My Unfinished Essay on Good Works

Good works involve two important concepts, namely "good" and "works". The former concept, implies at least two things--quality and standard; the latter concept denotes a phenomenon or a product. Hence, when these two terms are collocated or combined, its meaning becomes "a phenomenon whose quality is based on a standard". Therefore, the quality of good works is not relative, much less arbitrary; it is God-defined. 

A question might be broached, "What then is good works, theologically?"

Limme cut to the chase, any work that does not proceed from a regenerated heart or from faith, is no good work at all. To borrow the Apostle Paul's words, "What is not done in faith is SIN" (See Rom 14:23). An unbeliever, say for example, may commit charitable acts on the surface, such supposed deeds, anyhow, when considered in its entirety (including its quality, motives and purpose) drastically fall short from the "works" that please God.

In my opinion, I don't think that a work can be judged as good merely by flattening its quiddity on what it appears at face value. Instead, its motive and purpose should be well accounted for, since those constitute its integral characteristics.

A traitor, may for instance, does some acts favorable to the object of his treachery, like that of the story of the Grimm's brother where Hanzel is conveniently being fed or fattened by the witch in the narrative. Following this line, we may, on the surface, adjudicate the act of feeding as good, but when understood along with its motive, it perfectly becomes otherwise. You see that the quality of a "work" is not judged by its "phenomenological" appearance, but fundamentally on its inner motive, natural quality and purpose.

Having said that, I think this is very similar to the issue on whether unbelievers are capable to do good. They are capable one way or another to generate the same works as the believers do, but only on a "phenomenological" level. They are made capable insofar as they are effectually motivated (for the lack of better term) by common grace in fulfilling God's divine plan. But such CG-intervened work is not done in accordance to (a) their own natural inclination (b) to the Glory of God (c) to the upbuilding of their neighbors.

Paul makes it clear when he said, "I know that is in me, dwelleth no good thing." and that, sin reigns in the mortal body of the unbelievers. 

So what makes a work "good" in the first place?

I submit the following:

I. According to its nature:

(a) It must proceed from a regenerated heart

II. According to its operation:

(a) It must be done through faith 

(b) it must have God's law or commandments as its subject matter

III. According to its causes

(a) Principal/Fore-ordaining Cause -- the Father

(b) Meritorious Cause -- the Son

(c) Efficient/Instrumental Cause -- The Holy Spirit

IV. According to its goals:

(a) testimony of the believers' gratitude

(b) the upbuilding of the neighboors

(c) the Glory of God

(Scriptural references:

James 1:17; Gal 5:22; Eph 5:9; Eph 2:20; Acts 15:9; John 15:5; Colossians 2:7; Deuteronomy 12:32; Ezekiel 20:18-19; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Peter 1:5, 9-10; 2 Peter 1:10; John 15:8 and mny more