It is often taught that Jesus obeyed the law perfectly because we cannot. Then we are told that when we believe in Jesus for eternal life, He give us His righteousness. He has such an infinite supply of righteousness, that He can pour some of it into us so that we also become righteous.
We are told time and time again that by faith, the perfect righteousness of Jesus can be credited to our account.
I am certain that if you searched this blog, you would find that I have written something similar along these lines in numerous places in the past.
But I have recently begun to question the whole idea. There is just something about this “crediting to our account” that doesn’t sit well with me…
So please forgive me if I do a little theological rambling in this post. I am throwing this out there because I am wondering about it, and would like your input. I am not sharing what I believe… I am sharing what I think. Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below!
The Ocean of Good Works from the Past
I recently taught Luke 3:7-14 again. In that passage, John the Baptist tells his Jewish audience to not say, “We have Abraham as our Father” (Luke 3:8). I taught that this was because of how the Jewish people understood themselves as the elect nation of God, as the chosen people of Israel. The idea was that God needed the people of Israel to accomplish His will in the world, and so God would never destroy the Hebrew people, because then He would be stuck.
I went on to argue that some branches of Judaism took this idea to an extreme, saying that some of the forefathers of Israel were such good people, that they had more “good works” than they needed, and so their good works could be credited to the account of later Hebrew people who came up short in personal righteousness. In other words, men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and the prophets had created this ocean of good works, or this storehouse of righteousness. And when any Jewish person sinned a little too much, God would cancel out that sin with a little bit of good works from the ocean of righteousness that came from the Israelite forefathers.
Some Christians today may scoff at this idea, but others might say, “Hey, that sounds eerily similar to what we believe and teach in our church!” In fact, one teaching among some Catholics have taught that certain Saints of the past have stored up such great masses of good works, that if we pray to them, or perform some sort of penance, then the Catholic church can “draw on” the good works of the saints of the past and credit them to certain people today.
This idea was one of the things that led Martin Luther to write his 95 Theses and nail them to the church door in Wittenburg. Certain Catholics were selling indulgences, whereby a person could donate a certain amount of money to the Catholic church, and in exchange, the church would credit some good works to that person to cover over their sin. This, of course, led to great abuse, and so Martin Luther wrote up his 95 Theses… and the rest is history.
Protestants continue to scoff at the idea that giving certain amount of money, or saying certain prayers can credit to our account the righteous good works of any person in the past…. except that…. this is pretty close to exactly what we believe about Jesus.
The Good Works of Jesus Credited to Our Account?
While I don’t know if it is ever stated exactly this way, it sometimes seems that we teach that Jesus kept the law perfectly so that as the only perfect person, He could credit His righteousness to our account.
Doesn’t this sound similar to what was discussed above? That there is this ocean of good works that is available for withdrawals by people who have the proper access codes?
If this view is correct, then it seems that the only real difference between the various theologies is in the source of the ocean of good works. In some theological ideas, the ocean of good works comes from great men and women of the past, either the Israelite forefathers or the Christian saints, whereas in common “Evangelical” theology, the source of good works is Jesus Himself.
If this is the way it is, I don’t really have too much of a problem with it. Everything is centered on Jesus Christ, and all we have comes through Him.
But I just got to wondering….
What if the real issue isn’t good works at all?
What if the primary goal of Jesus was not to store up for us an ocean of good works for us to draw upon, to fill up what is lacking in our holiness, but rather, to show us once and for all that it is not about good works at all?
What if the point of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection was not to give us the “correct” ocean of good works to draw upon, but rather, to show us that God isn’t concerned about our amount of good works?
Let me approach the question another way.
All around the world and throughout time, humankind has thought that God (or the gods) is angry with us. We think we need to appease him (or them) by doing good works. So, for example, a child dies from sickness, and we think, “God is punishing me for something. I probably didn’t thank him enough for the good harvest last year. I need to make God happy again. What can I do? Maybe if I give him my cow, he won’t take my other children or burn my house down.”
