Since we have been delivered from our misery by grace alone through Christ, without any merit of our own, why must we yet do good works?
Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit to be His image, so that with our whole life we may show ourselves thankful to God for His benefits, and He may be praised by us. Further, that we ourselves may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and that by our godly walk of life we may win our neighbours for Christ.
Proofs
- Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit to be His image, so that with our whole life we may show ourselves thankful to God for His benefits, (Romans 6:13; Romans 12:1β2; 1 Peter 2:5β10)
- and He may be praised by us. (Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19β20)
- Further, that we ourselves may be assured of our faith by its fruits, (Matthew 7:17β18; Galatians 5:22β24; 2 Peter 1:10β11)
- and that by our godly walk of life we may win our neighbours for Christ. (Matthew 5:14β16; Romans 14:17β19; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:1β2)