Westminster Confession of Faith

Chapter XVI

Of Good Works

1
Good works are only such as God hath commanded in His holy Word,306 and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention.307
306
Romans 12:2Micah 6:8Hebrews 13:21
307
Matthew 15:91 Samuel 15:21-23John 16:21 Peter 1:18Isaiah 29:13Romans 10:2
2
These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith:308 and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,309 strengthen their assurance,310 edify their brethren,311 adorn the profession of the Gospel,312 stop the mouths of the adversaries,313 and glorify God,314 whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto;315 that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.316
308
James 2:18James 2:22
309
Psalm 116:12-131 Peter 2:9
310
1 John 2:31 John 2:52 Peter 1:5-10
311
2 Corinthians 9:2Matthew 5:16
312
Titus 2:5Titus 2:9-121 Timothy 6:1
313
1 Peter 2:15
314
1 Peter 2:12Philippians 1:11John 15:8
315
Ephesians 2:10
316
Romans 6:22
3
Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ.317 And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of His good pleasure:318 yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.319
317
Ezekiel 36:26-27John 15:4-5
318
Philippians 2:13Philippians 4:132 Corinthians 3:5
319
2 Timothy 1:6Jude 20-21Acts 26:6-7Isaiah 64:72 Peter 1:10-112 Peter 1:52 Peter 1:3Hebrews 6:11-12Philippians 2:12
4
They, who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.320
320
Luke 17:10Nehemiah 13:22Job 9:2-3Galatians 5:17
5
We cannot, by our best works, merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins,321 but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants;322 and because, as they are good, they proceed from His Spirit;323 and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment.324
321
Job 35:7-8Job 22:2-3Psalm 16:2Romans 8:18Titus 3:5-7Romans 4:6Romans 4:4Romans 4:2Romans 3:20Ephesians 2:8-9
322
Luke 17:10
323
Galatians 5:22-23
324
Isaiah 64:6Galatians 5:17Romans 7:15Romans 7:18Psalm 143:2Psalm 130:3
6
Yet notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in Him,325 not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreproveable in God's sight;326 but that He, looking upon them in His Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.327
325
1 Peter 2:5Hebrews 11:4Genesis 4:4Exodus 28:38Ephesians 1:6
326
Job 9:20Psalm 143:2
327
Hebrews 13:20-212 Corinthians 8:12Hebrews 6:10Matthew 25:21Matthew 25:23
7
Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others:328 yet, because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith;329 nor are done in a right manner according to the Word;330 nor to a right end, the glory of God;331 they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God.332 And yet, their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God.333
328
2 Kings 10:30-31Philippians 1:18Philippians 1:15-161 Kings 21:271 Kings 21:29
329
Genesis 4:5Hebrews 11:4Hebrews 11:6
330
1 Corinthians 13:3Isaiah 1:12
331
Matthew 6:2Matthew 6:5Matthew 6:16
332
Titus 1:15Titus 3:5Romans 9:16Hosea 1:4Amos 5:22-23Haggai 2:14
333
Psalm 14:4Psalm 36:3Job 21:14-15Matthew 25:41-43Matthew 25:45Matthew 23:23
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