1) A Finnish black/thr… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 15 artists with this name:
1) A Finnish black/thrash metal band.
2) A Russian drum and bass producer.
3) A Christian rap/hip-hop artist.
4) A Japanese dance-pop/hip-hop boy band.
5) A South African soul-rock band.
6) A rock band fronted by vocalist Marge Raymond.
7) A Polish rock band.
8) An Estonian band.
9) A Serbian girl band.
10) An American hard rock band.
11) An American R&B female singer.
12) A Swedish hip-hop artist.
13) A British glam rock group.
14) A Stanic funk/reggae/salsa rock band.
15) A japanese hardcorepunk band
16) A Thai rock band stylized as FLAME (use tag เฟลม instead)
Good Works
Flame Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God doesn't need our good works
But our neighbor does
I mean that's so weighty when
You think about
It because all our good deeds
Our sanctification, our skill-sets
Our responsibilities, And various roles
Our families, society, our neighbor, right?
But what makes us right with God, Paul says
Is our faith
That's how we are made righteous
And how we remain righteous, in Christ
But when you blur those lines
And start looking at your
Sanctification for assurance
That you're right with God
A bunch of problems arise first off
We end up filled with discouragement
From constantly missing the mark
We can also end up filled with self doubt
From constantly applying subjective
And arbitrary measures
To assess our level of sanctification
In order to determine whether or
Not we are justified or on the flip side
We could be filled with self-righteousness
As a result of fulfilling
Some criteria we created and then in turn
Cast judgement on others who don't
Check our specific boxes
This is a common experience
Especially among Calvinists
Because it flows from functionally
Placing sanctification above justification
This stems from the fact that, in general
For Calvinists
There is a primary emphasis on God
With obedience to the law
Which perpetuates this inward focus
Luther on the other hand
Places the perfect work of
God in justification
Over the incomplete process of sanctification
We are to look Extra Nos
Or outside of ourselves
Towards the righteousness of faith
Which is our justification for assurance
This is where we find
Identity, stability, objectivity
And security
Luther is committed to justification
Truly being Sola Fide meaning by faith alone
His primary emphasis is on serving
Your neighbor through your vocation
This emphasis helps to maintain
The clear distinction
Between our identity being found in
Our righteousness of faith
Which we receive from God
Aka passive righteousness
Versus our performance or
Our active righteousness
Which is righteousness we live out for
The benefit of our neighbor as Christians
We should seek both kinds of righteousness
But for different purposes
We should guard our good works becoming the
Basis for our righteousness before God
And we should guard against
Our righteousness of faith
Being used to eliminate the
Need for good works
Our good works have value here on earth
Coram Mundo
But it does not justify us before God
Coram Deo
It is vital that we keep these separate
The lyrics of Flame's song "Good Works" delve deep into the theological teachings of Martin Luther and the distinction between justification and sanctification in the Christian faith. Luther's emphasis that God does not need our good works, but our neighbors do, sets the tone for understanding the purpose of good deeds in the context of Christianity. The lyrics highlight the weightiness of this concept, pointing out that our responsibilities, skills, and roles are meant to benefit those around us, including our families, society, and neighbors. This emphasis on serving others through our actions reflects the Christian principle of love and compassion for one's community.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea that while faith is what makes us right with God and keeps us righteous in Christ, the temptation to rely on our sanctification for assurance of our righteousness can lead to various problems. This can manifest in feelings of discouragement, self-doubt, or self-righteousness, as individuals may struggle with measuring their sanctification against subjective standards or comparing themselves to others. The song warns against placing too much emphasis on sanctification as a means of justifying oneself before God, as this can lead to judgmental attitudes and a focus on outward appearances rather than true faith.
The contrast between Calvinist and Luther's perspectives on justification and sanctification is also explored in the lyrics. Calvinists tend to prioritize obedience to the law and sanctification, which can lead to an inward focus and a tendency to measure one's righteousness based on personal achievements. In contrast, Luther emphasizes the perfect work of God in justification through faith alone, encouraging believers to look outside of themselves for assurance and security. This distinction between passive righteousness received from God and active righteousness lived out for the benefit of others helps maintain a clear understanding of one's identity and purpose as a Christian.
