Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: dunamis Phonetic Spelling: dunamis - (miraculous) power, might, strength Phonetic Spelling: (pen'-ace) Short Definition: poor Definition: one who. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: penes A contrast between 'faith' and 'good works' is never drawn in the New Testament. Judgment is according to 'works' ( Matthew 16:27, the Revised Version (British and American) 'deeds,' margin 'Greek: `doing' ' praxis Romans 2:6 1 Peter 1:17, etc.), the new life being therein evidenced. 'Dead works' avail nothing (compare Hebrews 9:14 Hebrews 10:24). When James speaks of being justified by 'works' as well as by 'faith' (2:14-26), he has in view those works which show faith to be real and vital. Galatians 2:16 Galatians 3:2, 5, 10), 'working through love' ( Galatians 5:6 1 Thessalonians 1:3), and is fruitful in all truly 'good works,' in which Christian believers are expected to abound ( 2 Corinthians 9:8 Ephesians 2:10 Colossians 1:10 2 Thessalonians 2:17, etc.). 'Works' is used by Paul and James, in a special sense, as denoting (with Paul) those legal performances by means of which men sought to be accepted of God, in contradistinction to that faith in Christ through which the sinner is justified apart from all legal works ( Romans 3:27 Romans 4:2, 6, etc. The word 'works' (erga) is a favorite designation in John for the wonderful works of Jesus (5:36 10:38 15:24, etc. Wurk, wurks: 'To work' in the Old Testament is usually the translation of `asah, or of pa`al (of the works both of God and of man), and 'work' (noun) is most frequently the translation of ma`aseh, or mela'khah in the New Testament of energeo, ergazomai (and compound), with ergon (noun). International Standard Bible Encyclopedia WORK WORKS

Good works of the most sincere believers are all imperfect, yet like their persons they are accepted through the mediation of Jesus Christ ( Colossians 3:17), and so are rewarded they have no merit intrinsically, but are rewarded wholly of grace. They are the fruits of the Spirit ( Titus 2:10-12), and thus spring from grace, which they illustrate and strengthen in the heart. Good works are an expression of gratitude in the believer's heart ( John 14:15, 23 Galatians 5:6). (2.) Good works have the glory of God as their object and (3) they have the revealed will of God as their only rule ( Deuteronomy 12:32 Revelation 22:18, 19). Hence good works only spring from a believing heart, can only be wrought by one reconciled to God ( Ephesians 2:10 James 2:18,22).

Faith and love in the heart are the essential elements of all true obedience. The moral character of an act is determined by the moral principle that prompts it. Works are 'good' only when, (1) they spring from the principle of love to God. 'Neither adulterers, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards' shall inherit the kingdom of God. It is true, unchangeably true, that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. The gospel of salvation by grace shows that good works are necessary. And more than this, if the grace of God is most clearly displayed in the salvation of the vilest of men, then the worse men are the better. If the most moral of men are saved in the same way as the very chief of sinners, then good works are of no moment. They say if men are not saved by works, then works are not necessary. The old objection against the doctrine of salvation by grace, that it does away with the necessity of good works, and lowers the sense of their importance ( Romans 6), although it has been answered a thousand times, is still alleged by many.

Genesis 9:11, 12 17:1-21), so styled because perfect obedience was its condition, thus distinguishing it from the covenant of grace. Easton's Bible DictionaryWorks, Covenant ofД®ntered into by God with Adam as the representative of the human race (Comp.

Concordance bibleworks