All About Works
Satan is the enemy of all righteousness and that includes good works! He confuses the works of the law with the works of faith. Thus, we have many faiths with no works at all. Did Jesus’ faith have works? It is said there are many other good works Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, it is possible even the world itself would not contain the books written (John 21:25; 20:30).
Did Jesus say His followers would have works? He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he shall do also; and greater works than these shall he do because I go to the Father” (John 14:12).
Jesus did good works in the Father’s name and for the Father’s glory (John 8:54; 10:25; 10:32; Matt. 5:16). He did the works He saw the Father doing (John 4:34; 5:19). He told all His followers to do these same works on earth as they are done in heaven because doing God’s works is doing God’s Will (Matt. 6:10; 7:21). These works are misunderstood by a deceived, misled world. That’s why Jesus says, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Jesus continually admonished His followers to be doers of good works. Jesus did not live to please self, but others (Rom. 15:3; Matt. 20:28).
He was pleasing His neighbor for His neighbor’s good and edification (Rom. 15:2). He was not seeking His own good, but was denying Himself daily by doing good works toward His neighbor (Luke 9:23; Matt. 25:33-46; 1 Cor. 10:24). He took on the form of a bond-servant, showing us how to do good works (Phil. 2:7; Matt. 23:11). He didn’t live for self by looking out for His own interests, but He looked out for the interests of others (Phil. 2:4).
Having a faith with works means serving others in need for the glory of God (Matt. 5:16; James 2:14-18). Jesus’ faith is one of good deeds and not only words (1 John 3:18-19). It is a faith that is perfected by works (James 2:22). A faith that has works is a faith that is not foolish (James 2:20). A faith that has works is not dead, but is alive because of righteous good works (James 2:26; Rom. 8:10). A faith that serves others is the kind of faith God rewards because it pleases Him (Luke 14:13-14).
Jesus did His works in the Father’s name and we are to do these same deeds in Christ’s name (John 10:25; 1 Cor. 3:13-14; Rev. 2:26; Col. 3:17). We are to overcome evil by doing good and allow God to crush Satan under our feet (Rom. 12:21; 16:20; 2 Tim. 2:26).
Doing good works is how you glorify God daily and how you perform God’s Will on this earth (Matt. 5:16). When you do good works for God, He can bless you daily (Eph. 6:8). You build godly character and discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness when you do good works for God (1 Tim. 4:7). Good works is the good fruit on your spiritual tree (John 15:16; Col. 1:10; Matt. 3:10). Now you have the truth from God’s word about good works.
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