Article 29
The law, all those scriptures which tell us what to do, is what God has a right to expect of his creatures. Because of sin, fallen mankind is not able to meet these requirements. God, in his mercy, has provided mankind a substitute who has met the highest requirements FOR US. The gospel tells us that all the " do's " have been " done" by him FOR US.
Why then are, believers
to develop Christian character and to do good works? It is not to open
wider Heavens Gate so we might get in. This has been done by Jesus. We
are to develop character and do good works for the benefit of others.
" Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
father which is in heaven. "Matt. 5:16
Why do we do good works? To bring God to the attention of others and not to cause Him to think more highly of us and open Heaven's Gate. God has the highest regard for Jesus and if we are in Him, then God has the highest regard for us, not because of what we have done, but because of what he has done. The true motivation for good works will always be because of what God has done FOR US in the Person of His Son. Good works should be a thank offering to God, and never to gain God's approval of ourselves.
God is pleased when
our daily life causes others to praise His name. Another reason we are
so strongly admonished in scripture to develop Christian character and
do good works - and God's people will live righteous lives- is found in
the statement that the law-things we are to do-is our school master to
bring us to Christ, Galatians 3:24.
As we attempt to "do" those things, which we are required to do, we always fall short of the mark. The closer we come to Christ, the more faulty we appear in our own eyes; causing us to fully depend on that which has been " done" for us in the person of God's dear Son. Our acceptance before God must ever be based on what has taken place outside of us, and never what has taken place in us.
Unfortunately the human "heart is deceitful above all things..." [Jeremiah 17:9] and capable of convincing us that we are righteous or that some other church leader is righteous.
Before men God's people
are to appear righteous, but before God there is none righteous, no not
one. .