Good Workers and Workers of Lawlessness in the New Testament
The New Testament presents a sharp but vital contrast between those whom Scripture describes as good workers and those whom Jesus calls workers of lawlessness. While both groups may appear active in religious or moral efforts, the dividing line is not outward performance but relationship to Christ, participation in grace, and transformation by the Spirit. Good works are not the cause of salvation but its fruit, prepared by God and produced through knowing Christ. Lawlessness, on the other hand, often disguises itself in religious activity divorced from true communion with Jesus.
Redemption as the Foundation of Good Works
Titus 2:14 establishes the foundation of all true good works:
“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.”
Here, good works flow from redemption, not from human effort under law. Christ’s self-giving redeems believers from lawlessness, not merely from guilt, and results in sanctification, setting a part a purified people who are zealous for good works. These works are the outcome of belonging to Christ, not a means of earning acceptance.
This truth aligns with Ephesians 1–2, where believers are described as:
Chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4)
Predestined for adoption as His own, sealed, and made alive of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:1-10
Redeemed through His blood (Ephesians 1:7)
Saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Yet this same passage concludes:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
Thus, good workers are those who live out what God has already prepared through grace. The works are real, but they originate in God’s initiative, not human striving.
The Witness of the Spirit and Identity as Children
Romans 8 further grounds good works in identity rather than obligation:
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16).
The Spirit cries, “Abba, Father” in the hearts of his children, testifying we exist his own(Romans 8:15). Those who are led by the Spirit are no longer slaves under fear or law but sons and daughters. This filial relationship produces obedience from life, not compulsion. Good works emerge from sonship, not servitude.
Paul emphasizes this again in Galatians 4:7:
“So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Slaves are created through; fear of punishment, and the authority of men that lords and exercises authority over them. The end goal of slavery is to benefit the master in personal gain. The Spirit is the guarantor of our inheritance, making us co-heirs with Christ. What we do to God's children we do to Christ, as we are co-heirs, sons and daughters.
The Danger of Works Without Knowing Christ
In contrast to having testimony from God Jesus warns in Matthew 7:22–23 of religion that prioritizes works even in "his name";
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
This passage is sobering because those rejected are not irreligious or inactive. They performed impressive works and exercised what we call spiritual gifts. Yet Jesus does not deny the reality of their actions—He denies relationship: “I never knew you” and calls them "workers of lawlessness" though they do these things in his name.
Lawlessness here is not mere moral failure but religiously working without knowing Christ, outside the life of grace and truth. As Jesus teaches elsewhere:
“Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Workers of lawlessness may appear fruitful outwardly, but their works do not arise from abiding in Christ. In Galatians Paul is dealing with false teachers who want to bring believers into a "yoke of slavery" by going back to the Mosaic Law. This is not just for justification, but speaks to any works done in the flesh, not in the Spirit of Christ.
Godly Living Through Grace
Titus 2:11–12 explains how good workers are formed:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”
Grace does not excuse ungodliness; it trains believers to live righteously. This training happens through knowing Christ, who came from the Father:
“Full of grace and truth… From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:14, 16).
Thus, spiritual growth is not driven by the Law, see The New Living Way, but from being a new creation and receiving from Christ’s fullness.
Grace Versus Law: Two Different Realms
Scripture consistently teaches that victory over sin does not come through the Law:
“Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
Paul warns that returning to the Mosaic Law as a means of righteousness severs believers from Christ:
“You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:4).
Grace reigns through righteousness (Romans 5:21), and righteousness is imputed through faith (Romans 4:5), then brought to life by the Spirit:
“The Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10).
Workers of lawlessness may be zealous, but their zeal is misplaced when it is rooted in law, performance, self-righteousness, or self-gain (often worldly status and riches) rather than Christ. The fact these "workers of lawlessness" cast out demons and prophesied in his name is amazing. We see Simon, in Acts 8:9–24, who was baptized but wanted the power of the Spirit through laying of hands for self-gain and offered Peter money for it.
Growth, Maturity, and Prepared Good Works
True good workers grow in Christ, moving toward maturity:
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
Paul describes this process in Ephesians 4:13–15:
“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood… speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ.”
Good works, then, are the expression of spiritual adulthood, not a substitute for it.
