一、只有上帝在《聖經》中所吩咐的那些事，才算是善行；至於那些沒有《聖經》根據的事，只是人出於盲目熱心，或假「善良動機」之名做出的計謀，不是善行。
Good works are only such as God has commanded in his holy Word (a), and not such as, without the warrant of Scripture, are devised by men out of blind zeal or any pretense of good intention (b).
二、遵守上帝之誡命所做的善行，乃是真信心、活信心的果子與憑據，信徒藉善行表達他們的感恩，加強他們的確信，造就弟兄的德行，尊榮所承認的福音，堵住敵人的口，歸榮耀給上帝。這些善行乃是上帝的工作，在基督耶穌裡造成的﹔ 就結出成聖的果子，結局就是永生。
These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and living faith (c). By them believers show their thankfulness (d), strengthen their assurance (e), build up their fellow believers (f), adorn the profession of the gospel (g), shut the mouths of the adversaries (h), and glorify God (i). They are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (k), so that, bearing fruit unto holiness, they may attain the outcome, which is eternal life
三、信徒根本不是靠自己能行善，而是完全靠基督的靈。 信徒要能行善，除了需要他們已經領受的恩典之外，還需要聖靈在他們裡面運行，真正影響了他們，使他們立志行事，為成就祂的美意。因此他們不可懈怠，以為只受聖靈的特別感動，否則就不必盡任何本分﹔反倒要更加慇勤，使上帝的恩典激發在他們裡面。
Their ability to do good works is not at all from themselves, but entirely from the Spirit of Christ (m). And – in order that they may be enabled to do these things – besides the graces believers have already received, there must also be an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit working in them both to will and to do God’s good pleasure (n). This truth, however, should not cause believers to become negligent, as though they were not bound to perform any duty without a special moving of the Spirit; rather, they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them (o).
四、那些因順服以致達到今生可能的最高境界者，決不能因此累積額外的功德，所行的善也絕沒有比上帝所要求的更多，因為他們所行的善離他們應盡的責任還有一大段差距。
Those who attain the greatest heights of obedience possible in this life are so far from being able to go beyond duty and to do more than God requires, that they fall short of much that is their duty to do (p).
五、我們最好的善行也不能使我們配從上帝手中得赦罪或永生，因為我們的善行與未來的榮耀相比，實在算不得甚麼；上帝更是無限地超越我們，我們憑善行既不能叫上帝得益處，又不能補償我們(以往)的罪債；我們就算做完了一切我們所能做的，也只是無用的僕人，所做的本是我們應分做的；而且善行既是良善的，就是出於上帝的靈；而善行既又是由我們行出來的，就也會纔雜了我們諸多的軟弱和不完全，因而被玷污，以致經不起上帝嚴格的審判。
We cannot, by our best works, merit forgiveness for sin or eternal life at the hand of God. This is true because of the great disproportion between our best works and the glory to come, and because of the infinite distance between us and God. We cannot benefit God by our best works nor render satisfaction for the debt of our former sins (q), for when we have done all we can, we have done merely our duty and are unprofitable servants (r). This is because, insofar as they are good, these deeds proceed from the Spirit (s); and insofar as they are done by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of God’s judgment (t).
六、然 而 ， 信 徒 本 身 既 藉 基 督 蒙 悅 納 ， 他 們 的 善 行 就 也 在 基 督 裡 蒙 悅 納。 這不是說，他們今生在上帝眼中看為毫無瑕疵，無可指摘似的；而是說，上帝既是在祂兒子裡看這些善行，就還是悅納並獎賞那些雖仍有許多軟弱和不完全，但出於真心的善行。
Nevertheless, because believers are accepted through Christ, their good works are also accepted in him (u). They are accepted not because believers are in this life unblamable and unreprovable in God’s sight (w), but because he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, even though it is accompanied by many weaknesses and imperfections (x).
七、未重生之人所行的事，雖然事情本身可能是上帝所吩咐的，對己對人都有益處，但因為行這事的是未信之人，他的心還沒有因信得潔淨，而且也不是按照上帝的旨意、以正當的方法行，目的也不是榮耀上帝，所以是不正確﹔ 因此仍是罪行，不能討上帝的喜悅，也不能使人有資格領受上帝的恩典。然而，他們若果忽視善行，就更有罪，更不討上帝的喜悅。
Although the works done by unregenerate men may in themselves be things which God commands and things which are useful to themselves and others (y), yet – because they do not come from a heart purified by faith (z), are not done in a right manner according to the Word (a), and are not done for the right purpose, which is to glorify God (b) – they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God or make one suitable to receive his grace (c). Yet, neglecting them is even more sinful and displeasing to God (d).
