A recurring theme in our Bible Study group is the concept of God’s grace. I define “grace” as getting something we haven’t earned and/or don’t deserve, as opposed to “mercy” which is when we don’t suffer punishments or consequences we do deserve. I often cite Paul’s letter of encouragement to the church in Ephesus when he writes, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God” (Ephesians 2:8 NLT). Since doing good doesn’t earn us any brownie points to get accepted for eternal life, the question often arises, “What’s the point of doing good deeds?”
In a world that so often measures worth by achievements, likes, and accomplishments, it’s easy to slip into thinking that our actions somehow earn God’s favor. But the gospel of grace tells a different story—one rooted in God’s incredible love and our response to it. From that perspective, we can confidently affirm that salvation is available to all through God’s prevenient grace, received by faith, and not by human effort. Good works can’t, won’t, and don’t save us; instead they flow from the rich new life Jesus has already given us.
I’ve heard many people wonder: Do we do good works to atone for sins after being saved? Are religious activities a way to “make up” for our failures? Will we one day stand before God hoping our positive deeds outweigh the bad ones? The Bible answers with a resounding no. These ideas distort the beauty of the cross. Jesus alone is the sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His blood, shed once for all, fully cleanses us. God’s requirement is simple and profound: repent and believe in Jesus Christ. The only thing left for the sinner is to accept the finished work of Christ on the cross. If that was good enough for the thief on the cross next to Jesus, it’s good enough for all of us.
Continuing in the letter to the Ephesians, “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God” (Ephesians 2:4-8 NLT). Truly powerful words! We were spiritually dead, yet God’s grace, His mercy and His love made us alive in Christ. Salvation is His gift—nothing we can boast about or earn.
This sets the foundation for understanding good deeds. Paul emphasizes that our salvation is entirely by grace through faith. But then he continues, our good works are not the root of our salvation but the fruit. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). Notice the order here. We are not saved by good works; we are saved for them. God, in His loving purpose, designed that those who respond to His grace would live lives that reflect His character. Coupled with our free will, we have the freedom to respond to God’s call, and once we do, His Spirit empowers us to walk in obedience.
This results in incredible freedom. You don’t have to strive to earn what Christ has already accomplished. Instead, good works become a natural overflow of a heart transformed by grace. Paul also declares, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). And he personalizes this in Galatians: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 NLT). God makes us new creations. Our old nature, enslaved to sin, could never produce anything truly pleasing to a holy God. But now, with Christ living in us, we have a new nature—one that longs to honor our Creator through daily trust and obedience.
In one of his sermons, C.H. Spurgeon captured this beautifully: “Because God is gracious, therefore sinful men are forgiven, converted, purified and saved. It is not because of anything in them, or that ever can be in them, that they are saved; but because of the boundless love, goodness, pity, compassion, mercy and grace of God.” This is the heart of the gospel. Faith plus works does not equal justification. Justification comes by grace through faith alone. Good works follow as evidence of genuine faith. They are the necessary outcome of being saved by grace, demonstrating that our faith is alive and active.
We should think about it practically as we navigate our careers, relationships, and cultural pressures. Doing good works—serving others, pursuing justice, living with integrity—is not about checking boxes for heaven. It’s about expressing gratitude for the salvation we’ve already received. God prepared these opportunities beforehand so that we might live in them and glorify Him through them. It’s what Jesus told us to do, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16 NLT)
When you volunteer at a local shelter, mentor a younger believer, or stand up for what’s right at work, you’re living as God’s masterpiece. Your new nature, with Christ living in you, reproduces His character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more.
Eliminating good works from the Christian life would be tragic, as it contradicts the very purpose of our redemption. True spiritual regeneration always produces visible fruit. But we must guard our motives. Are we serving to impress others or earn points with God? Or are we serving because we’ve been overwhelmed by His mercy? The former leads to burnout and legalism; the latter leads to joyful obedience.
I encourage you to embrace your identity as God’s workmanship. Let His grace propel you into a life of meaningful action. Good works are not optional for the believer, but they are never the means of earning salvation. They are the beautiful evidence that you belong to Christ. Let your light shine through acts of love that glorify your Father in heaven.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org
Appendix: Scripture References (all from NLT)
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Romans 1:17 — ‘This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”’
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Ephesians 2:4-8 – “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”
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Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
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2 Corinthians 5:17 – “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
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Galatians 2:20 – “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
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Matthew 5:16 — “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”