Earning favor

mark kennedy said:

If you take a good look at the eighth century prophets, after the prophetic age is well underway. Idols are at the top of the list, next, the way the rich would grind the poor. God sometimes calls them my poor. I don't know, Job seemed to have earned God's favor, blameless and upright, shuns evil and does good, no body else like him in the world. It's in his apology (defense), like to know what he did?

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It's amazing that prior to the era of the law and the prophets, there was a lot of things that happened that displayed something about God's character that would throw you for a loop if you say ... tried to re-create God in man's image.

LostMarbels said:

Does God reward faith or even obedience?

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Yes, but more in the form of grace (or salvation) but He was very clear that obedience brings blessing and disobedience cursing.

Michael Collum said:

It's amazing that prior to the era of the law and the prophets, there was a lot of things that happened that displayed something about God's character that would throw you for a loop if you say ... tried to re-create God in man's image.

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You know that's a real thing, tracked it down for a while. There is some question if the image of God in man is just damaged or completely destroyed. Personally I think it's still there in a lot of ways but it withers on the vine cut off from God.

Ken Rank said:

Yes, but more in the form of grace (or salvation) but He was very clear that obedience brings blessing and disobedience cursing.

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I am of the mindset that that favor and salvation are two differnt topics. You cannot earn salvation. I completely agree with that. But you can lay up treasure in heaven. You can receive 'crowns' as reward for actions in faith. There are 'ifs' and conditions in the bible that are not attributed to salvation. They are attributed to favor.

It comes down to two verses...

Is it unlawful to do good things on the Sabbath?

Do not let the left hand know what the Right is doing.

The point that really jumps out is that we want to do wonderful things because of the Gospel and we do them out of a cheerful heart full of gratitude to God.

We are in our Lifelong Sabbath rest... because we rest in Jesus.

Jesus is our Sabbath rest.

Is it unlawful to do good on the Sabbath? Absolutely Not!

Is it a requirement to stay or become saved? Absolutely not.

If we accomplish great things for Jesus and the Gospel, we give all Glory to God, and take none of it for ourselves!

This way... Our Left Hand (The Flesh) wont be drawn into self defeating pride.

This way, our Right Hand (Romans 8:9) can continue to do what He wishes with us, for whatever purpose He has planned.

Hammster said:

True or False

A Christian can earn favor with God by doing good works.

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I believe he grants favor based on intentions of the heart not from works, sadly I dont remember any scriptures supporting this idea

The answer is not a one size fits all kind of answer. Does not God delight in our good works when they are done righteously? We all know God would rather see us do good works than anything else. Can we gain favor from God by doing them? Perhaps. It depends on the heart and the spiritual condition of the person.
God is the one Who defines good works. He looks at the heart.

Grumman Tomcat said:

Humans are wholly inadequate to earn God's favor through works.

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Again... favor or salvation? What is the worth of faith being counted for righteousness if it has no value? How many people in the bible have been justified by their faith? Not saved.

Grumman Tomcat said:

When we belong to Christ we have a desire to follow Him--not do works to earn His favor.

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So as a born again Christian am I not supposed to desire the favor of God? Am I supposed to not care if my actions are agreeable to God and even bring me closer to him?

Honestly, by this rational there is no sin. Because mankind is equally insignificant to offend God by our works. If works do not save a man, nor do they garner favor before God, for what reason is faith dead without works?

Five crowns mentioned in Scripture:

The Incorruptible Crown
Faithfulness in self-control
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainty; so fight 1, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (I Corinthians 9:25-27).

The Crown of Rejoicing
Faithfulness in Service
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming (I Thessalonians 2:19).

. . . my joy and crown . . . (Philippians 4:1).

The Crown of Righteousness
Faithfulness in Testimony
I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (II Timothy 4:7,8).

The Crown of Glory
Faithfulness in Tending Those Entrusted to you
Feed the flock of God which is among you . . . Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away (I Peter 5:2-4).


The Crown of Life
Faithfulness in Temptation
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him (James 1: 12).

The believer’s crowns will be given at Christ’s judgement seat (Bema). For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (II Corinthians 5:10).

