Redeemer Youth

Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God’s Word? Yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, also renews us by his Spirit; so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.“So, though we’re saved by grace, we’re saved to a life of joyful good works and obedience. Not to get God to love us, but because God does love us, and we want to be like his Son, who said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me” - Ligon DuncanRecommended Resources:New City Catechism Commentary: “If salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—if we are saved and forgiven and accepted based not on our good works, not on our deserving, but on what Jesus has done for us—is there still a place for good works and obedience in the Christian life? The Bible gives an emphatic answer: yes.”Good Works and the Christian Life (Ligonier): “Obedience, however frail and feeble, is evidence of our love for Christ. Far from undermining the gospel of grace, good works are the perfect complement to the gospel.”The Gospel Is Good News Before It’s Good Advice (Christianity Today, gift link): “There is a risk, that is, in emphasizing the utility of Christianity. We might lose sight of a very simple truth about the Christian faith: The gospel is good news before it is good advice.”

• What do justification and sanctification mean? Justification means our declaredrighteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.• The Bible uses big words that are sometimes to understand, but when we understand the words the Bible uses to explain how God works in our lives, it helps us marvel at how good, gracious, and powerful our God is.Recommended Resources• New City Catechism Commentary: “The whole world gets it all backward. Other religions get it all backward, where our works and our efforts to overcome imperfections might make us pleasing to God. You never can get there that way. God reckons us as acceptable, makes us his children, counts us as righteous; and because of that righteousness we then spend a lifetime becoming what we already are.”• What Is the Difference between Justification and Sanctification? (The Gospel Coalition): “Justification happens outside of you, you are declared righteous. Sanctification happens inside of you, you are made righteous.”• What role does sanctification play in salvation? (9Marks): The experience of salvation begins with regeneration and justification, continues with sanctification, and is fulfilled in glorification. All who are regenerated and justified are being sanctified. All who are being sanctified will eventually be glorified.