This is the basis of ALL religion. Religion is an attempt by humanity to make things right with God. We think God is angry at us for some sort of failure, and if we do something good or heroic or sacrificial, God will be happy with us again. We are not always sure what ticked him off, but the priests and clerics are happy to make suggestions, and the priests and clerics are also happy to make suggestions on what will get us back into God’s good graces (Usually this requires giving things to the priests, which they call “Giving to God.” But I digress…)
You see, one of the central teachings of all religions is this idea that we need a certain level of good works to keep God happy, and if we don’t maintain this level of good works, we either have to start doing better, or obtain the good works from someone else (who does good works for us). If we fail, well, God will squash us like a bug. (Unless we are really wicked and evil, then we seem to get rich, famous, and powerful. But again, I digress…)
If Jesus came to teach that we do actually need good works to get God to love us, then Jesus is actually supporting the central idea of human religion. But over and over and over, Jesus seems to teach the exact opposite. Time and time again, Jesus attacks religion as being contrary to God and actually leading people away from God, into deeper bondage and darkness.
When Jesus came along, it seems that His central message was this: “You have completely misunderstood God! He loves you just as you are! He loves sinners. He forgives sinners. He is gracious and merciful toward sinners. You don’t need more good works or better good works to get on God’s good side; you are already on God’s good side! And I’m here to prove it to you!”
Could it be that our primary problem is not a lack of good works, but simply a failure to truly understand God’s infinite love?
I think so.
The reason God doesn’t want us to sin any more is NOT because sin gets in the way of His love for us. It is not as if God is saying, “Darn! I really wanted to love you, but you just had that lustful thought, so now I am going to have to give you cancer. And if you keep it up, well, off to eternal suffering in hell with you! But I really wish you had been a better person so I could love you.”
I am sorry, but that view of God seems a bit…. sadistic. Doesn’t it?
I thin it was Anselm who said that God is so holy and takes sin so seriously, that if He told someone to turn right, and they turned left, God would be fully justified to send that disobedient person to hell for all eternity because they turned the wrong way.
Seriously?
Doesn’t this make God more like an egotistical, petulant bully who wants to get his own way no matter what, and when someone crosses him in the least little way, he is going to smack them down so hard they never think of doing it again?
It is no wonder that many people have trouble worshiping a God like this!
Thankfully, one of the reasons Jesus came was to show us that this is NOT what God is like! If Jesus is right, God is not a God of religion.
So…. I Don’t Need Good Works?
Ah…. now we are starting to ask the right questions. I firmly believe that if your theology does not lead you to ask this question, you have really bad theology. If you do not have a theology which causes people to say, “So…. I can just go sin all I want?” then your theology is not strong enough on grace, forgiveness, love, and mercy.
So here’s the thing about good works, grace, and God’s love.
Technically, yes, you can go sin all you want, and God will still love you. Sin and good works have nothing whatsoever to do with God’s love for us. He loves us infinitely and completely, no matter what. We don’t need more good works or better good works for God to love us.
But God does want us to stop sinning. It is true that God hates sin. But He doesn’t hate people. He doesn’t even hate sinners. He loves all people–even sinners.
The reason God (and Jesus) are concerned about sin, is not because sin will lessen God’s love for us. No, God is concerned about sin because He loves us! Sin, you see, has nothing to do with God’s love. Good works have nothing to do with getting back into God’s good graces.
No, the reason God hates sin is because of how much sin damages and harms His children. Sin hurts us! That is why He doesn’t want us to sin! That is why He warns us against sin and pleads with us to turn away from it.
Like any good parent, God love us so much that He does not want to see us get hurt, and nothing hurts us more than sin. Sin brings forth death. It leads to damaged relationships, broken lives, and ruined friendships. It leads to bankruptcy, addiction, and imprisonment. It can lead to bloodshed, horror, war, famine, pestilence, and disease. God loves us so much, He wants to deliver us from all these things, and one way He does this is by pleading with us to turn away from the path we are on, and walk with Him in a life of love, joy, and peace.