The Bema Judgement
The purpose of the Bema judgement is not to determine whether a particular individual enters Heaven or not, for every man’s eternal destiny is already determined before he leaves this life. In addition, the purpose of the Bema judgement is not to punish believers for sins committed either before or after their salvation. The Scriptures are very clear that no child of God will have to answer for his sins after this life (see Psalm 103:10-12; Isaiah 38:17; Isaiah 44:22; Micah 7:19; Hebrews 8:12; 1 John 1:7).

The purpose of the Bema judgement is to determine whether or not a believer has been a faithful steward. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (I Corinthians 4:2). With the subject of stewardship in mind, all stewards (believers) will stand before their Lord and Master and be required to give an account of the way they have used their privileges and responsibilities (talents and abilities) from the moment of their conversion. cite: (THE KING IS COMING, H. L. Willmington, pp. 23-25).

The apostle Paul explains in his first epistle to the Corinthian church (I Corinthians 3:10-15) the glorious fact that at the moment of salvation a repenting sinner is firmly placed on the foundation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Himself! Paul gives clear warning when he says:

“. . . But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

From this passage in I Corinthians, it is apparent that God classifies the works of believers into one of the following six areas:

1. Gold
2. Silver
3. Precious stones
4. Wood
5. Hay
6. Stubble

Now there is debate, even contention as to what works classify as what class of deeds, even which of those classes are more precious, but there is no doubt we will be rewarded by that classification after our works are 'tried by fire'. Seems to me with 6 differnt classifications everyone will not be on the same level or garner the same rewards. Also our works will earn us this favor or reward from God.

I said yes, because God is pleased with those who strive for righteousness. God is more glorified by using the righteous to carry out His will 2 Timothy 2:21

Keep in mind that earning "God's favor" is not equivalent to "earning salvation" by any stretch. Romans 2:7

Hammster said:

Do you believe that you are more favorable in God’s eyes than some other Christians?

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Some Christian's are running their race more strictly than others.

Michael Vichiola said:

This is one of those questions where there is two sides of it. The bible says in Ephesians 2, that "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of god, not by works, so no one can boast." Which seems like he's saying, It is by grace that we are saved, god's grace through jesus. Nothing we did by ourselves alone turned into god's direction (with the exception of accepting Jesus into our life). Meaning, that we can't just slip a dollar into the salvation army kettle and expect god to forgive us in a split second. Nope, that isn't how it works. So I think Paul just wants us to remember that our deeds didn't save us, Jesus did.
Which brings me to the next point, in James, he says that, "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17) So now you're probably confused. With one verse saying one thing and the other going in the other direction, it boomerangs back to the question, "Does good works get us into a relationship with God just like that?" Yes and No, up top where paul says, "It is by grace you have been saved." So he's probably saying that grace and faith through jesus saved you. If you didn't know Jesus, and yet you help the poor or do this and that, even the greatness of those deeds wouldn't save you. But if you did, which implies James 2:17, these deeds are considered great in gods eyes. James is saying if we say, "I believe Jesus saved me" and yet we dont express that through helping others just like jesus did, then what good is our faith?

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I believe Ephesians 2:8-9 is referring to "Initial Salvation" and or how we are ultimately saved.
Ephesians 2:9 is in reference to man directed works because it is the kind of work that a person would boast about. Nobody boasts in themselves by a God directed work done through them. Jesus says "without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). Ephesians 2:10 switches gears and refers to God directed works because these are the kind of works that a believer is created unto Christ Jesus to do. These are the kind of works that follow after one is saved by God's grace through faith. We are ultimately saved by God's grace because we cannot do a good work to get clean again if we happen to stumble into a sin. We need to confess our sins in order to be forgiven of sin (1 John 1:9). This is God's grace.

Works of faith are the next step or stage in the salvation process. This is where James 2:17-19, and James 2:24 come in. This is the Sanctification process by God working in us to obey His commands within the New Testament. Paul is saying the process of Justification is how we are Initially and or Ultimately Saved (Which is by faith in Jesus Christ, i.e. God's grace, which is a gift). Paul is referring to how we are not saved by Works Alone Salvationism (without God's grace), and Paul is not referring to works of faith that must follow after we are saved by God's grace. But Paul agrees with James. Paul says a person can deny God by their works (Titus 1:16). Paul says that if we live after the flesh, we will die, and if we put to death the misdeeds of the body by the Spirit, we will live (Romans 8:13).

Anyways, this is probably the best video I have seen that has helped me to understand what Paul was talking about in Galatians, 1-2 Corinthians, Romans, and Ephesians.

