Dear Christian friends:

Tomorrow is Reformation Day, the day we look back almost 500 years and remember Martin Luther and his work to reform the church. The chief teaching which Martin Luther brought again to light is the teaching of justification by faith alone, without good works. That teaching had been lost or not emphasized as it should have been. We thank God for helping Luther to rediscover that precious teaching so that it is preached still today for the comfort and hope of trembling sinners.

But what about good works? Should we forget about doing good works? How do good works fit into the picture?

Our text tells us about good works and how they are related to faith in Jesus. We need to have the right knowledge and faith regarding good works.


First, we must know and believe that good works cannot make anyone righteous before God.

In Luther's day most church members trusted in their good works to become right with God, justified. And, of course, many people today trust in their own good works for their salvation. If you ask someone, even a church member, "Do you hope to go to heaven when you die?", he will answer, "Yes, I obey the Ten Commandments; I go to church almost every Sunday; I give some money to support the church regularly; I don't steal or cheat. I think I am good friend with God."

Many people are the same as this Pharisee in our text. He was a Jewish church member and very strict about obeying the laws. He went into the temple and prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not the same as other people, extortioners, unjust, adulterers or same as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." (verses 11-12) Jesus says that God refused to hear his prayer. Jesus says, "He prayed with himself." In his prayer he boasted and thought himself better than others. Jesus says that he was not justified before God. (verse 14)

God condemns this Pharisee and all who trust and boast in their own good works and refuse to accept Jesus for their Savior. Jesus' saving work is wasted on them, is for nothing to them.

And although they seem good and holy persons before men in this world, they are no good sinners before God in heaven. All their good works are "as an unclean thing and same as filthy, smelling rags." (Isaiah 64:6)

We must not trust in own good works to be justified. That is the road that leads to hell and eternal punishment!

Trust only in Jesus, His righteousness and His death on the cross! Only by faith in Jesus is anyone justified before God.

True Christians humbly confess that they are sinners before God and need His mercy and forgiveness. They don't boast about their good works. They are not proud and self-righteous. They don't think themselves better than others.

They don't look down on others. They are kind and show mercy and patience to other sinners. They forgive those who trespass against them.

They are like the publican in our lesson. Jesus says that "He standing afar off, would not look up to heaven, but beat upon his chest, saying, "God pity me a sinner." (verse 13) Jesus adds, "This man went down to his house justified." (verse 14) God listened to his prayer and forgave his sins. He accepted Jesus for his Savior. Same, we must humbly confess ourselves sinners and trust in Jesus for forgiveness of our sins. Then we are justified before God.

One night a famous minister in England was called to minister to a dying woman in the poorest section of the city. He sat down beside the woman and tried to comfort her. He told her to have courage, patience and hope, the same things he had been preaching in his church for many years. The woman interrupted him, saying, "All that's true, but it's not for a bad woman like me. Just tell me how a poor sinner can get in." Then the minister remembered what he had never forgotten, although he had not preached it in his church for many years. He then told her what the Bible says about forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus' death on the cross. Later the minister said, "I got her in, and more, I got myself in." Are you "in"?

Good works can't make us right with God, only faith in Jesus can do that. Well, what about good works? Should we do good works? Yes, of course, they are a gift of God's grace to the Christian, a fruit of his faith. Anyone who really believes in Jesus for his Savior, no more desires to sin.

He is a new person, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10) Whatever a Christian does in faith, although not perfect, is good and pleases God. A Christian does good works with love and thanks to God, _ because God first loved him. (1 John 4:19)

One day two men met on the street. Before they had been friends. But one became a Christian and the other remained an unbeliever. They greeted each other and visited for a short time. Then the unbeliever said to the Christian, "Now you can't have any fun like before. You have to go to church; you have to be good; you have to give money for church and missions." The Christian replied, "You are wrong, I don't have to; I want to!"

Christians want to do good works. Non-Christians do good, if they do any, because they feel forced, or fear arrest or shame.

It is important for us to remember this today as we estimate our giving for next year when the Pony Express saddlebag is brought to our homes.

Don't misunderstand about tithing like the Pharisee did. Tithing or giving money to church does not justify you before God. Only faith in Jesus justifies you. You must not give for that reason. You should not feel trapped or forced to give, but tithe or give because you want to, because you love God who has first loved you by giving His Son to die for you upon the cross. The Bible says, "Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7) Each one of us should write our estimate of giving for 1984 with a thankful, cheerful heart. Then our tithing will please God.

Good works cannot justify us; only faith in Jesus can do that. But we do many good works now with a happy heart because Jesus lives in our heart and the Holy Spirit leads us! (Galatians 2:20)

Amen.