Luther on Good Works
Ephesians 2:10
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Luther taught that the Christian life had two dimensions, the first was faith, the second was striving to live a good and devout life, to do what is right, to do “good works”. Faith comes first, and is the more essential of the two. If people adore good works, Luther believed, then they would be getting their priorities backward and diminish the power and value of faith altogether!
Luther knew this. And while we may want to argue the point, I think he was right. People both inside and outside the church tend to value good works over faith. Why? For two reasons. First because when push comes to shove, we think God keeps track of the things we do, or don’t do, and holds them against us or gives us credit for them when the great heavenly judgement days arrives. So apparently God is a bean counter And second because to acknowledge faith as a gift, means that God acts first, and we are not in control And who wants that?
As Luther often said, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God. Good works are about what we do, but faith is about what God does. Faith is a gift that comes through the Holy Spirit to us, a gift that levels the ground, plows the furrows, then plants the seeds from which good works spring. Apart from faith, how could any work be called 'good'? And if it comes from God, then it is received, perceived and delivered in faith for faith. But faith always comes first!
Luther taught that after faith is preached, then and only then can we teach about "good works", because then and only then do we have a context that explains, empowers and provides such works. It is faith, apart from works, that saves us and we are saved by faith alone!
Prayer: God of faith, we thank you for your gift. Help us to receive and use this gift, and then to proclaim that this gift comes from you lest we boast! Amen.