 |  |
In fact, the structure of the whole epistle is written round this theme of "good works".
If no works are permitted by the Apostle before salvation, he insists upon their presence
after.
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable,
and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1: 16).
The moment one speaks of "profession", "good works" are to be expected. So, to
Titus himself, the teacher of the Church, the Apostle writes:
"In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing
uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, which cannot be condemned"
(Titus 2: 7, 8).
What the Apostle looked for in the teacher, the "pattern", he also looked for in those
who had believed, and were taught.
Later on in the chapter he writes:
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2: 13,
14).
Coming back to Eph. 2:, the reader may remember that we only partly quoted from
verses 8 to 10. After declaring that salvation is by grace and not of works, Paul
immediately proceeds to add: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works" (Eph. 2: 10). The Apostle who so ruthlessly sets aside "works" as a means
to salvation, insists upon good works as a manifestation that salvation is indeed a
possession and not merely a profession.
We have another example of these two aspects of "works" in II Timothy. There, in
the first chapter, "works" are repudiated as we have already seen (verse 9), but there are
five passages further on where "works" are looked for as a normal result of salvation.
We also read that Paul remembered with thanksgiving the "work of faith" of the
Thessalonians (I Thess. 1: 3), and prayed that they might be established in "every good
word and work" (II Thess. 2: 17). So again we find that perfect balance that gives us the
complete truth.