Dead Works (3)

English Standard Version (Chapter 6)

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Repentance - 3340. μετανοέω mĕtanŏĕō, met-an-ŏ-eh´-o; from 3326 and 3539; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (mor. feel compunction):—repent.

American Standard Version Chapter 9

Hebrews 9:14

14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Lexham Theological Wordbook καθαρίζω

καθαρίζω (katharizō). vb. to cleanse, purify. To cleanse someone from impurity, usually leprosy.

In the NT, this word often refers to the process of making someone or something ritually clean

dead ⇔ useless adjs. — having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully; conceived of as being without life.

conscience ⇔ entrails n. — the inner part of a person as a place of thoughts and feelings and conscience understood as the entrails.

Romans 9:1

English Standard Version Chapter 9

9 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit

The New Revised Standard Version (The Proclamation of John the Baptist)

8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham

Lexham Theological Wordbook ἐπιστρέφω

ἐπιστρέφω (epistrephō). vb. to turn, change direction, return, to repent, be converted. Describes an act of turning, turning around, back, changing direction, returning, and, thus, repenting or being converted.

Dead works is a result of works in the flesh and it can be religious works. Religious works dressed in spiritual clothes is dangerous for our walk with Christ.

English Standard Version Chapter 23

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Fleshly works - The term flesh does not have to do with your physical flesh- your body. It rather has to do with that which oppose your true identity in Christ. Those things that the mind of the spirit desires.

It is the sinful nature of humanity.

Dictionary of Bible Themes 6166 flesh, sinful nature

flesh, sinful nature

The physical aspect of human beings, which distinguishes them from God and is therefore frequently used in the NT as a symbol of human sinful nature in contrast with God’s perfection. (The Greek word for “flesh” is sometimes translated by other words and phrases in the passages cited in this theme.).

Works of the flesh subject you to the Law. And keep you in bondage under the works of the Law.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

Stewards of God’s Grace

4 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God

The New Revised Standard Version (The Works of the Flesh)

16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,

21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The New Revised Standard Version (The Fruit of the Spirit)

Gal 5:22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

The people of Hebrew origin wanted to return to their grave clothing. Return to old traditions,a old life, a old nature and a old law.

They received Jesus but wanted to keep their old self life. Jesus was added to their faith with dead traditions

We often want to drag the dead traditions,habits,behaviors with us into our relationship with Christ.

Paul was very zealous but his works was religious dead works in believing he was right

English Standard Version Chapter 2

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume ἀγαθός

agathós [good], agathoergéō [to do good], agathopoiéō [to do good], agathopiós [doer of good], agathopoiía [doing good], agathōsýnē [goodness], philágathos [lover of goodness], aphilágathos [despiser of the good]

Agathos - Good works is what flows from love for God and a desire to obey God.

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume ἀγαθός

As both adjective and noun, agathós denotes excellence

merry, pleasant, desirable; in order, usable; efficient; friendly, kind; morally good.

Pocket Dictionary of Ethics Good Works

They are not intended as means to merit divine favor or means for personal gain, but are expressions of gratitude to God for the divine unmerited favor already received, and they are an integral part of the life of devotion to God and imitation of Christ. Finally, good works are not the products of human effort alone, but are the outworking of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

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

English Standard Version Chapter 10

Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments

English Standard Version Chapter 23

23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”