fall) to, either Hell or Heaven. A person in salvation travels the Way of Holiness, while the ones without, they travelled outside of that way or highway. Those of us, believers, have Jesus Christ leading us, and our part to play, is to learn to submit to His Lordship. Scriptures are full of pictures of steadfastness, perseverance and obedience, and that is how we are to journey.

The mindset
As believers, if we become as rich as the Jones, we are thankful to God, if we are NOT, we are also thankful to Him; if we are as fit as a fiddle, we thank God, if we are NOT, we also thank Him, and praise Him for who He is; if we have been able to accomplish much in our earthly lives, we thank Him for His endowments and enabling, if we have NOT, still we thank Him for every breath of our lives, for with every breath, we have been afforded the opportunity to say, “Lord, please forgive us our sins, cleanse us, for you are holy and righteous; and Lord, we thank you for this extra moment that we can learn submission to your Lordship, before we come to live with you.”

If we are called home early, we accept it, if we are called later, we accept it too, and until we are called, we are to live in submission to the Lordship of God, in steadfastness, in perseverance, and in obedience out of love for our Lord, regardless of afflictions (of ill-health, emotional struggles, poverty, etc, etc), knowing that our God is holy and righteous, and He is full of love and faithfulness towards us (Ps 89:14), wanting us to return to Him in the freedom of children of God (Rom 8:21).

Today, if you are a young man or woman, you may balk at reading such sayings, for to you, the picture of Hell and Heaven seems so very far away, but Scripture tells that our souls may be demanded of us at any time, when we least expect it. It is independent of your young age or your preoccupation.

Relationships between salvation, grace, faith and good works
In the above, I have not mentioned grace, faith or what we need to do to enter into salvation; it was intentional, for I have desired to say what salvation truly is meant to be, for us, Man – avoidance of Hell, and getting to Heaven. Now, next, we will take a look at what is the relationship between grace and faith in relation to salvation, and good works.

Grace, salvation, gift and faith
Grace is unmerited favor of God. By unmerited favor, it means that the favor is granted without us doing anything to earn it. In other words, it is a gift. When we say that something is by grace, we mean, that something is granted as a gift, and so in Eph 2:8, when it is said that it is by grace that we are saved, it means that salvation is a gift from God.

My own interpretation of “and THIS not from yourselves, it is the gift of God”, of that verse 8, is that it ("THIS") is referring to salvation. Salvation is by grace of God, a gift from God. It is NOT intentionally referring to grace as such.

I know people talked about grace as a gift of God; I am NOT saying grace is NOT a gift of God, but grace given as a gift and salvation given as a gift can be quite different.  Grace is better said as a favour, although it is a gift.

Salvation as a gift is like, I say, "Everyone who follows me into the next room, will get a gift".  Everyone, you, he or she, a young woman, an old lady, a healthy man or a sick man, etc. (when you follow me into the next room), you get a gift.

Grace as a gift is like, I have here, a bag of gifts and I say, "Hey, you there, catch", and I throw out a gift to him; "The lady in black, here, this is for you; it will suit you well", and I hand out a gift to her; "The girl seated down, come here, I have a nice gift for you; I would like you to use it to cheer your sick mother back home", and I hand over a beautifully wrapped gift to the girl; etc, etc.  Not everyone in the room gets a gift, some does NOT.  Grace is as He determines.  Salvation as a gift is more a subset of Grace as a gift.

Faith here, NOT a gift to the same extent
Many people, I believe, have erroneously used Eph 2:8 and said that faith is by God, NOT from us. The gift of God referred to, in the verse, is salvation, NOT faith. I have already said above, the gift referred to, in the verse is NOT grace, either  (although grace is a gift of God).

It is possible though, that sometimes, the word, “grace” is used in place of the word, salvation. For example, in Rom 5:2, “this grace” was referring to salvation or reconciliation back to God which is what salvation is about.

The point to note is that, this Eph 2:8 verse is NOT saying faith is a gift of God, even though there are preachers out there claiming that the faith mentioned here is a gift. I cannot agree with this notion, because if it were so, then all who hear the gospel should be entering into salvation, but this is NOT the case, precisely because faith is lacking in some instances.

Unless one believes in GENERAL predestination of PERSONAL salvation {predestination implies that all already set by God as to who will be saved and who will NOT}, which I do NOT believe, faith here CANNOT be a gift to the same as extent as salvation is a gift of God.

Does faith come from God or not?
While it is NOT incorrect to say everything comes from God, often times, we must avoid it as a cliché. If we apply this all the time, we will end up saying even evil things that happen to people come from God.

