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Avoiding Works-Righteousness in Christian Discipleship and Ministry

Avoiding Works-Righteousness in Christian Discipleship and Ministry

The concept of works-righteousness is rooted in the biblical warning against relying on human efforts to achieve salvation or spiritual growth. In Ephesians 5:11, believers are cautioned against "joining in fellowship in the unfruitful works of darkness" [1]. This admonition is echoed in II Timothy 3:5, where those "maintaining a form of godliness, but denying its power" are to be avoided [2].

The biblical basis for avoiding works-righteousness lies in the understanding that righteousness is a characteristic of the Messiah, as seen in Acts 22:14, where Jesus is referred to as "the Righteous One" [3]. Isaiah 60:21 highlights the righteous as "the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified" [4]. This emphasizes that true righteousness is a result of God's work, not human achievement.

The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, emphasizes that justification is by faith alone, and not by works. Calvin's commentary on Isaiah notes that the righteous are those who are "the work of my hands" [5]. This underscores the idea that righteousness is a gift from God, rather than something earned through human effort. The Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 5:17 also highlights the distinction between the righteous and the ungodly, emphasizing that the righteous are fed and multiplied by God's promise [6].

In the view of Reformed theologians like Charles Hodge, the church must be cautious not to conflate the visible and invisible church, and not to judge the sincerity of worshippers [8, 9, 14]. Hodge argues that the church can only demand a "credible profession" of faith, and not a guarantee of true belief. This approach avoids the pitfall of works-righteousness by recognizing that true faith is a matter of the heart, and not something that can be externally verified.

The Anglican tradition, as expressed in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, also affirms that justification is by faith alone, and not by works [12]. This article emphasizes that the doctrine of justification by faith is "a most wholesome Doctrine, and very full of comfort".

In contrast, the Catholic tradition, as represented by Aquinas, understands the concept of merit and the role of human cooperation in salvation. While Aquinas acknowledges that despair is a sin, he also recognizes the importance of human effort in achieving spiritual growth [13].

The patristic tradition, as seen in the writings of Augustine, highlights the distinction between the "law of works" and the "law of faith" [15]. Augustine argues that the law of works is characterized by Judaism, while the law of faith is characteristic of Christianity. This distinction is not absolute, but rather serves to emphasize the importance of faith in the Christian life.

In Christian discipleship and ministry, avoiding works-righteousness requires a nuanced understanding of the relationship between faith and works. While good works are a natural outflow of faith, they must not be seen as a means of earning salvation or spiritual growth. As II Timothy 3:5 warns, a "form of godliness" without its power is empty and potentially misleading [2]. By recognizing the biblical emphasis on faith as the means of justification, and by acknowledging the limitations of human effort in achieving spiritual growth, Christians can avoid the pitfall of works-righteousness and cultivate a more authentic and faith-filled discipleship.

SOURCES: [1] Ephesians — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [2] II Timothy — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [3] Acts (Protestant academic) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [4] Isaiah (Presbyterian) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [5] CCEL (Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [6] Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [7] CCEL (Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [8] CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [9] CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [10] Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [11] 1 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [12] Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [13] theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [14] CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [15] Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) — TIER 2 (interpretive)

