WCF 16.3 WSC 90 (Of Good Works)

Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure: yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.”

Good Works:

What it is NOT: Merely external conformity to God’s law—not because you understand and seek God. It can be sacrificial even, but it is for some other drive other than the true God.

What it is: internal conformity to God’s law, motivated by a love for God.

Their ability to do good works is not at all themselves, but wholly(entirely) from the Spirit of Christ:

(NEXT) John 15:4–6 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

Good works = fruit of living faith = living branch connected to the vine = the true life (Jesus Christ)

So only when you abide in Christ and Christ in you can you be spiritually alive and bear fruit of good works as defined by God—genuine obedience to His commandments.

Otherwise, v5 says you can do nothing… meaning as fallen man, we have no moral ability to achieve any good works—reformed doctrine of total depravity due to original sin in every person.

And so those professing to believe in Jesus and attaching themselves to the trappings of Christianity vs those that are attached to the true vine, Jesus Christ, will be distinguished over time by the fruit of works that they bear.

And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces(other effects of God’s grace) they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of His good pleasure:

A believer must be directed by the Holy Spirit in order to will and do what pleases God

(NEXT) Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

How assuring that it is God Himself who “works” in those that belong to Him! This is absolutely the reason why the perfect work of Christ alone was necessary for our salvation.

yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent(spiritually lazy), as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion(some special guidance) of the Spirit:

right before Phil 2:13, Paul says Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

It says we have a real responsibility that cannot be passed off to God. To work hard at it as a matter of fact to the point of “fear and trembling”.

Would you “lose” your salvation otherwise?

No! (Look back at Phil 2:13). Does God ever fail in His work?? No! He alone regenerates and justifies! So why?

So you are already being transformed by faith in Christ, which becomes evident in your actions.

When it says “not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit”, it is speaking against spiritual laziness… the kind James was speaking against in James 2:14 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”

....the passive Christian who refuses to lift a finger unless they “feel” the Holy Spirit motivating them, speaking to them and moving in them...

… instead, how does Westminster end?

but they ought to be diligent in “stirring up” the grace of God that is in them:

Do you know how the Holy Spirit speaks and empower His elect to good works? By a promise through the knowledge of Christ, who is the Word of God (2 Peter 1:3)

So what does scripture say?

(NEXT) 2 Peter 1:5–7 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

So waiting for “supposed” signs and supernatural wonders of the Holy Spirit, instead of listening to God’s Word is an outright rejection of God’s Word!

Because as mentioned in first sentence: if you are a new creature in Christ, you now have the ability to do good works, wholly by the Holy Spirit—though not perfectly because we will always been tainted with sin in all our motivations...

So regardless of what we “feel”… we could be at our worst… even then, it is in our power to pick up the bible and read, to get on our knees and pray, to extend and help where help is needed, to be virtuous and not lie.

So let’s stir up the grace of God in us with earnest daily prayers for the empowering of the Holy Spirit and be sure that God faithfully, without fail supplies us with His grace, daily, continually working to purify and sanctify His church through every circumstance for His own good pleasure.

12. John 15:4–6 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” , Ezekiel 36:26–27 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” , Luke 11:13 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”” .

13. Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” , Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” , 2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” , Ephesians 3:16 “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” .

14. Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” , Hebrews 6:11–12 “And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” , 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” ,2 Peter 1:5 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,” ,2 Peter 1:10–11 “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” , Isaiah 64:7 “There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.” , 2 Timothy 1:6 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,” , Acts 26:6–7 “And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!” , Jude 20–21 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” .

Q 90. How is the word to be read and heard in order to become effective for salvation?

For the word to become effective for salvation, we must pay careful attention to it, prepare ourselves, and pray for understanding. We must also receive it with faith and love, treasure it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

For the word(of God-written in scripture Old & New Testament( read and preached):

God speaks to us through the Word as it is ‘God-breathed’ 2 Tim 3:16 says.

(For this word) to become effective for salvation, we must pay careful attention to it:

It is the Word of God after all, which Luke 8 describes as the seed. Many read and hear it, but does not remain in their hearts because the Devil and the cares of the world.

So to them, it is not effective for salvation.

Yet God in His sovereignty elected His own that their response will be...

(NEXT) Luke 8:15 “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast(pay careful attention) in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

It is this fruit of good works with patience by which we...

prepare ourselves and pray for understanding:

because many times it isn’t nor meant to be easy to obey the Word of God by His design in this fallen world.

Yet, He has given us a new heart to trust Him with patience and endurance despite this so that...

We must also receive it with faith(acceptance of God’s word in all aspects of our life) and love(delight in God’s word and desire to live by it to the glory of Christ), treasure it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives:

As James says James 1:25 “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

A true believer is enabled wholly by the Holy Spirit to endure trials while placing our hope in Christ.

Proverbs 8:34 “Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.” 1 Peter 2:1 “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Hebrews 4:2 “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.” Luke 8:15 “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” James 1:25 “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

Forgive your church for the times we resist and disobey Your commandment by our evil works when we are called to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind. Forgive us for the times this week where we have suppressed the knowledge of Christ for our own pursuits when You call us to suffer for Your name’s sake. The local churches in this city claim to be progressing with the times for the sake of lost souls. Yet instead of exalting and proclaiming You as Lord of all, they exalt their own name, to our shame. Increase our faith so that we are not blind, but trust in Christ. Continually transform our hearts and renew of our minds with the mind of Your Son. As You have set us apart to be holy and show our living faith by good works. We confess that we no longer belong to ourselves but to Your glorious Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.