Dead Works – by Joseph A. Cortes

Hebrews 6:1 reads, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ [or the word of the beginning of Christ], let us go on unto perfection [lit. completion]; not laying again the foundation of repentance”—here the word repentance should be defined as a change of mind (see A Change of Mind Vol.1)—“from dead works, and of faith toward God…”

There are three types of works in the Scripture: 1) evil works; 2) good works—most of the time ergon is used for works, meaning the employment of something—i.e. the word of God as it is employed in a person’s life and the word of God as it is employed in other people’s lives. And 3) dead works. Whether evil, whether dead or even good, they’re all works. All these types of works involve human effort, and that’s the problem. The Gospel has been corrupted by false prophets and false preachers in the Scripture, who declare good or dead works—let’s just call it that, dead works—as a requirement to be saved. And that is what I am coming against. I’m sorry, it’s a false plan of salvation to require doing any good works to be saved.

Now don’t get me wrong. You are going to be involved in good works, but they have nothing to do with your salvation. However, that is not the only false plan that is circulating out there. There is also a false plan of salvation that requires ceasing from sinful works to be saved. Works are works, no matter how you look at it, no matter the plan of salvation. If works are involved, they are all dead works. Listen, I grew up in the Catholic Church before I became a disciple of Jesus Christ and got away from all that. They required all kinds of good works. And Catholics aren’t the only denomination requiring good works, Seventh Day Adventist does also, and the list goes on and on. They teach salvation is by grace and faith, but also that good works are a necessary part of the equation. These false plans of salvation all require you to cease from what they perceive as bad works prior to having faith, really, to be saved by the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What did II Peter call it? Damnable heresies. In the Greek it’s very simple: it means that which leads to ruin or loss. So many are being indoctrinated with a dead works gospel. They’ll preach a person’s faith in Christ is not valid until good works are performed, or let’s just call it dead works again, are somehow performed. Other false plans of salvation require a person to discontinue the bad works in order that one can have any possibility of being saved. Don’t let these gospels of dead works lead you astray. Don’t let them lay another foundation that does lead unto completion. Never lose sight of the simplicity that is the Gospel. Keep only looking and trusting unto Jesus for your salvation.

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In 2 Corinthians 9:7 it reads, “God loveth a cheerful giver.” The Greek word for cheerful is Hilaros which means when someone is prompt to do something, they are ready in mind, with a joyful heart. In the Septuagint it also means to cause to shine. Today I am looking for Hilaros Givers who are ready and full of joy for the opportunity to cause others to shine by hearing, learning, and growing in God’s Word.

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