Of course, when we trace everything back across (all) time, everything originated from God. Even Satan is creation of God. But we really cannot say that all the evil done by Satan, are coming from God {Although, on a more positive note, we are inclined to say positive things come from God, for we have a good God actively pursuing Man, intending only good for us all}.

I believe the overall counsel of the Word, teaches us that faith is NOT to be treated in like manner as salvation, a gift of God, although like I said, of course, everything comes from God.

There is a verse (Rom 12:3) in Scripture that has the mention of faith or a measure of faith, as being given by God, but in so many verses in Scripture {you can just do a concordance search}, the understanding given is that faith is NOT to be looked at as gift of God or grace of God in the sense that it is an unmerited favor of God that God must give. We will look at that Romans verse in a moment, but I want to say that there is another verse where unmistakably there is a faith that is a gift from God, and that is found in 1 Cor 12:9 which listed the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

1 Cor 12:9, and the question it poses
In the case of 1 Cor 12:9, gifts were dealt with, and as such, the 9 items there, were for free, given unmerited for, and by grace. Regardless how one argues concerning when a believer becomes possessed of the gifts, it is still to be understood that the gifts, being gifts, are freely given by God. And so, when one believer has a gift, and another does not seem to, to me, it indicated nothing of any “superiority” of the former over the latter, for a spiritual gift is NOT merited for (one does NOT earn it). You may ask about the relevance of this? Its relevance is that, in 1 Cor 12:9, it is stated that there is such a thing as a gift of faith, whereas I have just mentioned earlier that generally, faith (normal faith) is NOT a gift of God to the same extent as salvation of God is. 

Does it means if I do NOT have the faith to do certain thing, it has nothing to do with me, that I should even be bothered with, at all, much like I be NOT bothered, if a sick person I pray for, does NOT get healed,  arguing that it is God’s responsibility since faith is to be given by Him (to me), as it is said to be a gift from Him {in 1 Cor 12:9}? What do you think? Is it correct to say, “Blame God, don’t blame me since faith is supposed to be given by Him.”?

My divide of the Word
To correctly divide the Word of God, I believe, we have to have a proper perspective of the free-will of Man, given by God, and the interventions of God. In order NOT to get very long-drawn into this, it suffices to say that both the free-will of Man and the interventions of God are at work. And this means that there is a part that Man is to do, and there are things God does, in the normal, as well as things that God does as interventions. To what extent God intervene, is of course, His prerogative.

Faith to usher in God’s intervention
Faith is required for us to live a life pleasing unto God, for the ways of the world are often out of syn. with the ways of God. To go against the pulls and pushes of the world, we need to trust God (have faith in God) that He would intervene when we are in alignment to His ways or want to be in alignment.

Although it is NOT to be said that it is imperative for faith to be present in order for God’s interventions to come, often times, faith ushers in God’s interventions, for faith is in part, a right belief consistent with the truth of God {I am leaving out the discussion of the make-up of faith}.

Supernatural faith and normal faith
In terms of the faith required to “draw” the interventions of God, for exceptional interventions, there is a class of faith called supernatural faith; all other faith falls under normal faith. The onus for normal faith rests with us.

The faith talked about in 1 Cor 12:9 is NOT normal but supernatural, and so are the other 8 gifts listed in 1 Cor 12. The gift of tongue is supernatural, and the gift of healing is supernatural. When I pray for a seriously sick person and he is healed, it is supernatural, it is crazy to think that I can somehow work up a healing power to heal a seriously sick man; it is a supernatural intervention and healing from God. If I move in that gift, it is a supernatural gift, given by grace of God. Similarly, the faith in 1 Cor 12:9 is also a supernatural faith, that cometh by grace of God, and is a gift.

A simple way of looking at the issue is that onus of normal faith rests with us, that of supernatural faith, with God.

Back to “the” question
Now, is the faith to accept Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior, a normal faith or a supernatural faith? Eph 2:8 said that we are saved by grace, through faith. So, is the faith here, a normal faith or supernatural faith? If we say that it is supernatural, and therefore, a gift, then whose fault is it that one does NOT come into salvation? Is it the Gospel sharer or the preacher? Or is it God’s fault?

If it is the sharer or preacher’s fault, do you think you will want to share? I probably will NOT, for it ties with a Chinese idiom, “the more you do, the more wrong you commit, the less you do, the less wrong you make!” If it is NOT the fault of mine, as the sharer or preacher, than whose fault is it, God’s? Or do you want to be very polite, and say that it is God’s responsibility; up to him, whether or NOT, He wants to give the faith to accept Jesus? Or is it NOT the onus of the hearer to decide if he will choose to believe?