Sources

  1. Ephesians “Ephesians 5:11 (Rotherham) — And be not joining in fellowship in the unfruitful works of darkness, but, rather, be even administering reproof;”
  2. II Timothy “II Timothy 3:5 (LEB) — maintaining a form of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid these people.”
  3. Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 22:14: 22:14 the Righteous One: See also 3:14; 7:52; 1 Jn 2:1. Righteousness was one of the Messiah’s characteristics (see Isa 32:1; 53:11).”
  4. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 60:21: all righteous-- (Isa 4:3; Isa 52:1; Rev 21:27). inherit . . . land-- (Isa 49:8; Isa 54:3; Isa 65:9; Psa 37:11, Psa 37:22; Mat 5:5). branch of my planting-- (Isa 61:3; Psa 92:13; Mat 15:13). work of my hands--the converted Israelites (Isa 29:23; Isa 45:11). that I may be glorified--the final end of all God's gracious dealings (Isa 49:3; Isa 61:3).”
  5. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 53.2: 64:7 66:24 Jeremiah 4:31 5:8 5:28 7:4 7:4 9:1 10:23 10:24 10:24 11:21 17:1 17:5 18:16 19:6 19:8 22:24 22:28 25:9 25:13 25:18 28:10 28:11 30:11 31:15 43:2 48:2 50:11 Lamentations 1:7 2:5 2:8 3:29 Ezekiel 15:3 16:26 20:11 20:24 20:25 26:2 26:14 37:1 43:15 43:15 47:11 Daniel 5:28 5:30 5:31 7:10 7:17 8:20 Hosea 1:7 6:4 8:14 9:6 13:3 Joel 1:13 2:13 2:23 2:28 Amos 1:3 3:6 4:1 4:1 5:10 5:19 8:11 Micah 1:3 1:11 2:11 7:9 7:16 Nahum 3:8 Habakkuk 2:1 2:1 2:1 2:2 3:2 3:2 3:13 Zechariah 9:14 13:4 14:3 Malachi 1:4 1:11 4:2 Matthew 2:14 3:12 3:12 3:12 3:12 ”
  6. Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Targum Jonathan, Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 5:17: And the righteous shall be fed, as it is promised concerning them, and they shall multiply; and the substance of the ungodly shall the righteous possess.”
  7. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 102: Ps 101:8 ; 45:8. 688 Prov 16:12 ; 20:26; 25:4, 5; 17:15; 17:14; 24:24. 689 Acts 22 , 24 :12; 16:37; 22:25; 25:10; Lev. 19:18 ; Mt. 5:39 ; Deut. 32:35 ; Rom. 12:19 . 690 Job 34:30 ; Hos. 13:11 ; Isa. 3:4 ; 10:5: Deut. 28:29 . 691 Dan. 9:7 ; Prov. 21:1 ; Psalm 82:1 ; 2:10; Isaiah 10:1 . 692 The French adds, “Car les uns les faisoyent estans asseurez qu’ils faisoyent bien, et les autres par autre zele (comme nous avons dit).”—For the former acted under the full conviction, that they were doing right, and the latter, from a different ”
  8. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 98: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:5 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:23 2:24 2:24 4:19 8:10 8:12 9:6 12:3 14:22 15:1-21 17:7 17:12 21:23 22:2 24:1-67 24:3 26:31 27:4 27:12 27:34-38 29:18 29:27 29:28 30:1 34:12 47:31 49:2-4 49:10 49:17 Exodus 1:19 1:20 3:13 3:14 6:8 6:12 16:23 16:26 20:1-26 20:2 21:9 21:12 21:14 21:17 22:10 22:19 23:7 24:8 26:3 26:5 26:6 26:17 31:13 31:14 31:16 31:17 34:28 Leviticus 4:17 7:18 10:11 14:6 17:1-16 17:4 18:1-30 18:6 18:8 18:16 18:18 18:18 18:18 19:12 20:23 23:1-44 24:17 25:39-41 26:1 26:41 Numbers 5:19 6:3-5 19:11 19:11-13”
  9. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 144: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:26 1:26-27 1:27 2:7 2:7 3:1 3:6 3:15 3:15 3:19 3:22 3:22 6:3 6:5 6:5-6 8:21 8:21 10:15-18 15:18 17:13 21:27 37:35 46:15 46:18 46:22 46:25 Exodus 4:16 7:1 10:17 30:12-16 30:15 31:3-4 32:30 32:32 34:6-7 34:7 Leviticus 4:2 4:3 4:20 4:26 5:1 5:6-7 5:16 5:16 5:17 7:1 7:18 16:6 17:10 17:11 17:16 19:8 20:17 22:9 Numbers 6:11 9:1-23 9:13 10:1-36 11:17 14:33 14:34 16:22 18:22 18:32 19:1-22 21:1-36 24:1-25 24:17 27:18 35:31 Deuteronomy 1:39 8:18 10:16 18:18-19 30:6 30:6 Joshua 24:25 Judges 3:10 16:31 1 Samue”
  10. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TESTIMONIES. (part 24): unrighteousness, the fruit of my belly, the sin of my soul? It is told thee, O man, what is good; or what else the Lord doth require, save that thou shouldst do judgment and justice, and love mercy, and be ready to go with the Lord thy God. The voice of the Lord shall be invoked in the city, and He will save those who fear His name."(2) Also in Micah: "Feed Thy people with Thy rod, the sheep of Thine inheritance; and pluck up those who dwell separately in the midst of Carmel. They shall prepare Bashan and Gilead accordin”
  11. 1 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Timothy 5:22: Lay hands suddenly on no man - Do not hastily appoint any person to the sacred ministry: let the person be well proved before he receives the imposition of hands. Some understand this of laying hands on the sick. Neither be partaker of other men's sins - It is a sin for any improper person to thrust himself into the sacred office; and he partakes of that sin who introduces, helps him forward, or sanctions him in it. O, what an account will rash, undiscerning, and prejudiced bishops, presbyters, and others, have to render to God for their ordinations! Their laying”
  12. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Section 229: We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings: Wherefore, that we are justified by Faith only is a most wholesome Doctrine, and very full of comfort, as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification.”
  13. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Despair, Art. 1: Article: Whether despair is a sin? I answer that, According to the Philosopher (Ethic. vi, 2) affirmation and negation in the intellect correspond to search and avoidance in the appetite; while truth and falsehood in the intellect correspond to good and evil in the appetite. Consequently every appetitive movement which is conformed to a true intellect, is good in itself, while every appetitive movement which is conformed to a false intellect is evil in itself and sinful. Now the true opinion of th”
  14. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 68: to sit in judgment on the sincerity of the worshippers, and to exclude all whom they deemed insincere. So while faith, love, and the purpose of new obedience are clearly required of all who come to the table of the Lord, all that the Church can demand is a credible profession; that is, a profession against which no tangible evidence can be adduced. Even to acceptable prayer, faith and love and the purpose of obedience are demanded, and yet we cannot exclude from access to God all whom we do not deem true believers. Confounding the Church ”
  15. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 21 [XIII.] -- THE LAW OF WORKS AND THE LAW OF FAITH. (part 1): The law, then, of deeds, that is, the law of works, whereby this boasting is not excluded, and the law of faith, by which it is excluded, differ from each other; and this difference it is worth our while to consider, if so be we are able to observe and discern it. Hastily, indeed, one might say that the law of works lay in Judaism, and the law of faith in Christianity; forasmuch as circumcision and the other works prescribed by the law are just those which the Christian system no longe”
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