Can we earn favor with God?

[erickinho1bra]

I've heard it said that our works do not earn us anything with God and that we cannot earn God's favor with our good deeds. Is this true? Is there a biblical basis for this? Are Christian good deeds honoring to God but don't actually benefit us?

Also, if we can earn favor with God, can that be a motivation for doing good deeds? Or should we only do good deeds out of obedience expecting nothing in return?

 

[Elias_Amare]

"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Luke 17:10

"A creature as such owes its very existence, all that it is and has, to God; it cannot make any claims before God, and it cannot boast of anything; it has no rights and can make no demands of any kind. There is no such thing as merit in the existence of a creature before God, nor can there be since the relation between the Creator and a creature radically and once-and-for-all eliminates any notion of merit. This is true after the fall but no less before the fall. Then too, human beings were creatures, without entitlements, without rights, without merit. When we have done everything we have been instructed to do, we are still unworthy servants (douloi achreioi, Luke 17:10). Now, however, the religion of Holy Scripture is such that in it human beings can nevertheless, as it were, assert certain rights before God. For they have the freedom to come to him with prayer and thanksgiving, to address him as "Father," to take refuge in him in all circumstances of distress and death, to desire all good things from him, even to expect salvation and eternal life from him. All this is possible solely because God in his condescending goodness gives rights to his creatures. Every creaturely right is a given benefit, a gift of grace, undeserved and nonobligatory. All reward from the side of God originates in grace; no merit, either of condignity or of congruity, is possible. True religion, accordingly, cannot be anything other than a covenant: it has its origin in the condescending goodness and grace of God. It has that character before as well as after the fall."
Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics Vol. II, p.570

 

[erickinho1bra]

"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Luke 17:10

"A creature as such owes its very existence, all that it is and has, to God; it cannot make any claims before God, and it cannot boast of anything; it has no rights and can make no demands of any kind. There is no such thing as merit in the existence of a creature before God, nor can there be since the relation between the Creator and a creature radically and once-and-for-all eliminates any notion of merit. This is true after the fall but no less before the fall. Then too, human beings were creatures, without entitlements, without rights, without merit. When we have done everything we have been instructed to do, we are still unworthy servants (douloi achreioi, Luke 17:10). Now, however, the religion of Holy Scripture is such that in it human beings can nevertheless, as it were, assert certain rights before God. For they have the freedom to come to him with prayer and thanksgiving, to address him as "Father," to take refuge in him in all circumstances of distress and death, to desire all good things from him, even to expect salvation and eternal life from him. All this is possible solely because God in his condescending goodness gives rights to his creatures. Every creaturely right is a given benefit, a gift of grace, undeserved and nonobligatory. All reward from the side of God originates in grace; no merit, either of condignity or of congruity, is possible. True religion, accordingly, cannot be anything other than a covenant: it has its origin in the condescending goodness and grace of God. It has that character before as well as after the fall."
Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics Vol. II, p.570

Sounds like Bavinck says "No, but also yes."

 

[MW]

Bavinck is not saying yes and no. He is saying no, no, no; but God is gracious and rewards His own grace in us. So even His rewards are nor earned; they are given to us by grace. That makes no, no, no, and no. In no way do we earn anything!

 

[No Other Name]

I think the confusion for some lies in Matt. 25:23 and the phrase "Well done, thou good and faithful servant".

Here is how I would explain this to avoid the idea of "gaining merit" - not in justification - no one here is Romish - but even avoiding that idea within sanctification.

The "done" part is Christ's merit as he dwells in us by his Spirit. The key to how this works in us is the "faithful" adjective given to us as servants.

We are "in Christ" (Eph. 1:3-14). We are chosen before the foundation of the world and redeemed through His blood. God’s purpose to unite all things in Christ has been set forth in him and enacted in the fullness of time. Faith is entrusting oneself to Christ, receiving and resting on him alone for salvation - which includes sanctification.

Sanctification will assuredly produce good works. It is inevitable. And by definition, a faithful servant will perform these good works in Christ to the praise of God's glory.

Christ receives the merit (else we fall into error and the grievous sin of pride and idolatry focused selfishly inward) and Christ shares the benefits and rewards of redemption with those who are faithful to work according to his will. And work we will (else we fall into error and the grievous sin of sloth and piety focused solely inward - cf. Matt. 25:26).

 

[Elias_Amare]

The very nature of how we found favour with God (God's favour) is by God's grace, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Gen 6:8, As the effect of God's favour to us, it was God's goodwill to us that produced good work in us.
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Cor 15:10