July 12, 2014 WORKS AND GOOD DEEDS
Romans 3:28 and many other passages make it clear that we are not justified by works, but by faith. However, works and good deeds play a vital part in the lives of believers and references to works and deeds are found throughout the scriptures. I think that the call to be about good deeds and good works has been somewhat a neglected emphasis mainly because it can appear to be in conflict with message of grace. If the grace of God in our lives fails to express good works and good deeds, then something is amiss. There is something right about having a desire to be about good deeds. The key is, if we are attempting to do good deeds in order to gain His approval or gain salvation, we are in total conflict with scripture. However, because we now have a new nature it is natural to be about good deeds and good works just as our Father is about good deeds and good works. Titus 2:14 “…who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify foe Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” The love that God has put in our hearts is to be the motivation for the good works and good deeds whereas any other motivation produces bad fruit in the end. We read in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Our actions are to bring glory to our Father and reveal to others what our Fathers is like. Scripture also teaches that when we are about good works, we are storing up treasure. I Timothy 6:18-19: “Instruct them to do good, to be and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” Finally, James 2:20 teaches that faith without works is dead. Let us all be “zealous for good works” that our Father may be glorified.
I John 3:18: “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Romans 3:28 and many other passages make it clear that we are not justified by works, but by faith. However, works and good deeds play a vital part in the lives of believers and references to works and deeds are found throughout the scriptures. I think that the call to be about good deeds and good works has been somewhat a neglected emphasis mainly because it can appear to be in conflict with message of grace. If the grace of God in our lives fails to express good works and good deeds, then something is amiss. There is something right about having a desire to be about good deeds. The key is, if we are attempting to do good deeds in order to gain His approval or gain salvation, we are in total conflict with scripture. However, because we now have a new nature it is natural to be about good deeds and good works just as our Father is about good deeds and good works. Titus 2:14 “…who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify foe Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” The love that God has put in our hearts is to be the motivation for the good works and good deeds whereas any other motivation produces bad fruit in the end. We read in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Our actions are to bring glory to our Father and reveal to others what our Fathers is like. Scripture also teaches that when we are about good works, we are storing up treasure. I Timothy 6:18-19: “Instruct them to do good, to be and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” Finally, James 2:20 teaches that faith without works is dead. Let us all be “zealous for good works” that our Father may be glorified.
I John 3:18: “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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