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I. WHAT THEY ARE: good works, so called because they spring from righteousness as fruit from a tree. We must first be righteous, by the righteousness of God in us before we can do the works that are good. What this righteousness is Paul explains in Romans 3:9.

1. Learn to beware of them who tell you that our good works are that righteousness whereby we are justified before God. As well say that the fruit is the tree.

2. Beware of them that tell you that men not begotten in the faith of Christ are able to do the things that are good and pleasing to God.

3. Let this teach us how to examine our works whether they be good or no. Do they proceed from a lively faith in Christ Jesus?

II. THEIR AUTHOR. Christ who is the author of every good thing in us by the grace of His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13).

1. Let this warn us against them who would persuade us that we are able of ourselves to do that which is good.

2. Let this teach us to give all the praise to Him to whom it is due (Revelation 5:13).

III. THEIR END (1 Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12). Let this try our motives. Do we do good that we may gain heaven or that we may glorify God?

(H. Airay, D. D.)

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KJV: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

WEB: being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.