Sunday, October 1, 2023

Ivan Kent Richards (LDS) on the Necessity of Righteous Works

  

Righteous Works

 

The doctrine of many Christian religions dictates that the works of man have no bearing on man receiving Christ’s grace. If works of wickedness act to destroy and condemn us, why would not righteous works act to influence Christ to use his atoning power and authority to save us in the kingdom of heaven? Righteous works are a vital part of faith and our becoming worthy to receive Christ’s mercy. We cannot demand to have salvation in the kingdom of God because of our works, but our willingness to show our faith by good works is the very thing Jesus and his apostles preached in their sermons. The false doctrines circulating in the world today regarding faith, works, and grace are due to the following misinterpretation of Ephesians 2:8-9, which Paul wrote to baptized members of Christ’s church in Ephesus. Paul was not writing to that general population of the Roman Empire and the world at large. The other apostles of Christ didn’t preach the doctrine saying that grace and works don’t go hand in hand, they all preached the doctrine saying that grace and works don’t’ go hand in hand, they all preached that works are a vital part of our salvation through Christ. . . . [on Eph 2:8-10] Verses 9 and 10 are incongruous when taken at face value, saying on one hand in verse 9 that works have no bearing on our salvation and on the other in verse 10 that we were created unto good works. Pal’s intent was to say that good works alone do not guarantee one’s salvation.

 

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: . . .

 

Why did Paul include the above scripture [Eph 2:8-10] in his writings to the saints? Perhaps the saints in Ephesus were having a problem with maintaining their faith. Maybe false pride was becoming an overwhelming issue as it had always been with the Pharisees and Sadducees. The saints in Ephesus were probably getting caught up in pride and arrogance, boasting in their great works, or believing their positions of leadership in the church and community would guarantee them a position of prominence in heaven, all while falsely assuming that they deserved great adulation and recognition, much like the Pharisees and Sadducees in Jewish society. No matter what the reason may have been for Paul to write those words to them, the Savior grants grace based on the sincerity of their work, performed and the righteous intent of the heart (1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart), not on any pretense or feigned intent. Other scriptures show that good works are essential in proving to Christ that we are worthy and able to live in God’s kingdom. We will be judged according to our works, and works are critical to our salvation . . . . Good works cannot erase sins. No good work can undo wrong. But good works are essential in showing true repentance and dedication to the principles of righteousness. All the aspects of living a Christ-like life are essential to receiving grace. Entering into our second estate through baptism is the requirement for obtaining the path to eternal life. Grace is granted to the saints to guide them to perfection that they may be worthy to live in God’s kingdom. (Ivan Kent Richards, To Find the Path to Eternal Life Ye Must First Seek to Obtain My Word [Xlibris, 2019], 178, 179, 194)