Matthew 5:13-16 Good Works

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.   "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. [Matthew 5:13‭-‬16 NASB]

On the surface, there seems to be a paradox in the Scriptures. All of our good works are not good enough to please God, yet God is pleased with our good works.

The difference is intent. What is motivating our good works?

There are a lot of people who believe that God's judgement is like that of a judge holding scales. If their good deeds outnumber their bad, then they will go to Heaven. But that is not how it works.

We are told in James, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty." [James 2:10-12 NASB]

The scales don't balance. Only one transgression means you are guilty of all. And you can't go through life without sin, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," [Romans 3:23 NASB]

We know for sure that salvation is by grace through faith. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." [Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB] But read on to the next verse: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." [Ephesians 2:10 NASB]

So then, good works are not a condition of salvation, but a result.

James tells us that good works are the evidence of our faith, "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”" [James 2:15-18 NASB]

Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." [Matthew 5:16] We should all find our place in His kingdom, and do works that reflect His grace.