Dead works are actions taken to secure righteousness or salvation, which ultimately lead to death because they rely on human effort instead of God's grace.
In theological terms, dead works refer to those efforts that individuals undertake in hopes of achieving righteousness or favor with God, as highlighted in the sermon. These works are considered dead because they do not align with the perfect righteousness that God requires and lead to spiritual death. The Bible teaches that salvation cannot be obtained through human efforts, as stated in Isaiah 64:6: 'But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.' Instead, true righteousness is found solely in Christ, whose merit avails for believers, and understanding this is essential for genuine repentance and faith.
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