Question 34
Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God’s Word?
1 Peter 2:9–12
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Prayer
Lord, we thank you that there is so much mercy in your heart for your people. With you there is hope, and mercy, and redemption. You, the God of truth, are our life and our glory for ever. But even though we believe in you, yet by our whole life we show others how little we have of you in our hearts. Lord we pray you would help us by our whole life to show love and gratitude to you. And we pray that the glory of him who has saved us, and has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light, would be made known to others. Amen.
Derived and adapted from John Bunyan in “Israel’s Hope Encouraged” in The Works of that Eminent Servant of Christ Mr. John Bunyan, Volume 3 (Edinburgh: Sands, Murray & Cochran, 1769), 416–417.
How is your heart changed?
Is God pleased with those who love and obey Him?
Published on