GOOD WORKS
"We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10
Through the blood of Christ our Lord and by the grace of God our Father, we are saved from sin and from the wrath of God which sin incurs. But what are we saved unto? We are saved unto a holy and righteous life, actively involved in doing good works.
Fellowship spurs us on:
Therefore the scripture exhorts, "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Heb 10:24 And notice it continues, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another." Does your fellowship with other Christians spur you on to love and good deeds? Do you provoke other Christians to practice love and good deeds? Indeed that is one of the main functions of fellowship.
But it may take some maturing for each Christian to come to the realization of the importance of doing good deeds.
In fact if a person isn't doing the good he ought to do, that's sin.
Christ's example spurs us on:
Titus 3:4-8 "when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."
Prayer spurs us on:
Col 1:10 "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God"
And we are to do good even despite suffering unjustly:
1Pe 4:19 "So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."
God's provides resources to do good:
For "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2Cor 9:8
Holiness prepares us to do good:
2Tim 2:21,22 "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
BENEFITS:
Not only do we benefit others by doing good, we also benefit ourselves in a very significant way. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1Peter 3:10-12
And so also doing good gives us a feeling of assurance that we are among the righteous. For Jesus said, "a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out— those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." John 5:28,29 (So also Matthew 25:31-46)
Good works may also win for us a hearing:
Mt 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
1Pe 2:12 "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."
Therefore "do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Heb 13:16
As for some practical examples in the New Testament:
Acts 9:36 "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor."
Acts 10:31 "and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor."
Gal 2:10 "All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
1Tim 5:10 "and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds."
"We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10
Through the blood of Christ our Lord and by the grace of God our Father, we are saved from sin and from the wrath of God which sin incurs. But what are we saved unto? We are saved unto a holy and righteous life, actively involved in doing good works.
Fellowship spurs us on:
Therefore the scripture exhorts, "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Heb 10:24 And notice it continues, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another." Does your fellowship with other Christians spur you on to love and good deeds? Do you provoke other Christians to practice love and good deeds? Indeed that is one of the main functions of fellowship.
But it may take some maturing for each Christian to come to the realization of the importance of doing good deeds.
In fact if a person isn't doing the good he ought to do, that's sin.
Christ's example spurs us on:
Titus 3:4-8 "when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."
Prayer spurs us on:
Col 1:10 "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God"
And we are to do good even despite suffering unjustly:
1Pe 4:19 "So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."
God's provides resources to do good:
For "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2Cor 9:8
Holiness prepares us to do good:
2Tim 2:21,22 "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
BENEFITS:
Not only do we benefit others by doing good, we also benefit ourselves in a very significant way. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1Peter 3:10-12
And so also doing good gives us a feeling of assurance that we are among the righteous. For Jesus said, "a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out— those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." John 5:28,29 (So also Matthew 25:31-46)
Good works may also win for us a hearing:
Mt 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
1Pe 2:12 "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."
Therefore "do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Heb 13:16
As for some practical examples in the New Testament:
Acts 9:36 "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor."
Acts 10:31 "and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor."
Gal 2:10 "All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
1Tim 5:10 "and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds."