And the life of Jesus resembled what a life lived this way looks like. Jesus didn’t do what He did so that He could store up a big ocean of good works to make available to all people who believe in Him. No, Jesus did what He did to show us what God is truly like, and what humanity can also be truly like.
We don’t need more good works to make God love us, and if we have less good works, God will not love us less. The life and ministry of Jesus had nothing to do with His good works or our lack of them.
No, Jesus wanted to show us that God loves us completely, and that the reason God doesn’t want us to sin (especially not to sin religiously, which is how most Christians actually sin… but again, I digress), is because sin hurts us and as a loving Father, God does not want to see us get hurt.
So what do you think? Did Jesus create a big ocean of good works which believers can draw on? Or, as I have suggested above, maybe the life of Jesus had nothing whatsoever to do with good works at all. Weigh in below!
Excellent, Jeremy! Thank you!!
I no longer wonder or argue about “Good Works” before or after salvation. I don’t because my reading of the New Covenant says that you are right on “the mark”!
BTW, if you or any of your readershave yet to read Bruxy Cavey’s book, “The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus” I recommend it. It’s reviewed at http://goo.gl/KYUgiF.
Blessings, Gary in Toronto
I have Bruxy’s book in my “Must Read NOW” pile, but have not read it yet. Now that you have recommended it, I will have to make sure I read it soon.
You know, I actually don’t think I’ve ever heard it articulated that way. That is, I’ve never heard someone say that Jesus’ good works are credited to our account. I’ve always heard and believed that his righteousness is credited to our account, but not his good works.
I agree on this, never heard it preach that way but yes have heard about righteousness that is credited to our account.
Yeah, maybe I created a problem that didn’t exist just so I could argue against it.
Would we say then that the righteousness of Jesus does not come from His good works, but simply from His being? He is righteous because He is God?
Yes, I believe I would agree with that, Jeremy. Jesus’ righteousness stems from the fact that he is God.
I don’t doubt, however, that there are those who describe it the way you did in the post.
What I’ve been under the impression about God and why he hates sin is mainly due to the fact that he cannot look upon sin as a pure and holy being therefore, as sinners, we are completely separated from God. That is, until Jesus came and paid for our sins and thus reconciled all of man kind past, present and future. The fact that sin has consequences and hurts us is more of a side effect rather than it being the main reason we have been credited with Christ’s righteousness.
I feel that some believers still have a hard time with the fact that, through Christ, we are fully accepted by God despite any of our failures, short-comings, or faults. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the worldly way of thinking that you need to perform a certain way in order to be pleasing to God. He is so caring that it is only by His grace we are acceptable to Him and because of this the need to do good works turns from trying to gain value in the eyes of other people or God and turns into wanting to bring Him praise.
For the past 2 months I’ve been attending a class where we have been studying a book titled The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee and I feel that it is a great book for anyone dealing with issues such as fear of rejection, failure, shame and the fear of punishment and how those issues can be overcome when you apply the truth of Jesus’ work on the cross to everyday life. I mention this because I feel that the overall theme of this book is exactly what you are discussing in this post so if anyone reading this post wants to learn more I suggesting looking into the book.
“This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” (Col. 1:21-22)
Bryan,
I wrote a post a while back about that idea that God cannot look up on sin. It is here: https://redeeminggod.com/god-cannot-look-upon-sin/
I think I have that book by McGee. It is good?
This is right on:
“the reason God hates sin is because of how much sin damages and
harms His children. Sin hurts us! That is why He doesn’t want us to sin! That is why He warns us against sin and pleads with us to turn away from it.”
Works are not the ingredients of being saved – they are the product!
On a similar post on another site, I submitted the following – my understanding of the whole grace, faith, works discussion. It goes like this:
1 – God exists
2 – God desires an expression of His glory
3 – God creates mankind
4 – God loves His creation
5 – Mankind rebels against God
6 – God implements plan to redeem mankind (a demonstration of pure GRACE) back into communion with Him, not because of our worthiness, but only for His glory.
