Born To Do Good Works

Born To Do Good Works

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

John 3:3

A child who will be born two years from now doesn’t yet exist. The woman who will carry and give birth to the child is still a virgin, and the child hasn’t even been conceived. That child can do nothing, for that child does not yet exist. Everyone can understand that. In the same way, all works, no matter how precious and good they might be, amount to nothing if a person does them before they have been spiritually born. These works lead only to sin and death. This is why Jesus said that Nicodemus and all the Pharisees were nothing if they didn’t accept him, for they hadn’t been born anew.

But what will become of those who do even less than Nicodemus? What will happen to all those religious people whose works are nothing compared to those of Nicodemus? None of those people will be able to do good works that please God, because they haven’t been born anew. We aren’t condemning good works. People first have to be made ready to do good works by being born anew. Only then will they be capable of doing good works.

If you want to have a carpenter build a house, the carpenter must first exist. For what can be built if the carpenter hasn’t been born yet? The same is true for good works. Doing good works doesn’t make anyone good. First, ask yourself if you have been born anew. Then after that, ask yourself what works you should do. Many people, however, don’t go about it this way. They mistakenly assume that their good works can save them. Just make sure that you are born again. Because if you are not, your good works are worthless.