God's Purpose for You--Good Works

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In the last few days we've been scoping out passage after passage where genuine faith will result in good works. All of this is under the theme "Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone." As I get into it further I see this could go on for many more days than I had initially thought. So, let's take 5 more days on this theme.

Today I want to look at a very significant teaching in Ephesians 2:8-10: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

You are God's handiwork. This word is where we get our word-poem. So, it would be best said, "You are God's poem or message." I believe each of us has a special and unique message given to us by God Himself. This message is not given to us to sit on, but to release it in our relationships. So, now you and I are His message to the world. In other words, your story is His story.

By the way, this means you are needed by the "others" in the world and you have need of the "others" in your life. There is a significance to your existence that goes far beyond your vocation or building your kingdom. God has a plan for you to fulfill-some good works for you to do.

Not only will find your most satisfying fulfillment as you embrace your God-given message for the world, but your good works will shine as a light in the world of darkness. Listen to the words of Jesus: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The world doesn't need to be told about Jesus as much as it needs to see Jesus in you and me. The challenge to us is to hang out with Jesus close enough to catch on to how to walk like Jesus, think like Jesus, love like Jesus and talk like Jesus. Then the world may see His face.

Hearers and Not Doers

FOR THE AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE. Yesterday I used the famous quote, FAITH ALONE SAVES, BUT THE FAITH THAT SAVES IS NOT ALONE. The faith that saves or the faith that is genuine and complete has a balance of faith and works.

Today I want to turn to another of the many passages that teaches that the faith that saves is not alone. I just ran across another time where Jesus chides those who claim Jesus as Lord of their lives, but He is stumped that these same people don't do what He says to do. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" Luke 6:46

In the book of James there is a great visual of those who hear the word of God-they hear Jesus, they receive His words, but again they don't do them. James speaks to hearers who actually do hear and welcome the word of God, but because they are not doers they delude themselves into thinking somehow they have already applied what they have just heard.

In James 1:19-25 he says, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Those who listen to the word but do not do what it says are like people who look at their faces in a mirror and, after looking at themselves, go away and immediately forget what they look like. But those who look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continue in it-not forgetting what they have heard but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.

As a good friend continues to say, "Look at what Jesus said and did and go do it. It is just too simple. If you believe it, then act like it.

You see, Christianity or any other religious system can be distributed by a class or a lecture. In this case, it is entirely possible to fill up people's ears with so much stuff that they will never be able to do much of it at all. And after hearing these theological gems, they are able to pass along the thoughts point by point to others without ever allowing these teachings to be fleshed out in real life.

I find myself moving with the same innate tendency to disciple those who are interested by gathering them together in a seminar or workshop setting. But this is precisely what is totally different responding to Jesus' revolutionary call to "FOLLOW ME!" Following Jesus is not a lecture, but a lab which demands definition & demonstration!

Jesus ends His first speaking session with these words: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Be a doer of the words of Jesus and not a hearer who deludes himself.

The Balance of Faith and Works

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Yesterday's podcast begs the question-"When you put so much emphasis on following Jesus in order to get into heaven, isn't that saying that salvation is of works and not faith alone?"

To answer this question I want to deal with a few passages over the next few days that will most surely give some clarity on this truth.

You see, I didn't say that certain believers will not enter the kingdom of heaven-Jesus did! And there are all kinds of Scriptures that bring clarity to this. I can't get it out of my mind the two most important words that have changed the world-FOLLOW ME! Jesus is still calling us today to follow Him.

Stepping out in faith, believing and trusting Jesus, requires some follow-through. That follow-through is to follow Him with all your heart. I referred to the false prophets/teachers and the devils as two groups that are believers in Jesus, but they won't be entering into the kingdom of heaven according to Jesus. Why? Because they have chosen NOT TO FOLLOW Jesus.

Following Jesus is the necessary and natural "work" of genuine faith. So there is a certain balance of faith and works. One of the earliest writings is by James. He deals with this balance of faith and works in the following way:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that people are justified by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead (James 2:14-26).

NOTE the primary points James makes: 1. Faith without action is dead. 2. You show your faith by what you do. 3. Abraham's faith was made complete by his actions. 4. People are justified by what they do and not faith alone. 5. Faith without deeds is dead.

