To Him That Worketh Not.

From: Far Above Rubies By: Alexander Marshall

• 13 min. read • grade level: 8

IN the 6th chap. John, 27th verse, we read of the Lord Jesus saying to the multitude, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you, for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, what shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

Now I dare say that many who will read these lines have asked themselves the same question, "What shall we do to work the works of God?" But how many answer it in their own thoughts without reference to the Word of God, or the sayings of Jesus. The true answer is simple and plain; "This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent," but how few, comparatively, accept it! It may seem to some a sweeping statement, but though crossing the natural thoughts of thousands, it is nevertheless true, that the mass who profess Christ, are partly, if not wholly, in some form or shape, seeking to stand before and approach God on the ground of their own works, or religious doings.

A salvation that makes Christ everything, and man nothing, is not a salvation that man naturally is prepared to accept. It is too humiliating to the flesh. I and do are inseparably bound up in the carnal mind and heart, by nature opposed to God and His Christ. Many with their lips will own that Christ is all, but in their daily acts and ways give manifest proof that self predominates notwithstanding. The mistaken thoughts of thousands run thus, "Christ died and rose, that whosoever seeks to lead a good life, attends public worship, takes the sacrament, &c., may reasonably hope in the mercy of God at the great judgment day." What is this but works, works, works; my goodness, my religiousness, my doings; Christ but a kind of make-weight? Away with such delusive thoughts. Filthy rags, and that is what God calls all our righteousness, will avail naught before Him (Isa. 64:6⁶But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)). Now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2²(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)); and salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast. To work the works of God, you must believe on Him whom He hath sent. Christ is a present Savior, saving with-out a single work, all who believe on His name, works suited to God being the fruit of saving faith.

Oh! when will striving, struggling sinners cease their vain efforts to establish their own righteousness, and submit to God's? (Rom. 10:3³For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)).

"Not of works" cuts at the very root of a Christless profession, wholly setting aside every product of the flesh as vain, valueless, and hateful in the sight of God, and utterly precludes man's empty boasting in his own goodness. God will have none of it: give it up at once and forever, and He will bless you.

Now the works of men in the flesh take many forms. The Word of God divides them into at least four classes.

1.—Wicked Works.

A dark catalog is found in Gal. 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). “Now the works of the flesh, "says the Apostle, "are manifest... they which do such things Shall not inherit the kingdom of God." And, need I add, that all who pursue such a course will reap the fruit of their sin in the judgment of God, for "be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23²³But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)). And when God judges, He will judge righteously, by no means clearing the guilty, (Ex. 34:7⁷Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:7)). Sin will surely meet with its reward; fools make a mock at it (Prov. 14:9⁹Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor. (Proverbs 14:9)). "The wicked shall fall by his own wickedness" (Prov. 11:5⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. (Proverbs 11:5)). "The wicked shall be cast into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psa. 9:17¹⁷The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17)). "And in that day there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed" (Matt. 10:26²⁶Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. (Matthew 10:26)). "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God" (Heb. 10:31³¹It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)). Wickedness comes forth from the heart of man, and defileth him. Listen to the Lord's own words, "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness... deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:20-23²⁰And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. ²¹For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²²Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: ²³All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:20‑23)). Sin and wickedness can never pass the barrier of the holiness of God. Hell; banishment from the presence of Him who is Light (1 John 1:5⁵This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)) into the blackness of darkness for eternity is the portion of the wicked doer (Jude 13¹³Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 13)).

2.—Works of Righteousness.

How natural for the sinner, convicted of sin, to seek to remedy the past by his own fleshly efforts, to cover the fruits of unrighteousness with a robe of righteousness of his own weaving, in every thread of which you can trace the handiwork of the Pharisee. Works of righteousness may be otherwise termed works of self-righteousness. It looks like willful blindness in face of the plain terms of the Word of God, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done." Reformation will not do for God; man's patchwork doings are of no more use than a spider's web to cover the deformity of sin. Your sin must be put away, if you would enter heaven, and your righteousness cannot do it; you must be clothed to be fit for the presence of God, and Gods own righteousness alone can avail.

There are others, who, on taking a retrospect of their past life, are not conscious of gross acts of sin and wickedness. Trained from childhood, it may be, in morality and good conduct, according to the standards of men, they feel they have nothing to reproach themselves with. Respectable members of society, of spotless reputation, honest, upright, kind, gracious, renowned even, perhaps, for works of charity; but sad to say, so satisfied with their own good deeds, that they have no conscience about sin, and no sense of their need as sinners of a Savior outside of themselves (1 Tim. 1:15¹⁵This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). Much as men may admire such qualities in their fellows; preferable, far preferable as they are to open sin and wickedness, they are a mere shifty foundation of sand, when it is a question of standing before God. "There is none righteous, no not one" (Rom. 3:10¹⁰As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)) is a sweeping statement that makes no exception, and leaves the man who trusts in his own righteousness as far off the kingdom of God as the most depraved. God says, "It is not by the works of righteousness which we have done.”

3.—Works of Law.

