This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to
affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to
maintain good works. These things are
good and profitable to men. (Titus 3:8)
In Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying”, Paul is
emphasizing that what he has written (Titus 3:4–8) is a trustworthy statement,
one that is central to the Christian faith.
There are four other places in the Pastoral Epistles where Paul labels
his teaching as a faithful saying (1 Timothy 1:15, 3:1, 4:9; 2 Timothy
2:11–13). It is significant that the
faithful saying in Titus includes an admonition to maintain good works, the
theme of the letter. These things are
good and profitable: This emphasizes the practical benefit of good works.
There are many scriptures in the Holy Bible where it teaches
us that as Christians we are to do "good works" which then glorifies
God and at the same time it shows the world (unsaved) that we are followers of
Jesus (John 10:32; Acts 9:36; Romans 13:3; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 2:10, 5:10, 5:25, 6:18;
Titus 2:7; 1 Peter 2:12).
Jesus Himself makes it clear in the following scripture of
how important it is for His followers to go out and do "good works"
that glorifies God:
Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
Can you hide a city that is sitting on top of a hill? Its light at night can be seen for
miles. If we live for Christ, we will
glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light by: (1) Being quiet when we should speak. (2) Going along with the crowd. (3)
Denying the light. (4) Letting sin dim our light. (5) Not
explaining our light to others. Or (6)
Ignoring the needs of others. Be a
beacon of truth – don’t shut your light off from the rest of the world.
Now we must understand that "good works" has
nothing to do with your salvation… we are saved by the grace of God and our faith in Jesus alone... and not by what
we can do. When we are
"born-again" and become followers of Jesus we want to emulate our
Lord and Master. And as you can see from
the scriptures above... Jesus Christ commanded us to let our "light"
shine before men, that they may see our "good works" and glorify God.
Father God, it is my prayer today that whatever I say or do
will bring glory to your name. I pray
this all in Jesus' name. Amen.
References: NKJV Holy
Bible, Life Application Bible (NIV), and the Nelson Study Bible.
11 comments:
I believe we should do what we can to help others....I like your list at the end.
Eating will not make an inanimate object alive, but not eating will soon result in sickness or death. Eating is a necessary work for life. Works serve much the same way for faith, if there is no work, faith sickens and dies, but no amount of works can produce life.
Good Post.
A very good post.
Our good works is because we are saved, and not trying to get saved.
Lloyd,
Thanks for the invite to stop by. If you've read my blog, you know that I am still very much a Godseeker, not a person of confident faith. It strikes me that you may know that and have invited me here with a bit of ministry in mind. Thanks, I am a tough case but am pleased to be thought worthy of salvation.
smiles,
rb
Doing good works is always good ... BUT our salvation does not hinge on good works :-)
~Val
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work, Romans 11:6.
It can't be made more clear that works cannot grant us salvation; works follow salvation: they are caused by the fact that we are born again. A man suddenly comes into a small fortune and wants to "share the wealth" as the saying goes. When we beleive on Jesus Christ and realize what He has done for us, we should also wish to share the wealth; not only by spreading the gospel but simply obeying from the heart the one who saved us and alowing others to benefit from what Christ is doing in us.
Thank you for the post, Lloyd. Always a pleasure.
Lloyd, I found you through our mutual friend, Robert Brault. I admire you for your clear, confident statement of faith in Christ. I share that and encourage you to stay close to Him and remain faithful.
donkimrey@gmail.com www.Godscomebackkids.com
G.ood job! I found you through Robert Brault, and admire the sincerity and simplicity and openness you show in your statement of faith in the living Christ. Get as close to Him as you can, and stay there!
donkimrey@gmail.com or www.Godscomebackkids.com.
This is pretty clear about how we should act if we claim to know and love God. He has given us His Spirit, and that Spirit will not abide hate and sin. To me, you can't have faith without works. It just doesn't jive.
1John 4:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Anyway, if you have His Spirit, it isn't you doing the work. You have given yourself a living sacrifice to be a channel for God's work. You could never have done it without God's Spirit. So, of course, none of your works could have saved you. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that you have gotten on your knees to pray to help you. Without the Holy Spirit, we're just another creature lower than the animals.
Oh, and one other point: love is an action. You could tell me you love me all day long, but if your actions speak otherwise, I will never believe you. Love is the breath of the Holy Spirit. If you are anointed with the Holy Spirit through Christ, then you will be as He is.
Love entails pretty much everything: honesty, chastity, generosity, patience, kindness, all the virtues. If you love me, you won't rob me, gossip about me, lie to me, judge me, shun me, take advantage of me. You will put me before yourself.
In His Service,
Billy
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