We all know that Scripture said that God desires that all men be saved (1 Tim 2:4), and if we say that He is responsible for giving of the faith, is God trying to be “funny” on an absolutely serious issue, to give some, and NOT to others? Of course, NOT; I believe therefore, the faith in Eph 2:8, and for that matter, the same in many scenarios, is normal faith, a faith that is to come from the person’s choice.

Many scriptures indicated normal faith
Many pictures painted by Scriptures show us that the faith element required is the normal faith that is to come from us. If we hold onto the notion that God has to make us to have the faith for an action, we can end up, repeatedly asking God, “God, make me have the faith”, and yet nothing happens! God's fault!

One can be attempted to say, as we yield our free-will to God, God is able to give us the faith for action, and things will happen, but honestly, it is still like a chicken and egg issue. Which comes first, to let go of your free-will or have faith? Do we need to let go of our free-will to have faith or is it the other way round, we need to have faith to let go of our free-will? I say it is more of a choice issue; we have to decide to release our free-will to God; we have to choose to have faith in God.

How can we make such choices or how can we “acquire” faith in God, is a thing that we should learn, but before we go there, let me address the odd verse of Rom 12:3 which has in it, "faith is given by God".

Romans 12:3 – faith is given by God?
For by the grace given me I {Apostle Paul} say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you (Rom 12:3).

Many people have taken the above out of context, to mean that our faith has nothing to with what we do or NOT do, but have everything to do with whether or NOT God has given/is giving the faith or NOT, for an action.

Such pushing of responsibility back to God, is commonly liked by the “overly grace” believers, for they so often, believe that if they were supposed to do a thing, God would move them to do it, there is NOT the need to try, or be exhorted to do, for they think they have (claim to have) the full mind of Christ, such that if God has wanted a thing done, they would know! This is self-pride, to a very high degree.

If I do NOT have the faith to do a thing, it is because I have NOT come into possessing that measure of faith, rather than it is because God has NOT given me the measure of faith required {unless the situation calls for supernatural faith}. This is the correct attitude, for in it, there is a dose of onus on our part, in getting higher level of faith. Scripture is very clear that God expects faith from us. Without going into detail discussions, I will just quote Scripture saying that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Very obviously, such a scripture is meaningless if we insist that the faith we need to please God is the faith He must give to us.

The truth is that Rom 12:3 was only trying to say that we are NOT to “run ahead” or “run outside” of what God is doing and intending to do with us. It is like saying God has prepared you to be the manager of a department, and you run ahead and want to be the CEO of the company. In other words, the Lord has equipped you to function at a certain level, and function with faith, of course, for only in that way, what you do, is pleasing unto Him; and so, you do NOT “run ahead” or “run outside” of that; if you do that, you are thinking too highly of yourselves.

The exhortation of this verse, Rom 12:3, is along the line of 1 Cor 7:17 - But as God hath distributed (G3307) to every man, as the Lord hath called {to service} every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I {Paul} in all churches. The “given” in “…faith God has given you” in Rom 12:3, comes from the same Greek word, merizō (G3307), as in “distributed” in 1 Cor 7:17, it is just that the translators used different English words for the same Greek word.

I am NOT saying there is NOT the "God-beginning" of things, good things.  All good things comes from God; and if they don't come directly, but through others, the initiation does come from God.  While Phil 2:12 tells us that we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, the working has to be with God, for the verse following (v13), it was stated for us that God was the one who works in us to will and act in order to fulfill His good purpose.  Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, God works in us, our response to the leading of the Holy Spirit, is the part that is "faith-asking".  Will you choose to trust (have faith in) the Holy Spirit's leading, and go do what is required?

Rom 12:3 is NOT about God has to give normal faith in order that one has faith to live a life pleasing unto God. I also do NOT believe supernatural faith was implied there. I repeat, it is trying to say that we are NOT to “run ahead” or “run outside” of what God is doing and intending to do with us.

[Added 14 June 2011: We develop our faith (normal faith) in the refining process that all believers are subjected to, by the Lord. The Apostle Paul spoke about growth from infancy to maturity in the faith, nothing of the sort that some "overly grace" preachers have suggested that we jump from imperfection to perfection in the blink of the eye, upon born again.]

To possess normal faith
Concerning coming to possess faith, perhaps, we should consider, firstly the faith required for entering into salvation. Then, we will look at post born-again, how faith can be sustained and “grown”.

Faith to enter into salvation
The faith to enter into salvation, how does it come? Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17, KJV). For a non-believer to come into salvation there has to be faith in him, for Eph 2:8 said that, one enters salvation by grace, through faith.

