Works

Concise Bible Dictionary:

These are activities, divine or human, which may proceed from good or evil. We read of “dead works”: acts of mere ceremony, and the religious efforts of the flesh—the flesh profiteth nothing (Heb. 6:1¹Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Hebrews 6:1); Heb. 9:14¹⁴How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)). These stand in contrast to “works of faith,” which are the expression of life by the operation of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 11). The works of the flesh are detailed in Galatians 5:19-21¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19‑21).

Man is justified by faith apart from the “works of the law” (Rom. 3:20²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20); Gal. 2:16¹⁶Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)), but real faith will produce “good works,” and these can be seen of men, though the faith itself be invisible (James 2:14-26¹⁴What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? ¹⁷Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ¹⁸Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. ¹⁹Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. ²⁰But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? ²²Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ²³And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. ²⁴Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. ²⁵Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? ²⁶For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:14‑26)).

The Lord Jesus when on earth declared that His works gave evidence that He was Son of God, and had been sent by the Father, and that the Father was in Him, and He in the Father (John 9:4⁴I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:4); John 10:37-38³⁷If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. ³⁸But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. (John 10:37‑38); John 14:11¹¹Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (John 14:11)).

When the Jews were persecuting Christ because He had healed a man on the Sabbath day, He said, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17¹⁷But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. (John 5:17)). God had rested from His works of creation on the seventh day, but sin had come in, and in the Old Testament allusions are frequent as to the activity of Jehovah for the spiritual blessing of man.

The apostle Paul, in writing to Titus, insists strongly on good works, that Christianity might not be unfruitful.

Everyone will have to give an account of himself to God (Rom. 14:12¹²So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)); and the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works (Rev. 20:12-13¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:12‑13)).