Hammster said:

True or False

A Christian can earn favor with God by doing good works.

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When I read the introduction to the story line in the book of Job, God did something for him. He surrounded him with protection and wealth. It's a story that's inherently connected to what Job is doing with his life and is OK for God to favor him like this?

Hammster said:

I spoke out of turn. It wasn’t because of Noah’s righteousness that he found favor. Grace came before righteousness.

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No person in the Bible received God's favor while being disobedient and unrighteous.

LostMarbels said:

I am of the mindset that that favor and salvation are two differnt topics. You cannot earn salvation. I completely agree with that. But you can lay up treasure in heaven. You can receive 'crowns' as reward for actions in faith. There are 'ifs' and conditions in the bible that are not attributed to salvation. They are attributed to favor.

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I am of the opinion that favor and salvation are two different topics as well. I should have been more clear. What I am saying is... we can't be outside of God's favor and work our way into it. Likewise, we can't be outside of His family, and work our way into it. Once we are part of the family, we can walk in our calling, be obedient to His will... and there are rewards of some kind. I seriously doubt "crowns" is literal.... a crown is representative of authority and some will rule over 10, others over 100, others over 1000... and so forth... authority.

Hammster said:

True or False

A Christian can earn favor with God by doing good works.

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Doing good works does not lead to salvation by earning some form of merit. Rather, doing good works leads to salvation because it brings us into a closer relationship with a loving and all powerful God. By doing good works, in obedience to God, we allow God to work through us, becoming the faucet through which the cleansing water of the holy Spirit flows into the world.

Salvation isn't about merit. It's about being madly in love with an almighty God. I don't need to earn forgiveness. That was earned on the cross of Calvary. But I want more than just forgiveness. I want to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Grumman Tomcat said:

The Bible uses a term frequently called 'grace'. The definition of that is unmerited favor. Using the Amplied Bible here for purposes of definition:

Ephesians 1:2-4 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
2 May grace (God’s unmerited favor) and spiritual peace [which means peace with God and harmony, unity, and undisturbedness] be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!

4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.




No. Desiring God's favor and desiring to serve Him comes about as a result of belonging to God, and being washed by Jesus. When we love God our desire is to make Him happy. It is result of our salvic condition, not of compulsion.



The bible answers that question. The fruit is a dead giveaway concerning the condition of a person's heart.

Matthew 7:16-20 King James Version (KJV)
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

My point being is that individuals that think they have to work their way to heaven on their own get the cart before the horse. Humans don't have that ability. It all boils down to the motive behind the action. Is the person doing it to try to work his way to heaven and striving under his own power, or is that action the result of the condition of his heart--being redeemed. God's favor isn't dependent on works. Works do bring rewards, though.

And finally, we are not sinless until we get to Heaven. Jesus paid penalty for our sin.

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Only one problem, that is the exact opposite of the causal relationship which James assigns to works. Faith is made perfect by works, not the other way around. The entire purpose James had in writing the passage in James 2 is to answer the question of whether faith could SAVE a man who had no works. And the answer was no. He posited that the faith actually existed, but that it was imperfect and dead without works. Without works, faith is dead. It cannot save.

And we aren't working our way to heaven. We are working our way to becoming more like Christ and gaining a deeper and more intimate knowledge of God. That is what Eternal Life is. Eternal Life is much more than just mere forgiveness. Forgiveness is free. Salvation is a life.

sculleywr said:

Only one problem, that is the exact opposite of the causal relationship which James assigns to works. Faith is made perfect by works, not the other way around. The entire purpose James had in writing the passage in James 2 is to answer the question of whether faith could SAVE a man who had no works. And the answer was no. He posited that the faith actually existed, but that it was imperfect and dead without works. Without works, faith is dead. It cannot save.

And we aren't working our way to heaven. We are working our way to becoming more like Christ and gaining a deeper and more intimate knowledge of God. That is what Eternal Life is. Eternal Life is much more than just mere forgiveness. Forgiveness is free. Salvation is a life.

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Here's the problem James is dealing with:


Here's the solution and consequences for not repenting:

Then and only then does he discuss faith and deeds. What gets lost in these discussions, invariably, is the context and the gospel itself. You cannot understand what James is getting at if you don't stop to consider what works he is talking about.