Simple Ergonomics

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Romans 3:28

Works – If I am reconciled to God by His credit-only gift, then what is the role of the Law?  If God chooses me before I am obedient, they why give the Law at all?  If justification is completely separate from my efforts, then doesn’t the Law just confuse the whole issue?

Here’s the shocking truth:  the purpose of the Law is evangelistic.  God desires our obedience in order that we will become His signposts in the world.  In other words, the Law is not for believers.  It is for unbelievers.  The reason we keep the Law is so that unbelievers will see what God is doing in our lives and turn to God.  By keeping the Law, we allow God to bless us and use us to reach the rest of the world.

This is the only conclusion that we can draw.  If the Law is not about earning righteousness, then keeping it has nothing to do with appeasing God.  God doesn’t need appeasement.  But that doesn’t mean the Law is useless.  Everywhere you turn in the Bible, you are exhorted to be obedient.  Jesus is no different than Moses on this point.  Keeping the commandments is critical.  Why?  Because unless you keep the commandments, you can’t fulfill the mission that God has given you as one of His chosen.  You can’t be the city on the hill, the light on the lamp stand, the salt of the earth if there is no difference between the way you live and the way the world lives.  In fact, you can’t be God’s human evangelistic instrument unless you live precisely according to His plan.  That doesn’t mean that you are just a good person.  God doesn’t need good people.  You weren’t a good person when He picked you.  God needs sinners who are willing and able to live His way.  God needs people who will follow the Law in order to be useful to Him.

James and Paul agree.  If my faith isn’t exhibited in active obedience (works), it’s dead!  It’s good for nothing.  The purpose of active obedience is not to get me to heaven.  The purpose of active obedience is evangelism.  This is God’s simple ergonomics, from the word that Paul uses in this verse (ergon, Greek for “works”).  Ergonomics is the study of work efficiency.  That’s why we have the Law.  Following God’s plan for living is the most efficient way to bring others to Him.  Did you get that?  Evangelism is not about preaching the message, handing out tracts or running crusades.  That kind of evangelism is based in the Greek model of communicating information, what we call the “saving knowledge” of Jesus Christ.  God’s plan is not about communicating information.  It is about living transformation.  St. Francis was right.  Communicating the gospel is living in such a way that words are unnecessary.  If you want to see others come to Jesus, let them read your life.  And the only way you can do that most effectively is to live according to God’s instructions, in other words, follow the Torah.

You are saved by faith.  You are used by works.  Don’t confuse the two – and don’t ignore them either.  God saved you to use you.  Did you think that He rescued you so that you could go on vacation?

Topical Index:  The Law