Teaching Outline: Good Works and Perseverance of the Saints (1689 LBCF Chapters 16 & 17)

Introduction: Hook and Overview (5-7 minutes)

Engagement Hook (2-3 minutes): Start with a relatable question to spark discussion: "Have you ever wondered if your 'good deeds' are enough to please God, or if a big failure could cost you your salvation? Share a quick example from your life (e.g., helping a neighbor vs. struggling with impatience)." Allow 1-2 volunteers to respond briefly. This sets a practical tone and shows these doctrines address real doubts.

Overview (3-4 minutes): Briefly introduce the 1689 LBCF as a historic Baptist statement of faith. Explain we'll cover Chapter 16 (Good Works) and Chapter 17 (Perseverance of the Saints), linking them: "Good works are the fruit of true faith, but our security rests on God's faithfulness, not our perfection."

Transition: Pray for open hearts, then dive in.

Practical Tie-In: Frame it as "tools for everyday endurance" to make it relevant.

Main Teaching: Exploring Chapter 16 – Of Good Works (15 minutes)

Good works are only those works that God has commanded in His holy Word. Works that do not have this warrant are invented by people out of blind zeal or on a pretense of good intentions and are not truly good.

These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruit and evidence of a true and living faith. Through good works believers express their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, build up their brothers and sisters, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of opponents, and glorify God. Believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, so that they bear fruit leading to holiness and have the outcome, eternal life.

Their ability to do good works does not arise at all from themselves but entirely from the Spirit of Christ. To enable them to do good works, they need—in addition to the graces they have already received—an active influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do His good pleasure. Yet this is no reason for them to grow negligent, as if they were not required to perform any duty without a special motion of the Spirit. Instead, they should be diligent to stir up the grace of God that is in them.

Those who attain the greatest heights of obedience possible in this life are far from being able to merit reward by going beyond duty or to do more than God requires. Instead, they fall short of much that is their duty to do.

We cannot, even by our best works, merit pardon of sin or eternal life from God’s hand, due to the huge disproportion between our works and the glory to come, and the infinite distance between us and God. By these works we can neither benefit God nor satisfy Him for the debt of our former sins. When we have done all we can, we have only done our duty and are unprofitable servants. Since our good works are good, they must proceed from His Spirit; and since they are performed by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot withstand the severity of God’s punishment.

Nevertheless, believers are accepted through Christ, and thus their good works are also accepted in Him. This acceptance does not mean our good works are completely blameless and irreproachable in God’s sight. Instead, God views them in His Son, and so He is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, even though it is accompanied by many weaknesses and imperfections.

Works done by unregenerate people may in themselves be commanded by God and useful to themselves and others. Yet they do not come from a heart purified by faith and are not done in a right manner according to the Word nor with a right goal—the glory of God. Therefore, they are sinful and cannot please God. They cannot qualify anyone to receive grace from God, and yet their neglect is even more sinful and displeasing to God.

Key Content Delivery (8-10 minutes): Use a conversational style, not lecture. Break it down into bite-sized points with Scripture references (e.g., James 2:14-26 for faith and works; Ephesians 2:8-10 for grace-enabled works).

Point 1: Good works are God-commanded, not human inventions (e.g., obedience to Scripture, not traditions).

Point 2: They’re fruits of true faith, enabled by the Holy Spirit—not our strength.

Point 3: Our works are imperfect and can’t earn salvation, but God accepts them through Christ.

Point 4: Unbelievers’ "good" deeds don’t please God without faith.

Engaging Element: Use real-life analogies, like a tree bearing fruit naturally (not forced) or a child’s messy drawing cherished by a parent.

Interactive Application (5 minutes): Group brainstorm (in pairs or small groups): "What’s one 'good work' God commands that you can practice this week? How does knowing it’s by grace make it less burdensome?" Write ideas on the whiteboard. This keeps it practical and engaging.

Time Check: Ensure this section wraps up to leave room for the next chapter.

Practical Focus: Emphasize freedom from legalism—works prove faith is alive, motivating joyful service (e.g., in family, work, or community).

Main Teaching: Exploring Chapter 17 – Of the Perseverance of the Saints (15 minutes)

Those God has accepted in the Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, and given the precious faith of His elect can neither totally nor finally fall from a state of grace. They will certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, because the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. Therefore, He still brings about and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope and all the graces of the Spirit that lead to immortality. Even though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet these things will never be able to move the elect from the foundation and rock to which they are anchored by faith. The felt sight of the light and love of God may be clouded and obscured from them for a time through their unbelief and the temptations of Satan. Yet God is still the same; they will certainly be kept by the power of God for salvation, where they will enjoy their purchased possession. For they are engraved on the palms of His hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity.

This perseverance of the saints does not depend on their own free will but on the unchangeableness of the decree of election, which flows from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father. It is based on the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with Him, the oath of God, the abiding of His Spirit, the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace. The certainty and infallibility of their perseverance is based on all these things.

They may fall into grievous sins and continue in them for a time, due to the temptation of Satan and the world, the strength of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation. In so doing, they incur God’s displeasure and grieve His Holy Spirit; their graces and comforts become impaired; their hearts are hardened and their consciences wounded; they hurt and scandalize others and bring temporary judgments on themselves. Nevertheless, they will renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.

Key Content Delivery (8-10 minutes): Connect to Chapter 16: "If works are imperfect, how do we stay secure? God preserves us!" Reference Scriptures like Philippians 1:6 (God completes His work) and John 10:28-29 (no one snatches us from His hand).

Point 1: True believers won’t finally fall away—perseverance is God’s doing, based on election, Christ’s work, the Spirit, and the covenant.

Point 2: We can backslide seriously (e.g., David or Peter), facing consequences like grief or impaired joy.

Point 3: God renews us through repentance, providing assurance without license to sin.

Engaging Element: Share a short, anonymized story (or invite one from the group) of someone who wandered but returned, highlighting God's faithfulness. Use humor lightly: "It's not 'once saved, always perfect'—it's 'once saved, always pursued by God!'"

Interactive Application (5 minutes): Quick round-robin: "How does this doctrine comfort you in tough times? What’s one way it changes how you handle failure?" This builds community and practicality.

Practical Focus: Apply to doubts or trials—e.g., "When you mess up, remember God's grip is stronger than your slip."

Conclusion: Synthesis and Challenge (5-8 minutes)

Synthesis (2-3 minutes): Tie chapters together: "Good works show our faith is real (Ch. 16), but perseverance assures us God holds us through imperfections (Ch. 17). Together, they free us to live boldly for Christ."

Final Challenge (2 minutes): Assign a practical takeaway: "This week, track one 'good work' from faith and thank God for His preserving grace during a low moment."

Closing Prayer (1-2 minutes): Invite a participant to pray, focusing on gratitude for grace and perseverance.

Engagement Wrap-Up: End on an uplifting note: "These truths aren't just old words—they're fuel for your faith today!"