STT 079 - Even Your Best Works Aren't Part of Your Righteousness (HC LD 24, QA 62-64)

STT 079 - Even Your Best Works Aren't Part of Your Righteousness (HC LD 24, QA 62-64)

Author: Jonathan Shirk June 10, 2022 Duration: 9:56

Christians do good works by God's grace and Spirit, but do good works count toward their righteous standing before God? Is Christ our righteousness or are Christ and our good works our righteousness? Tune in for comfort for the soul.

CLARIFICATION: When I say at the end of the podcast, "will reward us with grace when our race is finished" I am not talking about us meriting the grace of God in any way. What I mean is that the reward we receive for our good works will be all grace and no merit. Our reward is pure grace (HC 64).  

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) What difference would it make if we believed that Christ was 99.9% of our righteousness and our good works were only 0.1% of our righteousness? (2) Do you believe God demands 100% purity and perfection to be considered righteous under the law? Discuss. (3) If we obey 99.9% of the law, but fail in only 0.1%, are we considered obedient or righteous (James 2:10)? (4) Considering HC 64 and the associated Scriptures, why is it a straw man to say that justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone encourages people to sin?  


You'll find Small Town Theologian emerging from an unlikely studio: Rev. Jonathan Shirk's walk-in closet. There's a grounded, unvarnished quality to these conversations that feels like a direct reflection of that humble setting. Each episode is deliberately crafted to fit within a ten-minute window, offering a focused moment of clarity amid a busy day. The approach is consistently biblical and rooted in a confessional Reformed perspective, but the aim is deeply practical. Jonathan draws on these theological foundations to address the real and often messy challenges that families and individuals face, seeking to translate ancient truths into present comfort and guidance. This isn't about abstract lectures; it's about applying enduring gospel truths to the complexities of modern life. The result is a podcast that feels both thoughtful and accessible, a brief respite that offers substance without demanding a huge investment of time. You can expect each compact session to deliver a clear, comforting thought to carry with you, making profound concepts feel approachable and immediately relevant. It's a quiet space for reflection built from the ground up in a small town.
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