Augsburg Confession Article VI

This week, let’s take a look at Article VI: https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-new-obedience/

We saw in Article IV that our works cannot justify us before God. Good works cannot make us more righteous or holy in God’s sight. Instead, justification takes place through faith in Christ.

However, as Jesus clearly teaches us in Matthew 7:17-20, trees are identified by the fruit that they bear. People who have been justified by faith will quite naturally begin to do the good works that God commands. Indeed, it is necessary for Christians to do good works, not to merit any favor from him, but because it is his will:

Matthew 5:16 (ESV) “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”