A Closer Walk with GOD
A Close Walk with God • Sermon • Submitted
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· 1 viewThe importance of community stirring up one another by doing good works to do good works.
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
In a previous lesson we discussed the matter of devotion or worship to God, especially in our public assemblies.
There is importance in unity!
One objective of such activities is to stir us up to "good works"
Hebrews 10:24–25
“24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
In the context of this letter, “The letter’s recipients may have been part of several house churches (i.e., smaller groups who met for worship and fellowship in various homes) within the larger church community in Rome. It seems that some of the people were at the point of forsaking their faith in Jesus because of persecution and discouragement. Others were being tempted to turn back to Judaism (i.e., to rely on Jewish religious practices, culture and customs) and, therefore, finding an excuse to impose certain old covenant regulations on new covenant Christianity.”
“Hebrews was written primarily to Jewish Christians who were experiencing persecution and discouragement…He shows that God’s provisions for maintaining a relationship with him under the old covenant (i.e., before Christ) have been fulfilled and replaced by Jesus, who has established a new covenant through his own forgiveness-providing death”
“A prominent part of Hebrews is the pastoral warnings (cf. 2:1–4; 3:7–19; 5:11–6:3; 6:4–20; 10:26–31; 12:15–17; 12:25–29)...these warnings are intertwined with the total message and purpose of the letter. They communicate the sobering possibility of apostasy, which means abandoning or falling away from faith in Christ.”
The quotations are notes from, J. Wesley Adams and Donald C. Stamps, Fire Bible (Springfield, MO: Life Publishers International, 2011), Heb.
Understanding the background of the Book of Hebrews, it helps us grasp the importance of what verse 24 says when the believers should, “...consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…”
3. In this short but important lesson, we shall examine the matter of "good works" which Christians are to do in two points:
Christians are to do Good Works?
What Good Works can we do?
I. CHRISTIANS ARE TO DO "GOOD WORKS"
I. CHRISTIANS ARE TO DO "GOOD WORKS"
A. DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND THE "PURPOSE" OF GOOD WORKS...
They are not done to "buy" or "earn" our way into heaven
God saves us by His GRACE, not by our WORKS
Ephesians 2:8–9
“8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Titus 3:4–7
“4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Yet, as God's People, we have been created in Christ Jesus to do good works!
Ephesians 2:10
“10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Titus 2:11–14 (ESV)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Titus 3:1, 8, 14 (ESV)
1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
B. WHY, THEN, ARE WE TO DO GOOD WORKS?
1. They bring glory to God!
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
2. They can prepare unbelievers to be more receptive to the gospel
12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
3. They demonstrate the living nature of our faith
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
4. They are necessary if we are to be like Jesus
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
a. What are the things that Jesus did?
Acts 10:38 (ESV)
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
II. WHAT "GOOD WORKS" CAN WE DO?
II. WHAT "GOOD WORKS" CAN WE DO?
A. SOME GOOD WORKS ARE "SPIRITUAL" IN NATURE...
1. Telling others of God's grace
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
a. We may not all be "teachers" in a formal sense.
b. But all of us can share with others the wonderful grace of God available in Christ Jesus!
2. Encouraging other Christians
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
a. We can be a "Philemon" or a "Stephanus" - Phm 7; 1Co 16:15-18
b. For example, through cards, calls, visits, Bible studies
3. Restoring weak brethren
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
a. We can be a "Barnabas" (who helped John Mark)
b. The importance of this work is seen in light of Jm 5:19-20
B. OTHER GOOD WORKS ARE MORE "PHYSICAL" IN NATURE...
1. Jesus did not limit His good works to things spiritual
22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
2. Nor did He expect His disciples to so limit their good works.
a. Cf. the "Limited Commission" - Mt 10:7-8
b. Cf. the "judgment scene" - Mt 25:34-40
3. Just as some may be gifted in talent and opportunities to "teach", so others are gifted to "serve" in areas of physical service
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
a. Such as "giving"
b. Such as "showing mercy"
4. Women can be especially fruitful in this area…
a. For they often have a more flexible use of their time
b. Why not be a "Dorcas"?
36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
1. No matter how we may serve the Lord, "good works" are a MARK OF PURE RELIGION - cf.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
2. It is also A KEY TO SPIRITUAL BLESSEDNESS (happiness) - Jm 1:25
25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
3. So let's be sure to keep in mind the admonition of Paul to Titus...
"Those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works."
8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
SOME QUESTIONS TO STIMULATE YOUR THINKING...
1. What kind of "spiritual" good works are you doing, or are preparing yourself to do?
2. What kind of "physical" good works are you doing, or hope one day to do?
3. Who should get the glory when you are praised for good works?