Westminster Confession of 1646: Of Good Works

Chapter XVI. Of Good Works

I. Good works are only such as God hath commanded in His holy Word, (Mic 6:8; Rom 12:2; Hbr 13:21); and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention, (Mat 15:9; Isa 29:13; 1Pe 1:18; Rom 10:2; Jhn 16:2; 1Sa 15:21-23).

II. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith, (Jam 2:18, 22): and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, (Psa 116:12-13; 1Pe 2:9); strengthen their assurance, (1Jo 2:3, 5; 2Pe 1:5-10); edify their brethren, (2Co 9:2; Mat 5:16); adorn the profession of the Gospel, (Tts 2:5, 9-12; 1Ti 6:1); stop the mouths of the adversaries, (1Pe 2:15); and glorify God, (1Pe 2:12; Phl 1:11; Jhn 15:8); whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus unto, (Eph 2:10); that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life, (Rom 6:22).

III. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ, (Jhn 15:4-6; Eze 36:26-27). And that they may be enabled thereunto, beside 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, (Phl 2:13; Phl 4:13; 2Co 3:5): 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, (Phl 2:12; Hbr 6:11-12; 2Pe 1:3, 5, 10-11; Isa 64:7; 2Ti 1:6; Act 26:6-7; Jud 20-21).

IV. 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, (Luk 17:10; Neh 13:22; Job 9:2-3; Gal 5:17).

V. 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, (Rom 3:20; Rom 4:2, 4, 6; Eph 2:8-9; Tts 3:5-7; Rom 8:18; Psa 16:2; Job 22:2-3; Job 35:7-8); but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants, (Luk 17:10): and because, as they are good, they proceed from His Spirit, (Gal 5:22-23); 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, (Isa 64:6; Gal 5:17; Rom 7:15, 18; Psa 143:2; Psa 130:3).

VI. Notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in Him, (Eph 1:6; 1Pe 2:5; Exd 28:38; Gen 4:4; Hbr 11:4); not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in God’s sight, (Job 9:20; Psa 143:2); 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, (Hbr 13:20-21; 2Co 8:12; Hbr 6:10; Mat 25:21, 23).

VII. 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, (2Ki 10:30-31; 1Ki 21:27, 29; Phl 1:15-16, 18): yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith, (Gen 4:5; Hbr 11:4, 6); nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word, (1Co 13:3; Isa 1:12); nor to a right end, the glory of God, (Mat 6:2, 5, 16); they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God, (Hag 2:14; Tts 1:15 Amo 5:21-22; Hos 1:4; Rom 9:16; Tts 3:15): and yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God, (Psa 14:4; Psa 36:3; Job 21:14-15; Mat 25:41-43, 45; Mat 23:3).