RUSHWAVE: Establishing Believers in the Christian Faith

from The Judgment God Desires to Withhold

Chapter 4: What a Man’s Works and Deeds Encompasses

A man’s works extend far beyond his physical, outward actions.

Previously it was established that man is accountable to God for his “works” or “deeds.” These words are synonymous and refer to anything a person does. But it is exceedingly important to understand what “works” and “deeds” are from God’s perspective. Failure to properly understand these terms will result in dismissing entire categories of things God deems as having a moral component. A work or deed, when properly understood from Jesus’ perspective, encompasses a whole host of factors.

Works encompass the physical, outward actions a man commits. That God holds men accountable for their outward actions is evident from His prohibitions of specific physical, outward activities. Scripture is replete with activities God specifically forbids and condemns such as idol worship, cursing, murder, stealing, lying, witchcraft, astrology, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, drunkenness, brawling, quarreling, disobedience to parents, insubordination towards authority, and many others. God examining a person’s works therefore involves His examining the outward activities each person has engaged in.

Works encompass the motives behind each man’s physical, outward actions. The moral character of an outward act is related to the motive behind it. Identical actions can spring from different motives, making the same outward action right in one scenario, and wrong in another.

When Jesus was on earth, He would often be asked questions which in themselves were not inappropriate. It was the motive in the one’s asking the question that made it wrong. This is why on one occasion when He was asked (by religious leaders!) whether it was proper to pay taxes, He called them “hypocrites,” for He knew they had asked the question so they “might trap Him in what He said” (Matthew 22:15). The exact same question, if spoken from a sincere heart with a desire to learn, would not have been hypocritical for it would have been born of a sincere desire of wanting to learn.

Works encompass the words a man speaks. In life every man asks questions, expresses opinions, responds to questions, and engages in discussions. He also uses word to teach, correct, advise, and rebuke. He also gives speeches, provides testimony, sings songs, and tells jokes. But God holds each man accountable for all his words as is evident from the frightening message of Christ Himself.

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36

The words we speak can bring healing and edify others, but they can also wound, tear down and cause great hurt. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). We may forget what we said, who we said it to, and how we said it, but God does not. And He holds us accountable for every word that has ever come out of our mouth.

Works encompass things a man did not do. Works can not only be positive, consisting of what one does, but also negative, involving what one did not do in light of certain moral obligations. This is why Jesus stated men would be held accountable when they “did not” visit the infirm or help those in need (Matthew 25:41-46) and why it is said “to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” James 4:17. Therefore a “work” or “deed” not only includes acts of commission, but acts of omission.

Works encompass the thoughts a man conceives or entertains. When God created man, He gave him the incredible ability to think and conceive various types of thoughts. Man can birth ideas, make plans, correlate things, form judgments, and have imaginations. But whatever type of thoughts are in view, from God’s perspective they can actually be evil and bring defilement. As such, God holds man accountable for the thoughts he conceives in his heart.

That man is accountable for his thoughts is evident from an exchange Jesus had with religious leaders of his day. They were obsessed with observing certain outward, physical, man-made washings prior to eating. It was not hygiene that was in view with these ceremonial observances; it was moral defilement by sin. In contrast to the religious leaders who held defilement came from not observing these ceremonial washings, Jesus taught “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man” (Matthew 15:10–20).

But thoughts are not always conceived in our own minds. Sometimes ideas are voiced by other people, and we embrace them. When we do, we are accountable to God for those thoughts as well.

Works encompass the longings, yearnings and cravings of a man’s heart. A man may not outwardly carry out a certain act, but in his heart he may wish he could. He may restrain himself from carrying out his desire for any number of reasons. He may want to avoid a negative consequence such as a fine, imprisonment, dismissal from his job, being perceived as a pervert, or any number of things. But his exercising restraint in no way diminishes the fact that at the core of his being he really wants to act that way.

That God holds man accountable for his evil, greedy desires is evident in a prohibition God Himself sets forth. God’s command “Do not covet” has evil desires in view — a yearning to have someone or something one has no right to (Exodus 20:16).

The dynamics of man’s thoughts, desires, motives, intentions and impulses is complex and interrelated. But for our purposes here we must realize from God’s perspective the heart has “thoughts and intentions” (Hebrews 4:12) and “from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). Men are therefore accountable to God for the thoughts, desires, and intents of their hearts, even though we ourselves may not completely understand the interplay between them.

When taking into account all these facts, it is clear that works extend far beyond what one physically, outwardly does. A guard may stand motionless for hours while on duty at his post. A tired person may recline in a chair, very much awake but not outwardly moving much. And a quiet person may outwardly appear indifferent to certain activities, refraining from making comments or displaying facial expressions. But in all these cases, from God’s perspective everyone is still engaged in numerous works and deeds. There are thoughts originating from within, and other thoughts recalled from others that are embraced. There are yearnings, longings, and desires. There are motives being shaped, plans being made, and judgments being formed. And everyone is thinking, imagining, desiring or fantasizing about something. Thus while an outward observer may see a lull in activity, God sees a whole host of things going on for which each will be accountable.

God chronicles all man’s works. This is self-evident since God forms His judgment on the basis of our works. God keeps a perfectly accurate, comprehensive record of every single thing a person has ever done. And He does this not just for one person, but for every single person who has lived, is living now, and is yet to live. This is truly absolutely mind boggling, and manifests the vastness of the mind of God.

From infancy though adolescence, and from adulthood into old age, God keeps record of everything. He chronicles every outward action ever committed, every inner thought ever conceived, every word ever spoken, and every yearning ever experienced. Nothing is impossible with God. He knows our works and deeds in perfect detail for “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

Your life consists of a countless series of moment by moment thoughts, intents, desires, and imaginations. Ideas are birthed, judgments are formed, correlations are made, plans are created, conclusions are reached, and motives are established. These inner workings within your heart and mind usually play out as observable outward actions, while at other times you may keep them concealed. From God’s perspective your “deeds” or “works” are comprised of both these inner workings and outer actions. And you will answer to God for everything.

from The Judgment God Desires to Withhold

Learn more ...