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Chapter 16: Of Good Works
- Good Works are only such as God hath (a.) commanded in his Holy word; and not such as without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, (b.) or upon any pretence of good intentions.
a. Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21
b. Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13 - These good works, done in obedience to Gods commandments, are the fruits, and evidences (c.) of a true, and lively faith; and by them Believers manifest their (d.) thankfullness, strengthen their (e.) assurance, edifie their (f.) brethren, adorn the profession of the Gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries and glorifie (g.) God whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus (h.) thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end (i.) eternal life.
c. James 2:18, 22
d. Psalm 116:12-13
e. 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5-11
f. Matthew 5:16
g. 1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11
h. Ephesians 2:10
i. Romans 6:22 - Their ability to do good works, is not at all of themselves; but wholly from the Spirit (k.) of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an (l.) actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of his good pleasure; yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in (m.) stirring up the Grace of God that is in them.
k. John 15:4, 6
l. 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13
m. Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11-12; Isaiah 64:7 - They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to superrogate, and to do more then God requires, as that (n.) they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.
n. Job 9:2-3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10
- We cannot by our best works merit pardon of Sin or Eternal Life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit, nor satisfie for the debt of our (o.) former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed from his (p.) Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled (q.) and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of Gods judgement.
o. Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:6
p. Galatians 5:22-23
q. Isaiah 64:6; Psalm 143:2 - Yet notwithstanding the persons of Believers being accepted through Christ their good works also are accepted in (r.) him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in Gods sight; but that he looking upon them in his Son is pleased to accept and reward that which is (s.) sincere although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
r. Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5
s. Matthew 25:21, 23; Hebrews 6:10 - Works done by unregenerate men although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use, both to themselves and (t.) others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by (u.) faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the (w.) word, nor to a right end the (x.) glory of God; they are therefore sinful and cannot please God; nor make a man meet to receive grace from (y.) God; and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and (z.) displeasing to God.
t. 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29
u. Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6
w. 1 Corinthians 13:1
x. Matthew 6:2, 5
y. Amos 5:21-22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5
z. Job 21:14-15; Matthew 25:41-43
_ Preface & Preamble
1. Of the Holy Scriptures
2. Of God and of the Holy Trinity
3. Of God's Decrees
4. Of Creation
5. Of Divine Providence
6. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and the Punishment Thereof
7. Of God's Covenant
8. Of Christ the Mediator
9. Of Free Will
10. Of Effectual Calling
11. Of Justification
12. Of Adoption
13. Of Sanctification
14. Of Saving Faith
15. Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
16. Of Good Works
17. Of the Perseverance of the Saints
18. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
19. Of the Law of God
20. Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
21. Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
22. Of Religous Worship and the Sabbath Day
23. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
24. Of the Civil Magistrate
25. Of Marriage
26. Of the Church
27. Of the Communion of Saints
28. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
29. Of Baptism
30. Of the Lord's Supper
31. Of the State of Man After Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead
32. Of the Last Judgement
_ An Appendix
The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
The Baptist Catechism
The Cambridge Declaration
The Canons of Dordt
Reformed Baptist Distinctives
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1689 Baptist Confession of Faith: A Modern Exposition
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