As you read each of these seven letters there is something in each that calls for some attention. As you carefully read this letter you will notice that there is one topic that comes up a lot. It’s the topic of works. Jesus mentions works in His opening words, ‘I know your works’. He then gives some examples of the works that He has in mind: love, faith, service and patient endurance. When Jesus refers to this woman ‘Jezebel’ He speaks of her ‘works’ [verse 22] And, again, He has some particular things in mind: sexual immorality and eating things offered to idols. Then there is the intriguing comment of verse 24, ‘I will give to each of you according to your works’ or ‘as your works deserve’. And then, included as the condition of the promise Jesus says, ‘The one who conquers and who keeps My works until the end …’ [verse 26] References to works are all over the place. So, this morning we are going to take a look at works and some of the things that the Bible has to say about that. As we do, I think that we’ll get a bit of a better understanding of what Jesus is talking about here. It is my hope that out of this will grow a life that is filled with works that please Jesus.
To get things right, we’re going to have to step back a bit first. Let’s go back to the basics. It is absolutely imperative that you see that our receiving the salvation of Jesus had nothing to do with our works. A good passage here is the familiar one in Ephesians 2.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
The teaching of the Apostle is clear. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Our works contribute absolutely nothing when it comes to our receiving salvation. While that is the fundamental Gospel and you’d think that people would get it right, it never fails that error creeps in to try to include something that we do in the mix. The only thing that we bring to the table when it comes to the matter of our salvation, is our sin. The hymn writer got it perfect. ‘Nothing in my hand I bring/Simply to Thy cross I cling.’ Now, people brought up in the church would never say that their works contribute to their salvation. But one subtle way that we are sometimes tempted to include works is by adopting the attitude that says, ‘Well, at least I’m not all that bad. Certainly, I’m not as bad as some people.’ We sometimes minimize our sinfulness. But the fact of the matter is that some of the most sinful people in
Having said that, the next thing that I need to say is that on the last day one of the first things that Jesus is going to say to us is, ‘So, let’s take a look at your works.’ There are those who will have a problem with this. They believe that they are saved by faith alone and that their works have no place at all. Now, as with most errors, there is some truth in that statement. Didn’t I just finish saying that something that sounded pretty much like that? And just as I did, these folk will quote that same passage from Ephesians 2. And they will insist that works have nothing at all to do with salvation. But there are some problems. For one thing, what do they do with our text in Revelation 2? It sure sounds like works have something to say about salvation. And we’ll come back to our text in a minute. But let’s look more closely at that Ephesians 2 passage. Listen again with one more verse added.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
The Apostle includes an interesting statement about works. In fact, there are two. On the one hand, our salvation is by the grace of God and ‘not a result of works’. But then on the other hand, we have been ‘created in Christ Jesus for good works’. Now, some will say, ‘So? Sure doing good works is a good thing, but it still doesn’t have anything to do with our being saved!’ Well, it does and it doesn’t. I take nothing back of all that I said about our works contributing nothing good to our salvation. And yet, to whom did Jesus make His promise in our text?
The one who conquers and who keeps my worksuntil the end, to him I will give authority over the nations… Revelation 2:26
There is something more going on here. And to get at it let me ask this question. Are good works necessary for salvation? Now, before you are too quick to answer, let me tell you that it’s a trick question. It all depends on how you understand the question.
Do you remember the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25? There is Jesus at the end of the age and He is separating His true disciples, the sheep, from the phonies, the goats. And what was it that made the difference? There is no comment in the whole parable about faith. What made the difference is what they did and didn’t do. The sheep were the ones who visited the sick, clothed the poor and fed the hungry. The goats did none of these things. What made the difference was their works.
Then there is the end of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says,
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:24-27
What distinguished the man whose house stood from the man whose house fell? Both heard the words of Jesus but only one acted on them. The first man’s works made the difference. Listen to two verses from James.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. … For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 1.22;
So, are good works necessary to salvation? Absolutely. They are not necessary going into the question of salvation. We never bring our works before God in order to create salvation. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. And yet, coming out of the question of salvation, after a person places his faith in Jesus, works are very necessary – to the point that we can say that a Christian without good works is an impossibility. If someone is truly right before God, he will have good works. And this is what is going on in our text. Jesus takes the church at Thyatira to task because there is a question about their works. And so, He calls them to faithful doing, to faithful works. That’s why He says,
The one who conquers and who keeps my worksuntil the end, to him I will give authority over the nations… Revelation 2:26
Now, in our text Jesus points to a contrast. We’ve already seen how He points to His works [verse 26]. In verse 22 He refers to ‘her works’. [Some translations have ‘their {the followers of Jezebel} works’.]
Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works… Revelation 2:22
So, what is the difference between Jesus’ works that He commends and these other kind of works that Jesus calls His church to repent of? One common understanding of the difference is that the forbidden works are things like sexual immorality and other obviously wrong things while good works are the proper and especially religious sorts of things. As long as you do the right kind of works then all is well. But listen to what Jesus says in Matthew.
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' Matthew 7:21-23
These folk were doing very religious things - and in Jesus’ name to boot! And yet, Jesus denies any knowledge of them. On the last day they will be refused entrance into the kingdom. But what was the problem? These must have been noteworthy people doing what must have looked like great works for Jesus. Did you notice how Jesus identifies them? ‘… you workers of lawlessness.’ Jesus isn’t pointing to whether they obeyed the speed laws or paid their taxes. He’s pointing to how they didn’t obey the Law of God. They didn’t do ‘the will of My Father who is in heaven’. The works that Jesus expects are not things that we dream up and think are good. The works that Jesus expects are works that come out of obedience to the Scriptures. It’s the things that God thinks are good. And we have some great examples of the kinds of things that Jesus has in mind right in our text.
I know your works, your loveand and and endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. Revelation 2:19
Here are things that Jesus wants. He wants us to love God and to love each other. This relates to things like worship and that sense of community. When we perform these things out of love then they become the good works the Father desires. Jesus wants to see faith. Faith isn’t just some feeling, though so many in our culture understand it that way. Faith is hearing what Jesus has to say in His Word and then doing it. Isn’t that the point of the parable of the two men at the end of the Sermon on the Mount? Sometimes that means making large changes in our lives because Jesus calls for that. Faith can be hard and demanding. That’s why it’s a good thing that there is grace. Then there’s service. This is the same word from which we get ‘deacon’. It’s seeing needs in other people’s lives and working to meet them. Is that hard? Will it cost? Of course. But it is these kinds of works that please the Father. And then there’s patient endurance; perseverance. Jesus understands that being faithful is like a marathon and that it takes great endurance to make it to the end, especially when the world, the flesh and the devil are continually throwing obstacles in our way. So, He commends the good work of keeping at it, even when it gets hard. These are the kinds of things that Jesus has in mind, works that are our faithful response to the Word. And Jesus expects us to improve as we go, that our ‘latter works exceed the first’. This is another window on what it means to be a faithful disciple.
But there are still the phonies. But these do not fool our Lord. Listen again to how He describes Himself.
…And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. Revelation 2:23
Jesus is not fooled by those who look good on the outside. The works that He expects find their roots in the heart. Are they works that come out of a heart of faith in the Word and love for God and neighbor? Or are they works that try to impress others, maybe even to impress God? Jesus can tell the difference. Though we cannot see hearts, He certainly can. That’s why on the last day there will be many who say ‘Lord, Lord’, who will not enter the kingdom.
It is here that we come across one more very interesting phrase. ‘… and I will give to each of you as your works deserve’ or as some translations have it ‘according to your works’. Jesus will make distinctions between people based on their works. Some will be blessed with eternal life while the rest will not. Here, remember the sheep and the goats. But Jesus will also make distinctions within His Church. Some believers will be rewarded with more than other believers. And this will be based on what each did. Listen to a list of Scripture that all revolve around this truth.
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. [1 Corinthians 3:8]
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. [2 Corinthians 5:10]
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. [Col. 3:23-24]
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile … [1 Peter 1:17]
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. [Revelation 20:12]
Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. [Revelation 22:12]
What do we take away from this? This can be a tremendous encouragement. Think of the different times that you struggle with your sin wanting to obey the Lord as He reveals His will in His Word. It’s hard! And what can you look to help you in those hard times? ‘Jesus knows what’s going on. He sees how my heart really does desire to keep His works. He sees my battle with sin. He understands my tears. And He promises to make it all worthwhile. He is bringing His reward to repay me for what I am doing.’ The words of the Apostle fit here.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
One last thought to finish this off. What is the reward? How will Jesus make it worth our while to battle sin in order to obey Him? There are those who see the rewards of faithfulness in terms of material blessing. This is the health and wealth ‘gospel’. But of what worth are such things to those who have denied themselves and picked up that cross to follow Jesus? Did Jesus live and die to gain a new Mercedes? What is it that a faithful disciple wants more than anything else? He wants more of Jesus.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ… Philippians 3:7-8
What is the reward? It’s more of Jesus. That is the reward. That is what makes the battles worth it.
Our works matter. They are indispensable though not in order to earn our salvation. Jesus expects good works from us. And He promises us that He will reward all of our efforts at faithfully doing just that.
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