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illustration is used by Paul. There once again Abraham's faith as manifested in Gen. 22:
is brought forward. It is therefore important to remember that a man is justified without
works, but is perfected by works (Rom. 5:; James 2:). A man is saved by faith "not of
works", but he has been saved to walk in "good works" (Eph. 2:). While Titus 3:
declares that we are saved by faith and "not by works of righteousness which we have
done", Titus 2: reveals that we were redeemed in order that we might be a peculiar
people "zealous of good works".
It is surprising the antipathy that some of God's children show to any mention of
works. We yield to none, we trust, in a steadfast belief that grace and works, so far as
salvation is concerned, cannot blend. If we are saved by grace, then that initial salvation
cannot be "of works", for grace excludes works as works exclude grace (Rom. 11: 6). We
do, however, feel that much vital truth is dimmed to the eyes of many by carrying their
opposition to works beyond the limits of truth. It is but another case of failure rightly to
divide the Word of truth. What is true in the case of the origin of salvation may not
necessarily be true in the case of the fruits of that same salvation. The law is excluded as
a factor in justification, but the law is nevertheless holy, just, good and spiritual, and it is
the will of God that it shall operate in the kingdom yet to come.
"But the God of peace . . . . . Adjust you by every good work unto the doing of His
will, doing in you that which is well pleasing in His presence, through Jesus Christ"
(Heb. 13: 20, 21 not AV JP).
We cannot "do His will" without at the same time "doing good works", but these
good works will not take their rise from the flesh, but will be the Lord's own "doing"
within us, through Jesus Christ. Heb. 10: 24 says, "provoke unto love and good works";
Heb. 6: 10 links works and love together. This reveals the essential character of the
good works that are well pleasing to God. It is a good work to bestow all one's goods to
feed the poor; it is a good work to suffer one's body to be burned rather than to give up
the faith, but only so if love is the spring of such actions; if love be absent "it profiteth
nothing".
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but
faith through love inworking . . . . . for all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Gal. 5: 6, 14 not AV JP).
The same emphasis upon "serving one another" is found in Rom. 13: 8:
"Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath
fulfilled the law."
Then follow the commandments that relate to man's relationship with man, adultery,
murder, stealing, false witness, coveting. It is surprising to note that both in Gal. 5: and
Rom. 13: love which fulfils the law is manifested not to God but to man.
"And if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying,
namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Rom. 13: 9).