In Hebrews 6:1-2 we find the elementary principles of Christ which are foundational to our faith. Being foundational, we must every now and again review these doctrines in order to ensure that our foundation is ever intact. For when a foundation is tampered with, it is only a matter of time before a terrible destruction occurs. The doctrine of repentance from dead works and faith toward God is one of the elementary principles that we shall briefly review in this article.
Dead works are of two categories: the many good deeds a person performs in order to earn salvation are all dead works, and all unrighteous deeds are also dead works. God’s will is first and foremost for people to turn (repent) from trying to merit salvation by good deeds, and to instead have faith in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. At the same time, after putting their faith in what was accomplished at the cross, God expects people to repent from evil works and to do good works. As it written, “For by grace you have been saved . . . not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them,” (Ephesians 2:8-10).
We are indeed saved, not by our righteous works, but by grace – what Jesus accomplished for us by dying in our stead. Yet at the same time, as we have read and learnt in Ephesians 2, God expects us to walk in good works. Religion is when the cart is put before the horse, when our righteous works precede the salvation work of Jesus.
If, indeed, we have faith in the grace by which we are saved, then good works must follow; otherwise we deceive ourselves and we are no longer in the faith! As it is written, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,” (James 2:17). This is a major concept that must be properly understood and strongly embraced especially in this generation. A terrible demonic doctrine is right now prevailing in Christianity, teaching that works do not matter because we are not saved by them but by grace. We indeed are not saved by works but by grace, but God expects our good works to follow our confession of faith. It is those good works that actually prove that we are still in the faith. For James the apostle once again said, “I will show you my faith by my works,” (James 2:18).
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Embracing the above-mentioned doctrine of demons, instead of the correct understanding of the doctrine of repentance from dead works and faith toward God, is leading many Christians to hell! We must always remember that faith without works is dead!
While John the Baptist was preparing the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus, he preached saying, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance . . . the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire,” (Luke 3:8-9). And when the long-awaited Messiah finally came on the scene, He too essentially echoed John saying, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned,” (John 15:5-6). This is why Paul also said, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (sins) the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them (of the wrath of God),” (Ephesians 5:6-7). Hallelujah!
The good news is that in the New Covenant, we now have the Spirit of God in us Who helps us to resist sin (dead works), and to do the good works of walking in righteousness. As it is written, “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them,” (Ezekiel 36:27). Let us therefore repent (turn) from sin and bear fruits (good works) that testify to the faith we have in Jesus’ work of salvation. If we do so, we shall be counted worthy to escape the wrath of God that is coming upon the sons of disobedience.
God bless you.