The way a non-believer come to possess the necessary faith, according to this Rom 10:17, is by hearing the word of God; that is why there is a necessity to share the gospel with non-believers so that they get to hear the word of God. More can be said, but more importantly we need to take note that ultimately, the non-believer has to believe in Jesus in his heart, and confess with his mouth (by choice), that Jesus Christ is his personal Lord and Savior. This is typically, how a person enters salvation (by grace) through faith (Rom 10:10).

Exercising is crucial, for both, pre & post entering into salvation
I am NOT saying that we cannot pray to God for more faith, but I am saying we should be conscious of the correct attitude that there is that “our part” that we need to play. Even in the entering into salvation above, we see that one needs to exercise whatever little faith that is possessed. The exercise is in the exercising of his free-will (a choice) to confess with his mouth to accept Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.

In Luke 17:5, we read of the apostles of Jesus asking the Lord to increase their faith when the Lord told them that they had to repeatedly forgive others who had sinned against them repeatedly, despite their claiming that they were repentant each time. The apostles feared that, that would be too hard, and thought that they had NOT the faith to do it {not enough faith}, and so, they asked Jesus to increase their faith, so that they could do it, to repeatedly forgive the same people. Jesus did NOT reply them that He would give them more faith, instead He said this:

And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.  (Luke 17:6, KJV - I have replaced the NIV of this verse with the KJV; "faith as small as a mustard seed" is NOT a good translation, in my view {1 Mar 2013}).

In other words, Jesus was saying that they had to exercise whatever faith that they had; NOT to be overwhelmed by the odds stacked against them; the mustard seed/seedling does NOT freeze at the external odds against it.

By leaving the reply as that, I believe, what Jesus was trying to tell the apostles was that when they exercised what faith they had, it would grow or increase. The point is that the apostles asked for increase, and assuming, and it is logical to assume, in this case, that Jesus was answering them; the increase must have been found in the answer - exercising!

A lot more can be said concerning how faith {normal faith} can be nurtured, but the short answer is that we have to subscribe to the never-ending cycle of exercising faith that comes from the hearing of the word of God. And in this never-ending cycle of exercising faith, we are in fact, going about good works.

Faith and good works
What is the relation of the two? In the above paragraph I said in the never-ending cycle of exercising faith, we are in fact going about good works. Good works in Scripture is NOT just simply good works, like the world understands it to be, like being charitable, per se.

Essentially, it is good works of faith or good works in exercising of faith. Precisely because without faith it is impossible to please God, good works is not good works to God if it is NOT done with exercise of faith (Exception is possible, but exception acceptability is contingent on grace and sovereignty of God {as in the case of centurion in the gospel}).

The Book of James has more to say about putting faith into action as evidence of our true faith. I think it is an exception rather than a norm, for believers to just bask in grace; such understanding of the “overly grace” believers are too skewed. Eph 2:10 clearly stated that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works. We are commanded to do good works, and through them, bring glory to our God (Matt 5:16). For better understanding of what good works is, and the detailed exposition of the link between good works and faith, read my separate article, "Good works explained (Part I)".

How is grace connected with faith and good works?
The good works that the world understands can be just being charitable. For example, one donates $100K to a university/educational endowment fund. But the good works in God’s eyes are often deeds He wants done; in other words, it is connected to Him. Faith makes that connection to Him.

Salvation and Lordship are together (for greater understanding of this, read my separate article, “Luke 6:46 - PART I – Salvation and Lordship are together”), and in the living of our lives as believers, Lordship of God is everything. Our faith is tied to the Lord, and so, in the exercising of our faith, God gets into the picture. As submission is NOT blind and Lordship is NOT accidental (read the article if you want the exposition), faith is also NOT blind and accidental. When, despite our lacking circumstances, we are able to accomplish the good works through the exercise of faith, the grace of God {unmerited favor} is likely to be that, which made the difference, being extended for the situation.

Although it is NOT always that a Christian hears from God directly for a deed, but if he always sets the Lord {and His ways} before him (Ps 16:8), and stays righteous, his steps (and therefore, his deeds) can be expected to be ordered by the Lord (Ps 37:23), and God’s grace {unmerited favor} can be following his deeds.

What about good works and salvation?
This is probably what many are wanting to know – any direct relation between good works and salvation? Sorry, folks, digest the above, and wait for a separate article!



Anthony Chia, high.expressions – Lord, may more of us understand that in our salvation, we are not JUST to bask in grace, and JUST to do our own things. Cause in us such a stirring Lord, that we will awake from our slumber. Amen.

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