Jesus affirms this pattern:
“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8).
Fruit proves discipleship; it does not create it.
Conclusion
In the New Testament, good workers are those redeemed by Christ, grounded in grace, adopted as children, led by the Spirit, and grow to maturity in the knowledge of Jesus. Their works are prepared beforehand by God and flow naturally from abiding in Christ.
Workers of lawlessness, however, are those who operate outside of this relationship—even if their works appear spiritual or impressive. Without knowing Christ, works become empty and lawless, no matter how religious they seem.
Ultimately, the determination between good works and lawlessness is what or who they flow from and the fruit they produce, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Deep Dive:
Word Study Foundations
- Good Works (ἔργα ἀγαθά – erga agatha): The Greek phrase emphasizes deeds that flow from God’s goodness, not human merit. See Biblehub.
- Lawlessness (ἀνομία – anomia): Literally “without law,” meaning rebellion against God’s revealed will. See Biblehub.
- Workmanship (ποίημα – poiēma): Found in Ephesians 2:10, meaning a crafted creation, highlighting believers as God’s designed instruments. See Biblehub.
Good Workers in the New Testament
1. Redeemed for Good Works
- Titus 2:14 – Christ redeems us from anomia (lawlessness) and cleanses a people “zealous for good works.”
- Ephesians 2:10 – Believers are God’s poiēma, created in Christ Jesus for good works prepared beforehand.
- Romans 8:14-17 – The Spirit testifies we are children of God, heirs, and co-heirs with Christ, empowered to live as good workers.
2. Identity Rooted in Grace
- Ephesians 1:4-6 – Chosen, predestined, and adopted in Christ, all “to the praise of His glorious grace.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 – God makes grace abound so believers may “abound in every good work.”
- Colossians 1:10 – Walking worthy of the Lord, “bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
3. Growth into Maturity
- Titus 2:11-12 – Grace trains believers to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously, and godly.
- Ephesians 4:13-15 – Maturity comes through growing in the knowledge of Christ, no longer tossed by false doctrine.
- Hebrews 13:20-21 – God equips His people “with everything good for doing His will.”
Workers of Lawlessness
1. Outward Works Without Relationship
- Matthew 7:22-23 – Many will claim mighty works, prophecy, and exorcisms, yet Christ declares, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
- Luke 13:27 – Jesus repeats the warning: “Depart from me, all you workers of evil.”
2. Reliance on Law Instead of Grace
- Galatians 5:4 – Those who seek justification by the Law are “severed from Christ” and “fallen from grace.”
- Romans 10:3 – Israel pursued righteousness by works, not by faith, failing to submit to God’s righteousness.
3. Fruits of Lawlessness
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10 – The “mystery of lawlessness” is already at work, deceiving those who refuse the love of truth.
- 1 John 3:4-6 – Sin is anomia (lawlessness); those who abide in Christ do not continue in lawlessness.
Applicable Insight
We tend to think of lawlessness as evil things, greed, adultery, murder... but Jesus redefines it as not knowing Him. This itself is disobedient to God's word and unbelief in the prophesied Messiah. Jesus is the Word that became flesh and dwelt among men. God previously spoke through men, now he speaks through His Son, the Word.
The New Testament consistently teaches that good workers are not defined by external acts alone but by union with Christ, empowered by grace and the Spirit. Lawless workers may appear religious, but their works are detached from true relationship with Jesus. The dividing line is not activity but identity: whether one is redeemed, adopted, and transformed by grace, or whether one remains in rebellion, though they may seem outwardly obedient, they trust in self or law.
- Good Workers: Redeemed by Christ’s blood (Titus 2:14), chosen and adopted (Ephesians 1), empowered by the Spirit (Romans 8), and prepared for good works (Ephesians 2:10). Their works flow from new birth, grace, truth, and maturity in Christ.
- Workers of Lawlessness: Outwardly religious but inwardly estranged from Christ (Matthew 7:23), relying on law or self-righteousness (Galatians 5:4), and ultimately rejected because they lack true knowledge of Him.
The New Testament calls believers to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus, living as God’s workmanship, zealous for good works, while warning against the deception of lawlessness that masquerades as spirituality without knowledge and maturity in Christ.