How many Gentiles as well as Jews cling to the law of God as a ground of acceptance before Him. But here again the Scripture is plain and unmistakable, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law," &c. (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)). Many reply at once, "Well, then, what is the good of the law 2" Ah! God has been beforehand with us. "Wherefore, then, serveth the law?" says the Apostle. "It was added," runs the answer, "because of transgressions, till the seed should come," &c. (Gal. 3:19¹⁹Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19)). But Christ, the seed, is come, and "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Rom. 10:4⁴For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4)). "If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law" (Gal. 3:21²¹Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (Galatians 3:21)). But that was just what the law did not and could not do. It convicted man of transgression, showed him he was a sinner, but never helped to put the sin away. The law said, do this, and do not that; but man, a sinner, had no power to do what the law demanded, and no power to leave off doing what the law condemned. It was a ministration of death, carrying with it an awful curse (2 Cor. 3:7⁷But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: (2 Corinthians 3:7)), the award of all under it who failed to obey, one offense rendering the offender guilty of all (James 2:10¹⁰For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)). Strange infatuation that the Gentile should put himself under a yoke, unbearable to the Jew. (Acts 15:10¹⁰Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (Acts 15:10)). God never put them under, "for the Gentiles which have not the law, are a law unto themselves, their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or excusing one another'' (Rom. 2:14, 15¹⁴For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: ¹⁵Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) (Romans 2:14‑15)).

"As many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the 'aw in the sight of God, it is evident, for the just shall live by faith, and the law is not of faith," &c. (Gal. 3:11, 12¹¹But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. ¹²And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. (Galatians 3:11‑12)).

4.—Dead Works.

Here we find one of the most powerful engines of the devil to keep souls from Christ. Dead works; a round of ordinances, rites and ceremonies of divine service; a religion of forms and rubrics, statutes and articles, vestments, candles, incense, and the thousand and one things, old and new, invented by man, making the Word of God of none effect. There was a time when the Mosaic ritual was in force, ordered of God; a worldly sanctuary, meats, drinks, divers washings and carnal ordinances (Heb. 9:1-10¹Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. ²For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. ³And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; ⁴Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; ⁵And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. ⁶Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. ⁷But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: ⁸The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: ⁹Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; ¹⁰Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:1‑10)) imposed until the time of reformation. But these were the shadows of things to come, the body (or the substance) is of Christ (Col. 2:16, 17¹⁶Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ¹⁷Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16‑17)). A burdensome ritual, constantly repeated shedding of the blood of bulls and goats characterized the past dispensation. And if, as the Scripture saith, they sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge the conscience of the believer from dead works to serve the living God (Heb. 9:13,14¹³For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: ¹⁴How 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 9:13‑14)).

But what is Christendom doing, or rather what has it done? I speak of the mass. Gone trick to the shadows and forgotten the substance. Thank God there are individuals who love the Savior in the midst of all. But what does the spiritual Christian see on all hands? A medley of Judaism, heathenism, and Christianity strange to behold. Tested by the light of the revelation from God, a vast pile on E., good foundation, of which the bulk will prow to be wood, hay, stubble (1 Cor. 3:10-15¹⁰According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. ¹¹For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; ¹³Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. ¹⁴If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10‑15)), fit only for the judgment of God. "Many will say to me that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:22, 23²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22‑23)).

5.—Christ's Work.

But, beloved reader, is there no remedy? Yes, praise our Lord, there is: for He Himself hath provided it. Wicked works, self-righteous works, law works, and dead works all exclude from Him, but there is a work, a mighty work indeed wrought by God in the gift of His own Son, whereby the sinner can be brought back to him, made meet for His Holy Presence. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). What, then, shall we do to work the works of God? This is the work of God that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. "My meat," said Jesus," is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34³⁴Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 4:34)). And, again, speaking anticipatively of the work that He was about to accomplish on the cross, "I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4⁴I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4)). Any lastly, on the cross He said, "It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost" (John 19:30³⁰When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)). Taken down from the cross, and entombed, God raised Him: He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father (Rom. 6:4⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)).

"'Tis finished, on the cross He said,

In agonies and blood,

'Tis finished, now He lives to plead

Before the face of God.”

“By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb. 9:12¹²Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)). The claims of God were met; the holiness of God maintained: the justice of God satisfied, and Christ in glory is God's testimony to the whole universe that the work is done. God is "just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26²⁶To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). And now, "To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5⁵But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)). Blessed is the man to whom "God imputeth righteousness without works" Rom. 4:6⁶Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (Romans 4:6)). "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works," &c. (2 Tim. 1:9⁹Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9)).

The finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the sole ground on which God justifies the sinner, without a single work or sin-stained addition of ours in any way whatever.

“He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21²¹For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). God's salvation makes everything of the glorious Person and the finished work of Christ, and nothing of you and me. “Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:25; 5:1²⁵Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)).

6.—Good Works.

But whilst, on the one hand, we cannot press too strongly upon souls the glorious truth of justification by faith, without a single work of ours; on the other hand, we must press home upon the conscience of every believer, that faith without works is dead being alone (James 2:17¹⁷Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17)). There is such a thing as the assent of intelligence without the belief of the heart, natural faith and not saving faith. The faith that saves is a faith that produces fruit. "What cloth it profit... though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?" Yes, indeed, faith in Christ can and does save, and save forever too. But, if a man only says he has it, and there are no works to prove the reality of his confession, all is profitless and vain.