Faith, Worship, Works, and Workmanship

Have works been made obsolete by faith?

“Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” (Romans 3:27-28)

In the Old Testament, works without faith is dead, because works have no power to author or produce faith unto righteousness.

“Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself… You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:17, 24)

In the New Testament, faith without works is dead, because works is the witness and power that make faith perfect or complete unto righteousness.

“You shall have no other gods before Me *[Or besides Me]… You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:3, 5)

“Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”” (Matthew 4:10)

Faith in God, and hence love for God, are always defined or expressed in terms of worship and works, which are the services of worship. In other words, there is an intrinsic relationship or common thread between faith and works.

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.” (James 2:21-23)

“Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”” (Genesis 22:5)

The common thread that ties both faith and works together unto righteousness is worship; for worship is born out of faith, and works are born out of worship. See how Abraham, as a result of his faith in God, worshipped God; and how he, as a result of his attitude of worship, offered Isaac in obedience to God’s command.

“But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”” (James 2:18)

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Therefore, works are, and must be, acts of faith in the worship of God; works are the offerings of our bodies as living and holy sacrifices that are acceptable to God; and works are spiritual services of worship.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

So, if faith leads to worship, worship leads to works, and works perfect or make complete faith unto righteousness, then works are the means of the workmanship of God.

“Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”” (John 4:34)

“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,” (Hebrews 5:8-9)

Indeed, the life of Jesus was a life of faith, worship, and works in total submission and explicit obedience to the Father. He became the perfect workmanship of God when He completed God’s will, and accomplished God’s work, for Him on earth.

So, let our faith, worship, and works conform to this image and likeness of Christ; let us become the poiēma of God.

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