Called to Good Works

Called Unto Good Works

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Ephesians 2:10 KJV 1900

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Called unto Good Works

Paul tells us that God has a preordained plan for us. A path for us to walk in. A way that he intended for us to go. In this text this is the definition of good works found in Jesus Christ.

We, You and I are made by him. We are his workmanship. We are created in Christ.

Everything in Christ is marked by

Everything in Christ is marked by

++Transformation

++Productivity

++Fruitfulness

++Power

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Good works are not marked by Human Effort

Not marked by Human Effort

Not an activity of the will

The Overflow of a transformed heart

The activity of submission to Christ

Good works were never designed to be an activity of the flesh.

In the flesh

++It is all about us

++We deserve the credit

++We are glorified

It’s all about him

He deserves the credit

He is Glorified

Matthew 6:1 KJV 1900

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 6:

Why should we do good works?

Matthew 19:16 KJV 1900

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Romans 4:4 KJV 1900

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Rom

Good works are to be done

++Not by Commandment

++Not a Commandment

++Not by mandate

++by a changed Condition

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 8:1 KJV 1900

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

John 15:7 KJV 1900

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:7

In Christ

In Christ

++It’s all about him

++He deserves the credit

++He is Glorified

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

A light shines

++By nature

++Without effort

++By design

You were created to shine

Matthew 5:14 KJV 1900

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Mat 5:14

In Christ you

++Cannot be hidden

++Cannot be darkened

++Are positioned to shine

2 Corinthians 4:6 KJV 1900

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We shine in the world

++God has shined in our heart

++God has showed us his glory

++We know his Glory because of Christ

Colossians 1:15 KJV 1900

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Christ is the image

++The tangible proof

++The historical evidence

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1 tim

John 14:7 KJV 1900

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

John 14:7

2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV 1900

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Cor

John 10:32 KJV 1900

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Jesus tells the people that the purpose of good works is that the father may be recognized.

Just like today people find it difficult to identify God’s hand in their life. They get sidetracked by the norms of the natural and expected.

Norms are identified

++Cultural norms

++Regional norms

++Religious norms

Romans

Romans 9:11 KJV 1900

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Good works are the results of a divine connection.

2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV 1900

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

You are empowered by grace.

Are you connected to Jesus?

Are you connected to Jesus?

Are you connected to Jesus?

O