January 25, 2024 NOT THE HEARERS
Romans 2:13 “for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.”
James 1:25 “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirt of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
Nothing is more clear in the scriptures than the fact that salvation is based on grace and not on works. However, one can elevate this truth to the point that they can downplay the importance of good works; almost to the point that it does not matter what you do. We live in a culture that puts a premium on knowledge; knowledge is certainly important, but to obtain knowledge for the sake of knowledge is an empty goal. Even as believers, we can be guilty of being content just by attending bible studies and hearing good sermons. So, it is clear that we cannot be saved by good works or by works earn God’s love and approval. It is also clear that good works are crucial in the life of the believer. So-what’s the deal with works you might ask. Because the Holy Spirit lives us, because we have been made new creations, and because we have been made righteous in Christ, we do good works because that is who we are; good works are a result of who we are as sons and daughters of God. The commands in the scriptures are not rules we must keep; the scriptures reveal the nature of God. For example, the scriptures tell us to be givers-God is a giver; we are instructed to be patient-God is patient. The verse in James encourages us to look ‘into the perfect law, the law of liberty.’ When out of our new identity we ‘do the scriptures,’ we are blessed and we are liberated from the unfulfilling self life. The same verse tells us that we are to persevere; being about good works is to be a way of life where we act on the word of God. Romans 2:13 tells us that the ‘doers of the Law will be justified.’ So, let us not be hearers only, but doers of God’s word.
John 14:15a “If you love Me, you will obey My commandments.’ (We obey Him because we love Him.)
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Matthew 5:16 “In the same way let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father.”
Titus 2:14 “Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.”
(To reemphasize: we are saved by grace, not by good works. But good works are a fruit of being saved.)
Blessings, Buddy
Romans 2:13 “for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.”
James 1:25 “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirt of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
Nothing is more clear in the scriptures than the fact that salvation is based on grace and not on works. However, one can elevate this truth to the point that they can downplay the importance of good works; almost to the point that it does not matter what you do. We live in a culture that puts a premium on knowledge; knowledge is certainly important, but to obtain knowledge for the sake of knowledge is an empty goal. Even as believers, we can be guilty of being content just by attending bible studies and hearing good sermons. So, it is clear that we cannot be saved by good works or by works earn God’s love and approval. It is also clear that good works are crucial in the life of the believer. So-what’s the deal with works you might ask. Because the Holy Spirit lives us, because we have been made new creations, and because we have been made righteous in Christ, we do good works because that is who we are; good works are a result of who we are as sons and daughters of God. The commands in the scriptures are not rules we must keep; the scriptures reveal the nature of God. For example, the scriptures tell us to be givers-God is a giver; we are instructed to be patient-God is patient. The verse in James encourages us to look ‘into the perfect law, the law of liberty.’ When out of our new identity we ‘do the scriptures,’ we are blessed and we are liberated from the unfulfilling self life. The same verse tells us that we are to persevere; being about good works is to be a way of life where we act on the word of God. Romans 2:13 tells us that the ‘doers of the Law will be justified.’ So, let us not be hearers only, but doers of God’s word.
John 14:15a “If you love Me, you will obey My commandments.’ (We obey Him because we love Him.)
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Matthew 5:16 “In the same way let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father.”
Titus 2:14 “Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.”
(To reemphasize: we are saved by grace, not by good works. But good works are a fruit of being saved.)
Blessings, Buddy
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