Saved for – not by – good works

‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no-one may boast’ (Ephesians 2:8,9 NRSV).

This year of Reformation commemoration offers an opportunity for reflection. What do we, as Lutherans, consider to be our core theological offering to others? And what do we need to learn from others, or rediscover in our own teaching?

The first question seems straightforward: we want to be known for faithfully confessing and proclaiming the gospel.

Ephesians 2 teaches us we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Article 4 of the Augsburg Confession says:

‘Human beings cannot be justified before God by their own powers, merits, or works. But they are justified as a gift on account of Christ through faith when they believe that they are received into grace and that their sins are forgiven on account of Christ, who by his death made satisfaction for our sins’ (Kolb/Wengert, The Book of Concord, p 39–40).

Salvation by grace through faith is seen by Lutherans as their ‘big-ticket item’.

There are, however, various answers to the second question. One possible answer is to study again what the Lutheran Confessions say about good works. Our focus is on God’s grace alone in Christ – not our works – as the basis of salvation. That focus we need to sustain.

St Paul says that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared …

However, is it possible we sometimes forget what the Confessions teach about the place of good works in Christian life?

St Paul says that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared for us already (Ephesians 2:10). The Augsburg Confession says,

‘… faith should yield good fruit and good works and that a person must do good works as God has commanded for God’s sake but not place trust in them as if thereby to earn grace before God’ (Kolb Wengert, 40, see also article 20, ‘Faith and Good Works’, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, and the Formula of Concord, article 4, especially paragraph seven).

Good works are inevitable when a person is in Christ.

Vine branches need the life-giving sap of the vine to produce fruit (John 15:4). The life of the true vine, Christ, nourishes Christians for their life of faith. Christ remains in us as we live in our baptism; as we are forgiven; as we hear and receive faithful preaching; as we read, study and meditate on God’s word; as we receive the true body and blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.

One challenge for Christians is to keep faith and works in their proper place. We are not saved by our works, but by the work of the triune God for us. However, we are saved for works which God has prepared beforehand.

So as baptised children of God we pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your grace that has saved us. Alert us to our callings and to the works you have prepared for us to do. Help us faithfully to serve you and other people; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rev Dr Andrew Pfeiffer was Acting Bishop of the LCA during Bishop John Henderson’s leave last month.