I have always liked this statement which sums it up best for me. FAITH ALONE SAVES, BUT THE FAITH THAT SAVES IS NOT ALONE.

MORE TOMORROW.

Believers or Followers?

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE BELIEVERS WHO WON'T MAKE IT INTO HEAVEN Possibly some of the most difficult words Jesus ever spoke has to do with who is going to make it into heaven and who will not. What makes it so difficult is that once you hear these words and really think about them, you must make some decisions about yourself.

I am referring to the words He spoke toward the end of His first seminar-the sermon on the mount. It's found in Matthew 7. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

Then Jesus makes the comments I find most interesting and convicting. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

Now these people who spoke in the name of Jesus, cast out demons in the name of Jesus and performed many miracles in the name of Jesus all had one thing in common with one another. They, no doubt, called themselves believers. So, here is a group of believers who will not enter the kingdom of heaven. WHO ARE THESE GUYS?

Recently I've been thinking that there are three groups of believers-these false teachers and prophets, the devils also believe and then there are those of our fellowship who claim to be believers. So, who is right? Well, in a sense, every group is right. They are all believers. So, what's the difference? Very little as far as their belief.

The real question is which believer will get into heaven. Jesus answers this very issue, because this is the most important issue of all. He says, "only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven" will enter the kingdom of heaven. Doing the will of His Father is to trust Jesus enough to follow Him-to walk, think, love and talk like Jesus.

So just being a believer doesn't get you into heaven, but following the principles and teachings of Jesus. Now, let me put it to you plainly: ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF JESUS? Is it your conscious effort to walk, think, love and talk like Jesus? ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF JESUS OR ONLY A BELIEVER?

Matthew 5:38-42

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38 ``You have heard that it was said, `AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39 ``But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 ``If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 ``Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 ``Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

WOW! Now this is a tough one! Jesus now turns to His way of dealing with RETALIATION. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood concepts in Judaism. Ask most people and they will say that this has something to do with “retaliation in the Old Testament” versus “love and forgiveness in the New Testament.” This isn’t true. Judaism never interpreted it in this way. An “eye for an eye” had to do with providing for limited liability in matters of legal compensation. Jesus is teaching to go beyond the minimum required of you when you are wronged!

They were laws for civil courts to apply, but the scribes and Pharisees interpreted these statements to justify personal retribution and retaliation against their enemies. They used them to take matters into their own hands—REVENGE. However, the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ both teach that vengeance was to be left up to God.

Jesus taught two things here: 1. Do not resist an evil person. Not only should you not take vengeance into your own hands, but don’t even oppose the evil person when the evil is being done.

2. Respond to evil by doing good. · Turn the other cheek… · Give more to the person suing you than what was asked… · Respond to government oppression by offering to do more than what is demanded… · Respond to those who ask for help by giving them what they ask…

NOTE in each case the principle is the same. We are not to resist the person who would mistreat us or who would try to deprive us of our possessions. Instead, respond in a positive manner to demonstrate the love of Jesus toward them by freely giving them more than they were hoping to gain by force, oppression or manipulation.

Joseph did this in forgiving his brothers and helping them later in life.

David spared the life of Saul, who was out to kill him.

Jesus, Himself is the primary example.

Stephen while he was being stoned.

Early believers who gladly received martyrdom and the plundering of their goods.

Paul teaches that we are to scoot over and leave room for the wrath of God on those who are doing us evil, to overcome evil with good.

I see this principle that is so contrary to “human nature” as one of the ultimate ways to fully trust Jesus to come through on our behalf. Maybe if we had the courage to actually have this kind of response, then Jesus might demonstrate Himself among us in a mighty and supernatural way. The next time you are mistreated in some way, take the challenge and look for ways to overcome evil with good. Then your “righteousness” will exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees.

It’s like Jesus is saying, when a person attacks you externally, go deeper and respond to them from the heart with love (internally). If a person slaps you on the cheek, you know that this person must really be in a world of hurt to do that to you. The inner aching in his heart is much worse than a bruise on the cheek. So, hit me again if you must. But I’m going to show you the love of Jesus that you so greatly lack by my response to you!