Untitled Sermon (10)

Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God’s Word?

Yes, so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.

1 Peter 2:9–12 NIV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Hook

Introduce Subject

Good Works

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Fallen Condition Focus

Two Problems

Before we come to Jesus there is this expectation that we should do all these good works but we quickly come to the realization that we can’t obey the ten commandments.

After we accept Jesus there is a tension because Jesus commands us to follow his commands but we are so used to failing and not being able to follow the commands of God

The big message I want to get across today is this

Jesus isn’t in to behaviour modification - he is in to character transformation.

Story about my buddy Tremaine. Tremaine is a brand new Christian. He is 55 years old and has an amazing story. He captains really big ships that ship stuff all over North America.

Tremaine and I were having a conversation yesterday and we were talking about different things.

We were talking about a big word called legalism

Can you all say legalism?

Legalism is trying to get right with God by obeying the commandments

Before we come to Jesus we realize we cannot get right with God by obeying the commandments and the same goes for after we accept Jesus.

Let me say this again - we can’t ever get right with God from simply obeying the commandments.

But there is this really interesting verse in that really helps us to understand how we are supposed to follow Jesus.

Philippians 2:12–13 NIV

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

I want you to see this and catch this.

After you pray to invite Jesus to come into your life he comes into your heart and lives. Jesus actually gives you the ability to live a godly life because he actually lives inside of you giving you the ability to live a godly life.

2 Peter 1:3–4 NIV

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

So God’s promise to us is that he has given us everything we need for a godly lifestyle.

A problem I see that often happens is a lot of people try really hard to be good and do all the commandments instead of letting Jesus change them.

Remember how I said today that Jesus isn’t into behavior modification he is in to character transformation.

Like I used to have some bad habits but those bad habits I used to do came from a heart issue not just what I was doing.

Jesus wants to change our hearts so that how we live is different.

Illustration

Let me explain, like, when I was a teenager I used to be not nice to my Mom and my Dad. I did all these things because my heart was full of selfishness and bad stuff. I could have acted differently but that selfishness and disrespect was still in my heart.

When Jesus came into my heart he ENABLED me to love my parents the way that I was supposed to.

This is what I want you to see - Jesus ENABLES us to do the things that are pleasing to him from the heart.

Some people do things because they are know they are “supposed” to do them but in their heart is not in it.

Illustration

It’s like here at school when your teacher asks you to do something and your like (Darth Vader Syndrome).

But when Jesus changes your heart you don’t just follow your teacher because you have to you follow your teacher out of your heart because Jesus has ENABLED you and HIS DESIRES BECOME YOUR DESIRES.

Good works after you accept Jesus come not because you have to but because Jesus has put his desires in your heart. Does that make sense?

Good Works

Don’t make you right with God

Are enabled by Jesus

Should come from the heart

Here me out - Jesus definitely wants us to do good works. But Jesus doesn’t want us to think that our good works get us right or keep us right with God.

The problem if we think that way is that we always will feel like we are performing for God to try and please him and we will always feel like we are failing God.

Good works flow out of a heart that Jesus has transformed and instead of saying “I guess I have to follow Jesus.....”

It’s “Man, Jesus in light of what you have done for me and the fact that you have given me the Holy Spirit I am so glad I get to, I long to, I desire to follow you.”

And Jesus made it really simple for us.

There are just two commands that God has given us to follow.

Does anybody know that they are?

Love God

Love your neighbour as yourself

So Jesus enables us to do those two things and gives us the power to do them.

The Bible teaches us that

Ephesians 1:18–19 NIV

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

Ephesians 1:19–20 NIV

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

So the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in your giving you both the desire and the power to do what is pleasing to him.

So if you are a believer in Jesus you have the desire and the power to do what is pleasing to God - you have the desire and power to do good works. Let’s go back to Philippians.

Philippians 2:12–13 NIV

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

So YES! 100 percent God wants you to do good works but we have to make sure we understand good works in the right way.

Good works don’t make us right with God

Jesus enables us to do good works

Good works should come from the heart

Does that make sense? Are there any questions?

Thanks so much let’s pray!