Godly Works

 What is Required of Us When Doing Works For God?

Works definition - In Christian theology, good works, or simply works, are a person's (exterior) actions or deeds, in contrast to inner qualities such as grace and faith.

Works are "good" only when they spring from the principle of our love of God. The moral character of an act is determined by the moral principle that prompts it. Faith and love in the heart are the essential elements of all true obedience. Hence, good works only spring from a believing heart and can only be carried out by one reconciled to God

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.;

James 2:18 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.

James 2 :22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

Good works have the glory of God as their object; and they have the revealed will of God as their as a standard.  

Deuteronomy 12:32 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from

Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Good works are an expression of gratitude in the believer's heart

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

They are the fruits of the Spirit

Colossians 1: 9-12 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Good works with the sincerest believers are accepted through the mediation of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17 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), and so are rewarded; they have no merit essentially, but are rewarded wholly by grace and by their actions.

The Biblical foundation for works has been established.  Works can include missions, bible studies, all phases of church and individual ministry, volunteering, teaching, evangelizing, praying, etc.

What is not taught in the church and should be required, or should I say commanded to do while doing works by all believers.  Two come to mind.  One in the Old Testament, and the other in the New Testament.

1.      Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me. To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Whatever works we do means we will encounter believers or nonbelievers who are suffering with sickness and disease mentally or physically. God has called us to bring them out of captivity.  To bring them out of prison where souls reside.  Psalm 142:7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.

2.      Mark 16:15-18 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands

Mark 16:15-18 is called the Great Commission. After Jesus arose from the grave He appeared to the eleven disciples to instruct them on what He wanted them to do going forward. No exception.  From this time forward the disciples did exactly what Jesus commanded them to do.  They carried out the Great Commission and they instructed those they encountered and taught them to do the same. Thus, they became disciples who discipled others all the way to the present.  We do this because we love God (John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments). All or parts of the Great Commission must be applied when doing works for God.  Unfortunately, the body of Jesus Christ fails to do this.  It is very rarely taught in the church, much less carried out.  For whatever reason, this basic commandment passed on from disciple to disciple and ceased for most of the body of Christ.  Jesus did not give believers an option. We must carry out the Great commission.

All or parts of the Great Commission is to be used to bring people out of captivity from being sick and diseased.  Sickness and disease come from disobedience (sin) as outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.  God promises us we can be healed if we confess our sins (James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another (before God), and pray for one another, that you may be healed) and ask God to forgive us (1 John 1:19 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness).

Pretty basic stuff from God’s Word.  Yet the body of Jesus Christ fails to believe, teach, or make themselves available for healing so they can come out of captivity.                                                       Tony Sanchez 3-12-2023

 

Tattoos

 

Are they okay for Believers?

This is a very touchy subject for pastors to teach.  They are fearful of the backlash from the body.  Therefore, you most likely will not hear a teaching on tattoos.

Tattoos are more popular in America than ever before. The number of people with tattoos has increased dramatically in recent years and especially with the body of Jesus Christ.  Have you noticed how many pastors, church leaders, and members of their respective church have tattoos? Tattoos are not just for delinquents or rebels anymore.

The New Testament does not say anything about whether a believer in Jesus Christ should get a tattoo. Therefore, we cannot say that getting a tattoo is a sin that so many use as an excuse. Or is it a sin?  What does the Bible say?

We must consider what the bible says in Leviticus 19:28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.

I sure there will be many of you saying that the Old Testament does not apply because it is the old law and that the New Testament and the new law supersedes the old law.  Why read the Old Testament?   Interesting that believers think they can compromise the Bible by excluding what is in the Old Testament.   

Ten Commandments – Exodos 20:1-17

Precepts – l Psalm 119:4 You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.  Psalm 119:63 I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts.  Psalm 119:93 I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.

Statutes - Exodus 15:26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” Leviticus 18:5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. Leviticus 20:8 And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

Jesus said He did not come to destroy the Law or leave out Old Testament.

Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

◦ Children are to honor and obey their parents Ephesians 6:1–2 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise. For a minor to get a tattoo in violation of his or her parents’ wishes is biblically unsupportable. Tattoos born of rebellion are sinful.

◦ “Outward adornment” is not as important as the development of the “inner self” and should not be the focus of a Christian 1 Peter 3:3–4 Do not let your adornment (tattoo) be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. A person who desires a tattoo to garner attention or draw admiration has a vain, sinful focus on self.

◦ God sees the heart, and our motivation for anything we do should be to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God). Motivations for getting a tattoo such as “to fit in,” “to stand out,” “to be cool” etc., fall short of the glory of God.

◦ Our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God. The believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?         1 Corinthians 6:19–20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. How much modification of that temple is appropriate? Is there a line that should not be crossed? Is there a point at which the proliferation of tattoos on one body ceases to be art and starts becoming sinful mutilation? This must be a matter of individual reflection and honest prayer.

◦ We are Christ’s ambassadors, delivering God’s message to the world 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. What message does the tattoo send, and will it aid or detract from representing Christ and sharing the gospel?

◦ Is it possible tattoo can become and idol

◦ Whatever does not come from faith is sin Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin, so the person getting the tattoo should be fully convinced that it is God’s will for him or her.

Is it possible tattoos become and idol; An object of ardent or excessive devotion and admiration or one that is adored, often blindly or excessively?

Is a tattoo a carved image onto your flesh?  Deuteronomy 4:23 Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you.

If you are still not convinced tattoos are a sin, perhaps you can answer the questions below:

·         Do tattoos define you as a believer in Jesus Christ and God almighty?

·         Do you think tattoos make you cool, special, or important? 

·         Do you parade your tattoos for everyone to see?

·         Are tattoos an addiction? Do you know addictions are sin?

·         Are you setting a tattoo standard for you kids?  Meaning, is it okay to get a tattoo at any age?

·         Does God and Jesus approve of your tattoos?

When Christians parade their tattoos, they are telling other Christians it is okay to have tattoos.  We cannot be like Jesus if we got tattoos.  The Bible holds us accountable, but how can we apply Scripture to our lives if we do not know Scripture?  We must read the Bible.  Do not let the world program you and define you.  Tattoos are of this world.

We cannot be one with tattoos.  We must be one with God.  1 Corinthians 6:17 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  John 14:20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

Thank you God for your revelations from Your Word