Bible Matters 457: Good Works

Jesus was sent by God with a message of love.   The preponderance of evidence coming out of the testimony of the witnesses, is about love and good works by serving others.    Do not be fooled into thinking that man’s acts of religion will provide righteousness in the eyes of God.  God does not want your works of religion. (i.e.  Animal and blood sacrifice, water baptism, works of the law, etc.)   Paul, Barnabas and Peter spoke out against works of religion and the law of Moses being required for the gift of everlasting life.

Acts 15:1,5-11 – And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that you are saved by grace and God doesn’t want your service.   God is looking for you to do the will of God unto good works out of love for your neighbor. 

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Galatians 2:16 – Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

When you love God, you succumb to good works.  You will be judged by your works.  Not the works of religion, but works of love.

Revelation 3:15-17 – I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

James 2:18-26 – Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Matthew 5:12,16 – Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 16:27 – For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

2 Timothy 3:17 – That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Timothy 6:18 – That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

1 Peter 2:12 – Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Revelation 18:6 – Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Revelation 20:12-13 – And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Your works are evidence of walking in the light and your deeds wrought in God.

John 3:19-21 – And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Never rely on the testimony of one witness to understand the truth in God’s word.  God wants your good works. Rely on the understanding of the truth in God’s word from the mouth or two or three witnesses.  When the testimony of all eight witnesses are in agreement, then you listen and obey God’s word in truth, always looking to do good works.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.