Scripture calls upon Christians to do good. Jesus depicts the last judgement as an assessment of each person's good works towards "the least of [the Lord's] brothers". And scripture insists that people will give an account of the deeds they did in the flesh. Scripture also suggests that those who do good will receive a reward for doing so and that they can expect to hear "well done you good and faithful servant" at the last judgement.
Given these statements in the scriptures do you think that your good deeds have merit?
2 Cor 5:10 we are judged strictly based on works according to 2 Cor 5. Not because works save -- but because fruit indicates the kind of tree that it is.
Matt 7...
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn
bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So
every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20
So then, you will know them by their fruits.
21 “
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘
Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven
will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them,
‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
24 “Therefore,
everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
=================
Now wonder Paul says this in
Romans 2
13 for
it is not the hearers of the Law
who are righteous before God, but
the doers of the Law who will be justified.
...
25 For indeed circumcision is of value
if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised,
if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter
of the Law and circumcision are a violator of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and
circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.
1 Cor 7:19 "
what matters is KEEPING the Commandments of God"
=================
Those statements are the view of the "
Saved by grace through faith - not of works lest anyone should boast" -- NT writers.
And that is why the "Baptist Confession of Faith" sectn 19 reads as it does.
It is why the "Westminster Confession of Faith" sectn 19 - reads as it does.
