There is a vast differecne between the Gospel hypocrite (those in Matthew 7 that Jesus says he does not "Know" (or love)), and those who are saved by grace.
Lets state this first:
Good works are only such as [b:20a1a34868]God hath commanded in his holy Word[/b:20a1a34868],[1] and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.[2]
1. Micah 6:8; Rom. 12:2; Heb. 13:21
2. Matt. 15:9; Isa. 29:13; I Peter 1:18; John 16:2; Rom. 10:2; I Sam. 15:21-23; Deut. 10:12-13; Col. 2:16-17, 20-23
Then, make this differecne:
I. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and estate of salvation[1] (which hope of theirs shall perish):[2] yet such as [b:20a1a34868]truly believe in the Lord Jesus[/b:20a1a34868], and love him in sincerity, [b:20a1a34868]endeavoring[/b:20a1a34868] to walk in all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace,[3] and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.[4]
1. Micah 3:11; Deut. 29:19; John 8:41
2. Amos 9:10; Matt. 7:22-23
3. I John 2:3; 3:14, 18-19, 21, 24; 5:13
4. Rom. 5:2, 5
Now we have to ask how Good Works apply here. Can Christians do good works? Of course. Are they perfect works? Never. Why? They are tainted with sin. Does God accept those works then tainted with sin? Yes. Why? BEcause they are works motioned by the Holy Spirit and by grace, and He only recieves that which is worked by His Son in us.
Their ability to do good works is [color=red:20a1a34868][b:20a1a34868]not[/b:20a1a34868][/color:20a1a34868] at all of themselves, [color=green:20a1a34868][b:20a1a34868]but wholly from the Spirit of Christ[/b:20a1a34868][/color:20a1a34868].[12] And that they may be enabled thereunto, beside the graces they have already received,[b:20a1a34868] there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of his good pleasure:[[/b:20a1a34868]13] yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.[14]
12. John 15:4-6; Rom. 8:4-14; Ezek. 36:26-27
13. Phil. 2:13; 4:13; II Cor. 3:5; Eph. 3:16
14. Phil. 2:12; Heb. 6:11-12; II Peter 1:3, 5, 10-11; Isa. 64:7; II Tim. 1:6; Acts 26:6-7; Jude 1:20-21
Notwithstanding, the persons of believers [b:20a1a34868][color=darkred:20a1a34868]being accepted through Christ[/color:20a1a34868][/b:20a1a34868], [i:20a1a34868][b:20a1a34868]their good works also are accepted in him[/b:20a1a34868][/i:20a1a34868];[20] not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God's sight;[21] but that he, [i:20a1a34868][u:20a1a34868][b:20a1a34868]looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.[[/b:20a1a34868][/u:20a1a34868][/i:20a1a34868]22]
20. Eph. 1:6; I Peter 2:5; see Exod. 28:38; Gen. 4:4; Heb. 11:4
21. Job 9:20; Psa. 143:2; I John 1:8
22. Heb. 6:10; 13:20-21; II Cor. 8:12; Matt. 25:21, 23; I Cor. 3:14; 4:5
