Hebrews 6:1

 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. . .

The writer of Hebrews, whom I believe to be Paul, gives us something to think about in that phrase – “repentance from dead works.”  What does that mean?  Well, sometimes, as in the Book of Proverbs, a concept is better understood by contrasting it – by exploring what it isn’t – before we study what it is.

There are three categories of works in the Bible.  Good works, wicked works, and dead works.  We will address them in that order.

1.  Good works.  

Mat. 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.   ONLY truly born-again, or saved souls can ever do good works and please God.  The lost, or unsaved, no matter how many works they do, can not do good works.   

Psalm 14: 1-3 –  The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  ² The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  ³ They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

 Believers are not to hide their good works, but let them be seen in a manner which glorifies our heavenly Father.  Mary of Bethany anointed the head and feet of Jesus while he sat at the table of Simon the leper.  Some disciples took exception to this, claiming it was an extravagant waste.  

And Jesus said,  Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me.  Mark 14:6.

as believers, we need to do all we can to the glory of god, not in order to be saved, but because we are saved. 

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2.  Wicked works.  

Col. 1:20-21 –  ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled.  Unregenerated, natural man, can only do wicked works.  

1 Cor. 2:14 – But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  The unsaved, natural man, walks according to the world system, motivated by the “prince of the power of the air.” (Satan)  His thoughts,  speech,  and behavior are filled with the lusts of the flesh.  He is a child of wrath, and ALL his works are wicked because he is dead in sin.  

Eph. 2:1-3 –  1 And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;   ² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:    ³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

we will now address dead works – from Hebrews 6:1

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3.  Dead works. 

We should all be able to recognize them, because they get a great deal of media attention.  Religious works fall well into this category.  These are works performed by the religious, for the purposes of earning eternal life. Legalistic, it requires the keeping of moral and ceremonial laws of God, in an attempt to win God’s favor and be saved by the works.  

Eph. 2:8-9 –  ⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Paul wrote –  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  Rom. 3:20. 

Dead works are performed by the religious, who are –   . . .ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.  Rom. 10:3-4

Our beloved Apostle Paul is an excellent example of repentance from dead works.  He clearly states that he has “no confidence in the flesh,” then goes on to list his dead works of which he had to repent. 

Philippians 3:1-9

3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

² Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

³ For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

⁴ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

⁵ Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

⁶ Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷ But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

When he compared his own self righteousness which was by dead works of the law, with the Righteousness of Christ which is by faith, he counted the former Paul and his works as nothing but rubbish. 

Paul knew the meaning of “repentance from dead works!!!” 

Next up – Repentance and God!