In a sense, works justify justification. They are also inseperably linked to it, follow it, and flow forth from it.
Also, since when did good works get a bad rap?
Probably since we deduced from the Protestant Reformation that Judaism and Catholicism are both merely morality-based expressions and attempts at a relationship with the God of the Bible.
Or, probably since we have set the post-Enlightenment human psyche as the goal and end of all thinking. When this happens, human motives behind works take a seat on the throne.
But all of this - works, motives, justification, sanctification, salvation, etc - all of this takes its proper order and place when our focus is correct. Our focus is God Himself [2 Cor 3.17-18]. This means we must "hear with faith" [Gal 3] and walk by the Spirit [Gal 5, Rom 5-8] as we have our eyes perpetually fixed on what God has done in Jesus.
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This reminds me of what was said by another man called Jim...
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ... faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead... Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
And it also reminds me of the passage from Ephesians in which Paul exhorts us to "walk in a manner worthy of our high calling." We do have a responsibility to change the way we walk in light of our great salvation!
I think it's especially hard for those of us from a legalistic background to find that balance in our approach to good works. Human nature tends toward the pendulum swing: overemphasis or underemphasis, instead of simply appropriate emphasis.
yeh, being a Christian in the 20th or 21st century below the Mason-Dixon line does make this a tough and tall order :)
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