[Biblemat] A) KINDS OF WORKS

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Thursday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

KINDS OF WORKS

     The Scriptures have a good deal to say about works.  Since they have 
both positive and negative things to say
about works, it is necessary to identify the particular kinds
of works of which the Scriptures speak.  It is obvious that the
works of Christ are very different from Satan's works.  It shou-
ld also be obvious that works of human wisdom originating
with men are very different from works of God's righteous-
ness performed by people for the purposes that God has for
them.

     The works of God are the things that God has done (Psa.
111:2-6; Heb. 4:4).  The  works of God are also works tht God
has instructed people to do (Jno. 6:28,29; 9:4; Rom. 14:20).
These are not works of lawlessness, and those who do them
are not workers of iniquity (Matt. 7:21-23).  People will be re-
warded with eternal life in the Day of Judgment through their
works (that is, through doing the works of God)  (Rom. 2:5-11
2 Cor. 11:15; Rev. 20:12,13).

     Works of righteousness are deeds of  goodness and kind-
ness in obedience to God.  Under the Law of Moses, they con-
sisted of doing what was right according to the command-
ment of the law (Ezk. 18; Rom. 10:5; Gal. 3:12).  These works
do not atone for one's sins of omission and commission.  Sac-
rifices of atonement were the means by which the Jews were
to deal with their sins (Heb. 9:7; Lev. 4-6).  Yet it was not pos-
sible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Heb.
10:4).  These things were a shadow of the true sacrifice, the
Lamb of God who died for us and for them by the grace of
God (Heb. 10:1-18).

     Works of faith are the doing (obedience) which faith requi-
res of us and for the purposes that faith reveals.  Listening
resceptively (Matt. 11:15; 13:9,43), believing through the per-
suasion of the evidence (Jno. 14:10,11; Heb. 11:1), repenting
of one's sins at the command of the faith (Acts 17:30), confes-
sing Christ (Rom. 10:9,10), and being baptized for salvation
through the blood of Christ are works of faith for the purpose
of obtaining remission of sins.  Living as children of God by
the instruction in righteousness given by  the Holy Spirit in
the New Testament is also doing the works of faith by which
we remain in fellowship with God and have our sins which we
have committed (as children of God) cleansed by the blood
of Christ (1 Jno. 1:6-10).  Do works of faith save?  Yes, they
save because they are an essential part of saving faith (Jas.
2:14-26).  "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says
he has faith but does not have works?  Can faith save him?"
How would you answer these questions?

     The works of the flesh are the sinful deeds done to gratify
the appetites of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-26).  We must exercise
self-control, bringing our bodies into subjection to righteous-
ness if we expect to be accepted with God (2 Pet. 1:5-11; 1
Cor. 9:27; 2 Tim. 3:16,17; Acts 10:34,35; Jas. 3:13).  We must
crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts (Gal. 2:20; 5:24),
having died to sin and risen to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:1-23).       
----------- Gilbert Alexander.   </HTML>
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