New Direction Good Works

Bible Matters 568: New Direction Good Works

Nothing gets accomplished without Faith.  Faith is the beginning.   You will never experience the glory of the end, unless you start at the beginning.

The Gospel of Thomas:  Saying 18 – Beginning and End – The disciples said to Jesus, “Tell us about our end. How will it come?”

Jesus said, “Have you discovered the beginning so that you can look for the end? Because the end will be where the beginning is. Blessed is the one who will stand up in the beginning. They’ll know the end, and won’t taste death.”

Once you have faith, God demands love:  Love God and Love your neighbor.  With Love, comes works.     

Since I’ve already been glorified like this, why do you hold me back in my eagerness to go?  For after the [labor], you’ve made me stay with you another eighteen days because of the parables. For some people, it was enough <to listen> to the teaching and understand ‘The Shepherds,’ ‘The Seed,’ ‘The Building,’ ‘The Lamps of the Young Women,’ ‘The Wage of the Workers,’ and ‘The Silver Coins and the Woman.’

“Be eager about the message! The first stage of the message is faith, the second is love, and the third is works, because from these comes life.

Do not be confused between works of religion and good works.  Ephesians 2:8-9 refers to works of religion that means nothing.   Ephesians 2:10 are works of mercy that God demands for them that love him and walk in the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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.

James’ message is rock solid.  You must believe in one God.  Faith with works comes life. Faith without works brings death.

James 2:17-26 – Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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 believes that there is one God; thou does 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.

James understood the gospel of Love that Jesus delivered.  Jesus had so much faith in James that he told the disciples to seek James.

The Gospel of Thomas: Saying 12 – James the Just

The disciples said to Jesus, “We know you’re going to leave us. Who will lead us then?”

Jesus said to them, “Wherever you are, you’ll go to James the Just, for whom heaven and earth came into being.”

Out of love, look for ways to help with works.  Going beyond works, people may need charity.  Yes, charity.

The Gospel of Thomas: Saying 95 – Giving Money – [Jesus said], “If you have money, don’t lend it at interest. Instead, give [it to] someone from whom you won’t get it back.”

The Samaritan showed the love of neighbor with good works. The priest and Levite passed by.  Which one did the will of God?

Luke 10:30-37 – And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Over and over and over again, the witnesses gave testimony that God is looking for your good works.   Good works starts with family.

1 Timothy 5:10,25 – Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Revelation 20:13 – 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

Thomas and James recognized that with love comes charity.  Paul confirmed that all things are to be done with charity. 

1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians 16:14 – Let all your things be done with charity.

Titus 3:8 – This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

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

Hindu love of neighbor, requires charity.

Some learned men declare that all kinds of fruitive activities should be given up as faulty, yet other sages maintain that acts of sacrifice, charity and penance should never be abandoned.

Muhammed preached that your belief is shown by righteous good deeds.

The Cow 62 Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

With charity, God is looking for your good works.

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

John 10:32 – Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Acts 9:36 – Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

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

1 Timothy 5:10,24-25 -Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.  Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.  Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

James 3:12-13 – Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.  Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

With righteous good deeds and good works, endure to the end that you may lay hold onto eternal life.

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.

John 10:32 – Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Romans 13:3 – For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

1 Timothy 2:10 – But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

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

1 Timothy 6:18-19 – That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Titus 1:16 – They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus 3:8,14 – This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.  And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

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.

1 Peter 1:16-17 – Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Revelation 2:19 – I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Revelation 2:23,26 – And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Hebrews 10:24,26 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

2 Corinthians 11:15 – Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

How many witnesses do you have to hear, before you’ll believe in the gospel of Love and God is looking for your good works.

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