Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

No amount of 'righteous works' can save a person, since no one can achieve the utter perfection God requires. We all, save Christ, have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

However, that does not mean that those who do not have faith in Jesus are incapable of anything good or of any righteous work whatsoever, as scripture shows in many places:

- Ahab's (temporary) humility: "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day..." I Kings 21:49 

- Cornelius: "At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius,...He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly...The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." Acts 10:1-4 [Cornelius, however, did hope for the promised Messiah - he just didn't know Jesus was the Messiah yet, so might not fit this question.]

Parable of the good Samaritan: But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine....“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”" Lk 10:33-37

Jesus flipped expectations around in that parable - it was the Samaritan show showed mercy, not the devout Levites.

Nebuchadnezzar: "... Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation....Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble." Dan 4

Sailors: At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. Jonah 1:16

In addition to these and many other examples in scripture of specific individuals doing something morally good, there are some scriptures as well about the general ability of man to obey, seek God, and do right. [Again, none of this contradicts the fact that no human can -perfectly- obey, seek God, and do right, as even one transgression makes us a lawbreaker (James 2:10-11.)]

Mankind seeking God: Paul said, "From one man He made every nation of men, to inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. His purpose (will) was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him--though he is not far from any one of us." (Acts 17:26-27)

General ability to do what is right: "...'The righteousness of a righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he will not stumble because of it in the day when he turns from his wickedness; whereas a righteous man will not be able to live by his righteousness on the day when he commits sin.' If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done." Ezek 33:12-13

And 

"For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves...They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)..." Rom 2:13-16 

Etc.

The natural man is capable of doing good works, but can't acheive salvation by any number of good works - only by faith (Rom 4, Rom 5, Rom 1:16-17, Gal 2:15-16.)

July 03 2017 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

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