The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith

Then & Now · 17 of 42

16. Of Good Works

16. Of Good Works

Paragraph 1: Good works are only such as God hath commanded in His Holy Word,264 and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intentions.265

  1. 264. Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21
  2. 265. Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13

Paragraph 1: Good works are only such as God hath commanded in His Holy Word,264 and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intentions.265

  1. 264. Mic 6:8; Heb 13:21
  2. 265. Matt 15:9; Isa 29:13

Paragraph 2: These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith;266 and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,267 strengthen their assurance,268 edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel,269 stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God,270 whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,271 that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.272

  1. 266. James 2:18, 22
  2. 267. Psalm 116:12–13
  3. 268. 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5–11
  4. 269. Matthew 5:16
  5. 270. 1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11
  6. 271. Ephesians 2:10
  7. 272. Romans 6:22

Paragraph 2: These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith;266 and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,267 strengthen their assurance,268 edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel,269 stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God,270 whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,271 that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.272

  1. 266. Jas 2:18, 22
  2. 267. Ps 116:12–13
  3. 268. 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Pet 1:5–11
  4. 269. Matt 5:16
  5. 270. 1 Tim 6:1; 1 Pet 2:15; Phil 1:11
  6. 271. Eph 2:10
  7. 272. Rom 6:22

Paragraph 3: Their ability to do good works is not all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ;273 and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them and to will and to do of His good pleasure;274 yet they are 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.275

  1. 273. John 15:4–5
  2. 274. 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13
  3. 275. Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11–12; Isaiah 64:7

Paragraph 3: Their ability to do good works is not all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ;273 and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them and to will and to do of His good pleasure;274 yet they are 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.275

  1. 273. John 15:4–5
  2. 274. 2 Cor 3:5; Phil 2:13
  3. 275. Phil 2:12; Heb 6:11–12; Isa 64:7

Paragraph 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.276

  1. 276. Job 9:2–3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10

Paragraph 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.276

  1. 276. Job 9:2–3; Gal 5:17; Luke 17:10

Paragraph 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;277 but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed from His Spirit,278 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 judgement.279

  1. 277. Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 4:6
  2. 278. Galatians 5:22–23
  3. 279. Isaiah 64:6; Psalm 43:2

Paragraph 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;277 but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed from His Spirit,278 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 judgement.279

  1. 277. Rom 3:20; Eph 2:8–9; Rom 4:6
  2. 278. Gal 5:22–23
  3. 279. Isa 64:6; Ps 43:2

Paragraph 6: Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in Him;280 not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God’s sight, 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 imperfection.281

  1. 280. Ephesians 1:5; 1 Peter 1:5
  2. 281. Matthew 25:21, 23; Hebrews 6:10

Paragraph 6: Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in Him;280 not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God’s sight, 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 imperfection.281

  1. 280. Eph 1:5; 1 Pet 1:5
  2. 281. Matt 25:21, 23; Heb 6:10

Paragraph 7: Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and to others;282 yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith,283 nor are done in a right manner according to the Word,284 nor to a right end, the glory of God,285 they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive the grace from God,286 and yet their neglect for them is more sinful and displeasing to God.287

  1. 282. 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29
  2. 283. Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6
  3. 284. 1 Corinthians 13:1
  4. 285. Matthew 6:2, 5
  5. 286. Amos 5:21–22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5
  6. 287. Job 21:14–15; Matthew 25:41–43

Paragraph 7: Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and to others;282 yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith,283 nor are done in a right manner according to the Word,284 nor to a right end, the glory of God,285 they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive the grace from God,286 and yet their neglect for them is more sinful and displeasing to God.287

  1. 282. 2 Kgs 10:30; 1 Kgs 21:27, 29
  2. 283. Gen 4:5; Heb 11:4, 6
  3. 284. 1 Cor 13:1
  4. 285. Matt 6:2, 5
  5. 286. Amos 5:21–22; Rom 9:16; Titus 3:5
  6. 287. Job 21:14–15; Matt 25:41–43