Romans 14:23 says, “Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” This is true. This verse has major implications about how we view our actions as good or sinful. For example, one person can do a thing by faith and it is considered good, and another person can do the same thing, but it’s a sin. How is this possible?
So, what makes a deed good or acceptable in God’s eyes?
A deed, like telling the truth or serving the poor, may externally conform to God’s commands (like “don’t lie”, or “give to those in need”), and might conform to God’s will, but may also be sinful. How? Because they may be done from a heart that is not trusting God. In other words, they may come from a heart where no faith is present.
Simply put, the verse, “Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin”, is a statement about the nature of true virtue. Virtue is not just external conformity to God’s law. Virtue is conformity to God’s law that comes from faith. Faith is entrusting oneself to God and therefore relying upon His love, forgiveness, wisdom, and power.
Before a Christian is born again, he did nothing from faith. After he’s saved, faith is how he does things; faith in Jesus as his Redeemer, faith in the Heavenly Father as his provider, faith in the Holy Spirit as his enabling power. The Christian leans on the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit to do Their works in and through his life.
Hebrews 11:6 also reiterates this point, where it says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Nothing we do, no matter how kind it is or how it looks on the outside — none of it is pleasing to God if it’s not coming from a heart of faith.
THE BIG PICTURE – Without faith in God, our behavior can never be considered good and virtuous. Even if one conforms outwardly to God’s law, one is still dead to sin. Our conformity to behaviors, when there is no faith in our life, is not sufficient. Faith is the key, not “good deeds”.
1 Peter 4:11, “Whoever serves, let him serve as one who serves by the strength that God supplies, in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” This means that in every kind of obedient service, we do it in reliance on God. We trust God for the strength and the wisdom and the wherewithal to do what we’re called to do. If we rely upon God as we obey and serve, God gets the glory. The One who is the giver of the strength gets the glory for the service.
How then do you identify a deed done from faith as opposed to a good deed done from unbelief?
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 gives four clear marks of a deed done as a work of faith. It says, “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” To do something good we must (1) act by His power (2) the act aims to accomplish something right, according to His Word (3) we act prompted by faith (4) the act aims to glorify Jesus.
This changes a so-called “good deed” from being sinful and displeasing to God into an act that is truly virtuous and pleasing to God.