[Biblemat] S) IN WORD OR IN DEED

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study that rec-
ently came my way.  Use to the glory of God.

IN WORD OR IN DEED

     "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name 
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
Him" (Gal. 3:17).  This command covers quite thoroughly the
overt behavior and the covert behavior of people.  Whatever
the law says, it say to those who are under the law (Rom. 3:
19).  Since all are amenable to the law of Christ, people are
duty-bound to hear and obey His words.  "He who rejects Me,
and does not receive My words, has that which judges him --
the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (Jno. 12:48).  
This statement answers once and for all whether sinners are amenable to the 
particulars of the law of
Christ.

     Words are the essential vehicles of thought.  They are so
important that Jesus said, "For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt. 12:37).  It is not 
that words are sufficient in themselves to
accomplish the will of God; for John says, "My little children,
let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and truth"
(1 Jno. 3:18).  Neither was John diminishing the importance
of words; for he penned the words of Jesus about speech
and its importance, and he, himself, used words effectively
to teach truth.  Peter understood the importance of truthful
words, speaking to Jesus, "Lord to whom shall we go?  You
have the words of eternal life" (Jno. 6:68).  John said, "For the law was 
given through Moses, but grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ" (Jno. 1:17).  Paul's message to Agrippa
consisted of "the words of truth and reason" (Acts 26:25).
Wrongly used, words stir up anger (Prov. 15:1), incite riots 
(Acts 19:25-29), seduce to immorality (Prov. 6:23,24), subvert
the hearers by false doctrines (Acts 15:24; Ti. 1:10,11).  Words properly 
used exhort (Acts 2:40), comfort according to
truth (1 Thes. 4:13-18), teach sound doctrine (2 Tim. 1:13; Ti.
2:7,8), reprove and correct (2 Tim. 3:16,17), and make known
the promises of God (2 Pet. 1:2-11; Heb. 13:5,6).  Words are
used to praise God (Lk. 2:14), and to blaspheme (Mk. 3:28,29)
Words express thoughts and intents of the heart (Matt. 12:
34).

     Deeds are the product of the thoughts and intents of the
heart (Matt. 12:35).  As by our words, so by our deeds we will
be judged (Rom. 2:5,6; Heb. 13:4; Rev. 20:12).  All of our deeds are done 
under the authority of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:
18).  This includes our occupational behavior (Eph. 4:28), our
civic behavior (Rom. 13; 1 Pet. 2:13-17), our family behavior
(Eph. 5:22-6:4), our primary obedience to the truth for salvat-
ion from sins (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38), and our worship and ser-
vice as believers in God (Jno. 4:24).  We must give preemin-
ent time and importance to our duty to God (Matt. 6:33); therefore, we must 
not allow other responsibilities to preempt
our worship and edification according to God's direction.  Anything that does 
not occur within the scope of Christ's aut-
hority is outside the behavior given by Christ for His people's
manner of life.  Our text makes this fact very clear.  It is not
satisfactory to substitute one part of obedience for another
(Matt. 15:3-6), or to justify one act of disobedience by point-
ing out that we have obeyed in another instance (Jas. 2:11; 1
Sam. 15:10-26).  We must be DOERS of the word in all the
particulars that God has told us to do (Jas. 1:22-27).  We must not become 
weary in well-doing for in due season we
shall reap if we faint not (Gal. 6:1-10).  Our WORDS and DEEDS are ordered of 
the Lord; therefore, let us be obedient
children of God (Jas. 1:13-19).   -------- Gilbert Alexander.
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