Westminster Confession, Chapter 16
Of Good Works
Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy Word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Micah 6:88He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Romans 12:22Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Hebrews 13:2121equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Samuel 15:21-2321The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
22But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
Isaiah 29:1313Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Matthew 15:99They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”
John 16:22They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
Romans 10:22For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
1 Peter 1:1818For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.
Scripture references for paragraph 2
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
James 2:1818But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
James 2:2222You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
2 Peter 1:5-105For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
1 John 2:33By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
1 John 2:55But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:
Psalms 116:12-1312How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?
13I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
1 Peter 2:99But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Timothy 6:11All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
Titus 2:55to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.
Titus 2:9-129Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior.
11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone.
12It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Matthew 5:1616In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
2 Corinthians 9:22For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.
John 15:88This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
Philippians 1:1111filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
1 Peter 2:1212Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
1 Peter 2:1515For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Romans 6:2222But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
Ephesians 2:1010For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; 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.
Scripture references for paragraph 3
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Ezekiel 36:26-2726I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
John 15:4-64Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
5I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
6If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Isaiah 64:77No one calls on Your name or strives to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Acts 26:6-76And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,
7the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to realize as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.
Philippians 2:1212Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
2 Timothy 1:66For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Hebrews 6:11-1211We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
2 Peter 1:33His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:55For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
2 Peter 1:10-1110Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
11and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:20-2120But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
21keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.
Philippians 2:1313For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
Philippians 4:1313I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
2 Corinthians 3:55Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.
Scripture references for paragraph 4
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Nehemiah 13:2222Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.
Job 9:2-32“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
Luke 17:1010So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Galatians 5:1717For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
We cannot, by our best works, merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because, as they are good, they proceed from his Spirit; and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment.
Scripture references for paragraph 5
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Job 22:2-32“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
Job 35:7-87If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?
8Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only a son of man.
Psalms 16:22I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”
Romans 3:2020Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
Romans 4:22If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.
Romans 4:44Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
Romans 4:66And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Romans 8:1818I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
Ephesians 2:8-98For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9not by works, so that no one can boast.
Titus 3:5-75He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Galatians 5:22-2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Luke 17:1010So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Psalms 130:33If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
Psalms 143:22Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
Isaiah 64:66Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Romans 7:1515I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.
Romans 7:1818I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Galatians 5:1717For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Yet notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him, not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God's sight; but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
Scripture references for paragraph 6
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Genesis 4:44while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
Hebrews 11:44By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Exodus 28:3838And it will be worn on Aaron’s forehead, so that he may bear the iniquity of the holy things that the sons of Israel consecrate with regard to all their holy gifts. It shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be acceptable before the LORD.
Ephesians 1:66to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
1 Peter 2:55you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25:2121His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
Matthew 25:2323His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
2 Corinthians 8:1212For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Hebrews 6:1010For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
Hebrews 13:20-2120Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Job 9:2020Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.
Psalms 143:22Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word, nor to a right end, the glory of God; they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God. And yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God.
Scripture references for paragraph 7
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
1 Kings 21:2727When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.
1 Kings 21:2929“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”
2 Kings 10:30-3130Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”
31Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
Philippians 1:15-1615It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
Philippians 1:1818What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
Isaiah 1:1212When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you— this trampling of My courts?
1 Corinthians 13:33If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Genesis 4:3-53So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,
4while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
Hebrews 11:44By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Hebrews 11:66And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Amos 5:21-2221“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.
22Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard.
Hosea 1:44Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.
Haggai 2:1414Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.
Romans 9:1616So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
Titus 1:1515To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
Titus 3:55He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 6:22So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
Matthew 6:55And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
Matthew 6:1616When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
Job 21:14-1514Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
Psalms 14:44Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.
Psalms 36:33The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.
Matthew 23:2323Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Matthew 25:41-4541Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink,
43I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
45Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’
Source and edition
Westminster Confession. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
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