7 – Each individual potentially understands their need for a Savior and decides whether to accept His grace (through their sincere FAITH in Christ; being born again)”
8 – Individual with sincere faith experiences relationship / communion with God, thereby growing in faith and love in their Creator and Savior, and growing more holy as God works within the person (sanctification). If sincere faith is not present, go back to #7.
9 – The fruit of sincere faith and growing communion with God is a change in behavior and actions (WORKS; allowing Christ to work through you; therefore faith without works is dead (not sincere) – go back to #7).
10 – #8-9 result in the existence and demonstration (outward expression) of the fruit of the Spirit and true communion with God, (fulfilling #2).
What do you think Jeremy?
It is kind-of an “ordu salutis.”
Overall, I am not opposed to it. I might seek some clarification on points 8-10, and what would happen if someone claimed to have #7, but didn’t seem to have #8-10. On a related note, how much fruit is enough? Who gets to decide which good works are the right ones, and adequate?
Thanks for the response. The outline is just meant to break the concepts down for my own clarity, and I’m hopeful that it is of value to others. That’s all.
In response to your question: “what would happen if someone claimed to have #7, but doesn’t seem to have #8-10”, I’d propose the following:
– As an individual looking at my own life, if I observe #8 (communion) isn’t present (my prayer life isn’t fruitful, I’m not thirsting for the word, etc), I need to take an honest look at #7 – do I really understand my need for a Savior and did I really accept His grace.
– If the relationship is being demonstrated, but #9 isn’t apparent, it may be a matter of time, but usually comes down to faith. Faith is developed over time; through progressive decisions we grow to trust in Him more fully. “Works” is a commonly misunderstood word. “Works” is not necessarily grand results and in the public eye. “Works” is simply faith put into action. “Faith without works is dead” meaning if you say you have faith, then show me what you’ve DONE with that faith. Going to church is a type of “works”, as well as any degree of contribution toward the health and productivity of the body of Christ, as long as it’s done with the right heart: longing for closer relationship with Christ. “Works” is a new pattern of behavior – a new set of choices replacing the old – which will bear fruit if done in faith and humility.
In response to “how much fruit is enough? Who gets to decide which good works are the right ones, and adequate?”, I’d propose the following:
– There is no such thing as “enough” fruit. We’re saved by our faith, and through His grace, period. One piece of the right fruit is better than none, and more fruit will come to bear through consistent practice of #8 and #9.
– God “decides” the merit and the heart of the works. If the “works” are done in heart, mind, and soul in humility and faith in His word and promises, they are the right ones and adequate. I don’t think there’s a magic number of works God is looking for. He’s interested in our salvation as early as possible in life, and then as much “works” (acts of faith) as possible for the remainder of our life.
I appreciate your challenging the ideas. I think this is an area many Christians suffer from misunderstanding with. I am simply looking for ways to add value to the body, and thought this (or some evolution of it) may be of help.
I’m quite late on posting on this old blog, but one thing I noticed is the lack of any scripture references. Isn’t it true that we should always square what we believe with scripture?
I just discovered this particular blog because of a search I conducted 🙂 Jesus, as our example, never took credit for anything He ever said or did…but instead gave all credit to the Father….I wondered what others had to say about this…and this blog was one of my choices. It’s an interesting view…and so are those that replied…my experience is…we don’t get to give ourselves credit for anything either…it is by faith, we receive knowledge…and wisdom…and the ability to love, etc. And He is even the One who grows the little bit of faith we begin to have in Him. We are loved…beyond understanding…therefore we exist and continue to exist…and even thrive because He made a way out of That love. I have experienced ‘rebirth’ and it is something I really didn’t know was real…(I was religious) until It changed me …has changed everything about me…Itself. I’m not the One who has done this…in fact, I would not/have understood before…that it is He, in fact, who sanctifies us. I chose to believe whole heartedly that God was who He said He was\is\ and He has since proved just how alive and real He is. I do nothing…Christ in me performs anything righteous that occurs in me.