Sometimes people can get works mixed up. Salvation, or being saved, has nothing to do
with our works, it is by grace you are saved through faith and the Word makes
it very clear that it is not because of anything we can do, it is primarily the
gift of God to us. Our works are nothing
but filthy rags in comparison, and will accomplish nothing toward anyone’s salvation.
But Ephesians 2:10 says this, “For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we
should walk in them.”
I talked to a man that thinks works after salvation is not
important at all, that all you have to do is tell everyone about the Lord. I have tried to explain this to him I don’t
know how many times, but he refuses to believe me no matter what scriptures I tell
him about. Although salvation is God’s unmerited
favor, we show our appreciation by responding with grace towards others by what
we do; praying, visiting or helping others do things or by giving financially or
witnessing to them, telling them what the Lord has done in our lives.
When Jesus talked about believers being the light of the
world in Matthew 5, He said this in verse 16; “Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Meeting needs is very important and it shows
Christ’s likeness in us and in our character. Encouraging and blessing others are commendable
and they honor the Lord and I think are good things to do, I would say that they
come under the category of good works. If
we are Christians we should be willing to do good works for those in need. When we put the Bible into practice and let
our light shine, God will receive glory through us. I have read or heard this statement at times and
it seems to make a lot of sense, “I would rather see a sermon than to hear one
anytime,” or something close to that. Seeing
a sermon is seeing the change that sermon has made in someone’s life.
What about what it says in the book of James about faith and
works in James 2:14-26, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he
has faith but does not have works? Can
faith save him? If a brother or sister
is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in
peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are
needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does
not have works, is dead. But someone
will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I
will show you my faith by my works. You
believe that there is one God. You do
well. Even the demons believe—and
tremble! But do you want to know, O
foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together
with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham
believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see
then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also
justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another
way? For as the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
If you are in Christ you have to have faith because the Word
says in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he
who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him.” The result of
that faith will be good works. So don’t
get these two meanings of works mixed up, and be about your heavenly Father’s business
like He was when He walked the earth. There
is much good work for you to do, so get busy. May the Lord bless you and yours and have a
super day!!
No comments:
Post a Comment