Good works

In Christian theology, good works, or simply works, are person's (exterior) actions or deeds, in contrast to inner qualities such as grace or faith.

Proverbs 21:3 says that "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."

The New Testament exhibits a tension between two aspects of grace: the idea that grace is from God is sufficient to cover any sin as well as offer redemption (except the Unforgivable sin) and the idea that grace does not free humans from their responsibility to behave morally.

John the Baptist, who preached a baptism of repentance, connected repentance with bearing fruit saying, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8). Jesus himself encourages people to live a life without sin after receiving grace and forgiveness from God as the incident with the adulterous woman shows (John 8:11). He mentions good works explicitly as a good testimony to other people (Matthew 5:16). In 1 Peter the same encouragement for Christians is expressed that they should keep their conduct among the Gentiles honourable so that they may see the believers' good deeds (1 Peter 2:12).

The apostle Paul connected grace with works, writing to his fellow-worker Titus in Titus 2:11-12 that the grace of God has appeared in order to live an upright and godly life. For him, good works are a consequence of grace (compare 2 Cor 6:1) and he even says that on the Judgment Day "...each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body" (2 Cor 5:10). The Letter to the Hebrews says that doing good is a sacrifice which pleases God (Hebrews 13:16). Furthermore, like in every book or epistle of the New Testament, doing God's will is emphasized (Hebrews 13:21).

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