Good work

SANTOSO

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Yes, indeed we heard:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:10

That we should walk in good works !
Likewise, we are told to understand this !

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. -2 Timothy 3:1

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, -2 Timothy 3:2.....

Apostle Paul continue to speak with such clarity about people in the last days until 2 Timothy 3:9

Indeed, we should walk in good works but we are understand that there will be times of difficulty for us in the last days !

We have considered those who have done good works have done in love ! As we have heard:

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. -1 Corinthians 13:7

If there are times of difficulty,
it is not easy for us to bear people in the last days,
it is not easy for us to believe people in the last days,
it is not easy for us to hope people in the last days,
it is not easy for us to endure people in the last days !

Yet, despite all, we need to endure !
Believe God can carry us through all our afflictions and sufferings and take all our sins away.

We can’t do it without God giving us His strength and
We can’t do it without God blessing us with His peace.

We all will cry due to the difficulty
and we need the comfort of God’s love in our afflictions and suffering.

Alone we cry and cry because we need God to be with us, not to leave us nor forsake us.

When He is with us, we don’t fear because God is love and He cast out all our fear. Yes, He delivers us out of all fears.


Then Apostle Paul told us what to do how to live our lives in the last days :

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, -2 Timothy 3:10

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, -2 Timothy 3:12

while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. -2 Timothy 3:13

Yes, apostle Paul reminds us to imitate him in Christ Jesus as we do good works. Doesn’t he love his country men despite being prosecuted? Doesn’t he love the Gentiles despite his suffering?


Again, apostle Paul reminds us :

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it -2 Timothy 3:14

and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. -2 Timothy 3:15

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, -2 Timothy 3:16

that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. -2 Timothy 3:17

So in the last days, apostle Paul have given pointers what to do.
Yes, there will be difficulty, yet God guide us as we submit ourselves to His love, that is found in all Scripture which He breathes.

Yes, all Scripture that is breathed out by God is able to make us COMPLETE and EQUIPPED for every good work in the last days !

How we need the Holy Spirit to guide us in the last days !
How important it is for us to yield the Spirit of His words that are found in all scripture !
How truly we need Holy Spirit our comforter in the last days !
Yes, how we would like to be filled with the comfort of His love in the last days, that we may abound in good works.
Not be discouraged but strengthen with His love.
 
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SANTOSO

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Let us consider what we have heard:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:10

What is created in Christ Jesus ?

by destroying in his own body the enmity occasioned by the Torah, with its commands set forth in the form of ordinances. He did this in order to create in union with himself from the two groups a single new humanity and thus make shalom, -Ephesians 2:15 CJB

and in order to reconcile to God both in a single body by being executed on a stake as a criminal and thus in himself killing that enmity.-Ephesians 2:16 CJB

Who is the two groups ? They are the Jews and Gentiles.

So both we the Gentiles and the Jews are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Apostle Paul have told us our Lord Jesus Christ did this in order to create in union with Himself from the two groups a single new humanity and thus make shalom, and in order to reconcile us to God both in a single body !

It is clear that our Lord’s intents are to bring us to shalom or peace of God and to reconcile us to God through Him.

Without we being brought peace to God, we can’t escape God’s wrath to come. That is why being brought peace to God is so important!

Without we being reconciled to God, we remain God’s enemies!

This is what we have heard :
For the wicked will perish;
Adonai’s enemies will be like sheep fat,
ending up as smoke, finished.

That is why it is important that we be reconciled to God.

So God is working in us so that we be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love as we have understood and perceived that He gave Himself for us, in order to create in union with Himself, in bringing us peace to God and reconciling us to God for good works which God prepared beforehand - all scripture that is breathed by God that we should walk in love.

Let us hold dear to our hearts, for Christ’s love who bring us peace to God.

Let us hold dear to our hearts, for Christ’s love who bring us to be reconciled to God.
Let us love Christ for His great love for us.
 
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SANTOSO

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This is what we have heard about works :

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? -James 2:14

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. -James 2:18

Whose faith by his or her works that save him or her ?

This is what we have heard the Lord Himself have said :

And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." -Luke 7:50

What works this woman has done ?

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. -Luke 7:44

You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. -Luke 7:45

You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. -Luke 7:46

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven'for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." -Luke 7:47

And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." -Luke 7:48

Our Lord acknowledged this woman’s faith by her works. What was this woman’s works ? For she loved the Lord much. That is why she did what the Lord have spoken of her.

This woman’s faith by her works that saved her, as we have heard the Lord acknowledged her what she had done.
 
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SANTOSO

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Are we not persuaded to do something like what apostle Paul have said :

Now I urge you, brothers'you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints' -1 Corinthians 16:15

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, -1 Corinthians 16:17

for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people. -1 Corinthians 16:18

Let us also learn how apostle Paul respond to good works that had done by Stephanas’ household.

Let our spirits rejoice to know what this kind of household have done; done good works.
 
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SANTOSO

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Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, -Hebrews 13:20
equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. -Hebrews 13:21

Yes, God is working in us through Christ Jesus. What is pleasing in His sight ?

This is what we have heard :

I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. -1 Chronicles 29:17
 
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SANTOSO

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Can those who walk in the manner worthy of the calling which the Lord calls to be considered doing good works ?

This is what we have heard:

2 Always be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love, 3 and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as when you were called you were called to one hope. 5 And there is one Lord, one trust, one immersion, 6 and one God, the Father of all, who rules over all, works through all and is in all.- Ephesians 4:2-6
 
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