Digging Deeper – According to Your Deeds

Perhaps as a byproduct of the Reformers’ reclamation of the biblical truth that we are saved by grace through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9), there tends to be wariness around the discussion of deeds. To oversimplify, this stems largely from a Protestant overreaction to Catholic practice, both past and present. But let this not be the case, for deeds are not only a significant subject of Scripture, they are also the very means by which we demonstrate our allegiance to the Savior. Peter reminds us of this in verse 17, acknowledging that “[the] Father… judges according to each one’s deeds.” Indeed (pun intended), there will be a judgment after death, in which believers will be examined and rewarded for their actions in this life.

A brief survey of the Scriptures makes this fact apparent. Most of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation begin, “I know your works…” James, the brother of our Lord, declares, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). And the apostle Paul informs the Corinthians, “all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body…” (2 Cor. 5:10). There are countless other passages in the Bible that describe not only the value of works but also the judgment of works.

That being said, we would be remiss not to read the remainder of Peter’s thought, where he assures believers that their eternal status is a matter of identification with Christ: “knowing that you were ransomed… with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Our eternal security, then, lies not in our deeds, but in having been ransomed by the blood of Christ. Today, let us heed Peter’s call to conduct ourselves in fear during our time on Earth, not for the sake of salvation, but out of love for our Master.