The lyrics stress the importance of maintaining a balance between faith and good works in the Christian life. While good works have value in serving one's neighbor and society (Coram Mundo), they do not serve as the basis for justification before God (Coram Deo). It is crucial to keep these aspects separate and to avoid using our good works to earn righteousness in God's eyes. Instead, believers are urged to strive for both kinds of righteousness, understanding that while faith justifies us before God, our good works are a reflection of our love for others and our commitment to serving the community. This complex interplay between faith, good works, and righteousness is at the core of the theological reflection presented in Flame's song "Good Works."
Line by Line Meaning
Man I love how Luther emphasized that God doesn't need our good works
I appreciate Luther highlighting the fact that God is not dependent on our good deeds.
But our neighbor does
However, our good works are essential for benefiting those around us.
I mean that's so weighty when You think about It because all our good deeds
This concept is significant when considering that our actions and behaviors play a crucial role.
Our sanctification, our skill-sets Our responsibilities, And various roles
Our growth in holiness, abilities, duties, and diverse positions all contribute to serving others.
Are for the benefit of those around us Our families, society, our neighbor, right?
These aspects aim to benefit our immediate circles, communities, and neighbors.
But what makes us right with God, Paul says Is our faith
According to Paul, our faith is what justifies us in front of God.
That's how we are made righteous And how we remain righteous, in Christ
Faith is the means through which we are declared righteous and continue to be righteous in Christ.
But when you blur those lines
However, when the distinction between faith and works becomes unclear
And start looking at your Sanctification for assurance That you're right with God
And begin to rely on your progress in holiness to confirm your righteousness before God
A bunch of problems arise first off We end up filled with discouragement
Numerous issues emerge initially, leading to discouragement.
From constantly missing the mark
Resulting from the continuous failure to meet expectations.
We can also end up filled with self doubt
Furthermore, self-doubt may arise due to uncertainty and insecurity.
From constantly applying subjective And arbitrary measures
By consistently using personal and random standards
To assess our level of sanctification
To evaluate our progress in holiness
In order to determine whether or Not we are justified or on the flip side
In an attempt to establish our justification but may lead to the opposite effect
We could be filled with self-righteousness
We may also become consumed with self-righteousness
As a result of fulfilling Some criteria we created and then in turn
From meeting specific criteria we set for ourselves
Cast judgement on others who don't Check our specific boxes
And passing judgment on those who do not meet our individual standards
This is a common experience Especially among Calvinists
This situation is frequently observed, particularly within the Calvinist community
Because it flows from functionally Placing sanctification above justification
Due to the tendency to prioritize holiness over justification
This stems from the fact that, in general For Calvinists
This originates from the overarching belief among Calvinists
There is a primary emphasis on God With obedience to the law
Which centers around a strong focus on God's commandments and law
Which perpetuates this inward focus
Resulting in an internalized focus
Luther on the other hand Places the perfect work of God in justification
In contrast, Luther emphasizes God's flawless work in justifying us
Over the incomplete process of sanctification
Instead of the ongoing journey of sanctification
We are to look Extra Nos Or outside of ourselves
We should look beyond ourselves for assurance
Towards the righteousness of faith Which is our justification for assurance
Towards the righteousness bestowed by faith, assuring our justified status
This is where we find Identity, stability, objectivity And security
Here lies our identity, stability, objectivity, and security
Luther is committed to justification Truly being Sola Fide meaning by faith alone
Luther strongly advocates for justification solely through faith
His primary emphasis is on serving Your neighbor through your vocation
His main focus is on serving others in their respective callings
This emphasis helps to maintain The clear distinction
This priority ensures a clear separation
Between our identity being found in Our righteousness of faith
Between our identity rooted in faith righteousness
Which we receive from God Aka passive righteousness
Received from God, also known as passive righteousness
Versus our performance or Our active righteousness
In comparison to our actions and active righteousness
Which is righteousness we live out for The benefit of our neighbor as Christians
Which involves living out righteousness to benefit others as followers of Christ
We should seek both kinds of righteousness But for different purposes
While we should aim for both types of righteousness, they serve distinct purposes
We should guard our good works becoming the Basis for our righteousness before God
We must be cautious of relying on our deeds as the foundation for our righteousness in front of God
And we should guard against Our righteousness of faith Being used to eliminate the Need for good works
Similarly, we should prevent our faith righteousness from dismissing the importance of good works
Our good works have value here on earth Coram Mundo
Our good deeds hold significance in this world, in the presence of others
But it does not justify us before God Coram Deo
Yet, they are not what validates us in the eyes of God
It is vital that we keep these separate
Therefore, maintaining a clear division between the two is crucial
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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