Of Good Works, XVI:5

We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins, but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants: and because, as they are good, they proceed from His Spirit; and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment.

What makes a "good" work good? Goodness comports with God's character; who he is defines the good. So any truly good work must conform to God's will, spring from a godly heart, be done in the name of Christ, and be done for the glory of God and not for selfish motives such as to earn God's favor or man's applause. By this standard even our most noble charities are "splendid sins," to use Spurgeon's phrase, for they always fall far short of the standard. Some are better than others, to be sure, but none are perfect--indeed, all are so imperfect that it is hardly worthwhile making comparisons between them.

Thanks be to God that our works do not provide the basis for our salvation. If they did, we would be utterly without hope.

Tomorrow: The acceptability of our good works.