Heidelberg Catecism Week 32

86. Q. We have been delivered from our misery by God's grace alone through Christ and not because we have earned it: why then must we still do good? A. To be sure, Christ has redeemed us by His blood. But we do good because Christ by His Spirit is also renewing us to be like Himself, so that in all our living we may show that we are thankful to God for all He has done for us, and so that He may be praised through us. And we do good so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ.

87. Q. Can those be saved who do not turn to God from their ungrateful and impenitent ways? A. By no means. Scripture tells us that no unchaste person, no idolater, adulterer, thief, no covetous person, no drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like is going to inherit the kingdom of God.

My reflections on the reading from the book...

What is the role of "good works" if they don't earn favor with God? 

DeYoung expounds upon the five reasons given in the answer to question 86:

1. We do good because the Holy Spirit is working in us to make us more like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18).
2. We do good out of gratitude (Rom. 12:1-2). 
3. We do good so that God might be praised by the works we display in His name (John 15:8).
4. We do good so that we can be assured of our right standing before God (Matt. 7:15-20; 1 Peter 2:12).
5. We do good in order that we might adorn the gospel (Titus 2:10) and make it attractive to outsiders (1 Peter 2:12). 

DeYoung states truthfully, "Christians who live in habitual, unrepentant sin show themselves not to be true Christians." 

Sadly, many churches today seek to manipulate God's Word to make it fit with people's sinful lifestyles. But God is very clear on the sins that He hates! What sober warnings God's Word gives to those who jump freely into all kinds of sins: pride, slander, covetousness, sexual immorality, etc. Such people cannot inherit the kingdom of God because they are not evidencing changed hearts!