Thanks to Martin Luther (and others who followed him in the 16^th century Reformation movement) good works have gotten a bad name in the religious world.  Believing that good works have any place at all in the salvation of the soul is viewed as being unorthodox, and anyone who teaches such is deemed a heretic.

Even though Paul is thought of as a champion among the “faith only” crowd, he promoted good works as much as any other writer in the New Testament.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The “we” here is referring to Christians.  We are God’s new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and Paul says that we have been created for good works.  As Christians, good works must be a part of our lives.  How do we know what a good work is?  Paul tells us.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
¹⁶  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Scriptures reveal God’s will to us, and any work that is a part of God’s will is a work in which we should be involved.  Paul said that we should walk in these good works that God has prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10).

It should also be noted that we should want others to see our good works.

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
¹⁶  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Why do we want others to see our good works?  It is not for them to praise us and give us glory, but so that they give glory to our heavenly Father.

When we see what good works do for us, and how they impact others around us, we should be thankful for the opportunities they present to us. Do they help us make it to heaven?  Absolutely!  Paul said we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Never view good works as a burden.  Instead, realize how blessed we are to be a part of the greatest cause in the world—the cause of Christ, and work with excitement and zeal.

Titus 2:14 (ESV)
¹⁴  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things