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Edward Fudge

GOOD DEEDS AND DIVINE GRACE

A gracEmail subscriber writes, "If we are saved by grace plus nothing, why would Paul say that our 'doing' will play a role in the judgment? (Rom. 2:5-6; 2 Cor. 10:5.)"

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When the world has ended and God has passed final judgment  for all eternity, no human being will be able to say that he or she has been short-changed by the Creator or that God's sentence has been unjust. That is Paul's point in Romans 2:6, where, quoting Psalm 62:12, he exclaims that God "will render to every man according to his deeds." The larger context explains that God will measure each person by the very light that person possessed, again underscoring that God judges absolutely fairly (Rom. 2:12-16).

Second Corinthians 5:10 reminds believers that we also "must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." Divine grace does not destroy human accountability. We will answer to our Maker at the end. Even those who are saved will face God's appraisal of their performance and deeds in the presence of all creation. That thought is a powerful incentive when we do not respond to motivations that are higher and nobler.

If we are true to ourselves, however, we know that we need more than justice. God's mercy means that he does not give us what we really deserve. His grace means that he gives us what we do not deserve. When Paul quoted Psalm 62:12 in writing Romans 2:6, he had read the entire Psalm. Like the Psalmist, the Apostle could say, "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation" (Ps. 62:5-6). Like the Psalmist, he knew that God's justice is overshadowed by his lovingkindness (Ps. 62:12). Nothing but God's grace will see us through the Judgment. On the other hand, God's grace shown in Jesus -- plus nothing -- will thoroughly suffice.

For more on obedience and works, click here.
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Copyright 2007 by Edward Fudge. You may reproduce this without change, giving credit and not for financial profit. For hundreds of gracEmails on scores of topics, see hyperlink index here.