Believing in Jesus and doing good works are so closely related that the Bible often uses them interchangeably. So much so that it would not be wrong to think, “Christians are saved by good works.” What that means is not that Christians are saved because they have done good works, but because they have faith and that faith is evidencing itself through good works.

[Jesus said] “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24

So, from this verse, it’s clear that we are saved by believing in Jesus. This we knew. But a few verses later, Jesus says, “.. an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs… come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5:29

In verse 24, He says those who believe in Jesus will be saved. In verse 29, those who have done good will be saved. To Jesus, those who are saved WILL do good works. It is incomprehensible that those who believe in Jesus will continue to do evil.

Well, what are those good works that are the evidence of our faith in Jesus?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Gal. 5:22

Is your life full of these fruit? Are you growing in these fruit? Are you doing good works? Do you want your life to be full of these?

PH