Saved By Faith, Defined by Works
Notes
Transcript
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Everything you need to know is covered in these two scriptures!
But because of the confusion surrounding them, let dissect this thought process…
I made the statement Wednesday night that I believe that there is no scripture that has been more misquoted in all the Bible than Eph 2.8-9
Title: Saved By Faith, Defined by Works
Story of Jonah:
Calling, running from the call, storm, thrown overboard, swallowed by a great fish, puked onto the shore and with seaweed and fish bile dripping from his cloths began to preach and prophecy their destruction.
Ppl repent, fast
6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
Verse 10
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
God repented at the sight of men doing what they should do!
You want your nation to change?
Do what you are supposed to do!
Peter’s Comments on Works:
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
New Living Translation
17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do...
Peter gives us three insights into the mind of God
God has no favorites.
We ALL will be judged based on what we do, receiving damnation or heaven based on what we do.
Live in fear of God
Interesting that verse 16 says BE holy
Possess or acquire holiness.
Holiness here is righteousness or right-ness
We are to BE holy.
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
New Living Translation Chapter 2
12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
If you live right, even when you are falsely accused, you will be vindicated...
More significant than that!
Your actions bring damnation or salvation to people...
1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
Dealing with the unsaved (husband)
Saved WITHOUT the Word!!!
How? By the conversation
Conversation:
conduct expressed according to certain principles way of life, conduct, behavior
So the unsaved is saved not by the blood, bible or any other “thing” than your works, actions, way of life!
The “christian” world has made the word works a dirty word.
Yet we find it in the Bible over and again!
Paul’s Comments to Titus of Works:
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2-4 defines evil works
Verse 5 gives us the key
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
All our works were evil...
addiction
fornication
violence
BUT after that...
after what?
His mercy in saving us!
We are washed us and Regenerated us and renewed us by the Holy Ghost!
After that we have verses 8-11… ability to maintain good works
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Riens = motivations
Heart = thoughts
Based on what God finds as your motivations and thoughts you will be rewarded!
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Everyone will be judged of God
Books were opened = Word of God
Book of Life = Your autobiography
We will be judged by our WORKS
Conclusion:
rev2.26
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Give up on my works (desires) and do His!