Got Good Works ?
- 1. Got good works? Sermon text: Ephesians 2:10 Sermon by: Brian Birdow
- 2. Objective of Lesson 1. To show what good works are. 2. To show why we must offer good works. 3. To give examples of good works.
- 3. Jesus and good works • John 10:32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” • Ephesians 2:10 — For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
- 4. Titus 1:15-16 • Titus 1:15-16 — To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds (works) they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed (work). • Detestable—extremely hateful, abomination, very odious (Genesis 43:32 & Proverbs 6:16-19) • Disobedient—refusing to obey God’s rules and others HE has placed in authority. (Genesis 4 & Exodus 5:2) • Worthless — having no value or use! (Deuteronomy 32:21)
- 5. Titus 2:6-8 • Titus 2:6-8 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible or self controlled; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. • Purity in doctrine —Do not add or take away from the apostles doctrine (Acts 2:42) • Dignified— Purity, behavior that is Christ like, reverence for God • Sound in speech, which is beyond reproach—using our words to build up others, to make them healthy!
- 6. Titus 2:11-14 • Titus 2:13-14 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to >>redeem us<< from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for HIS own possession who are zealous for good works. • Remember our lawless deeds or works?? >> detestable, disobedient, worthless…make us unworthy and unholy to be in a relationship with GOD! But God gave HIMSELF on the cross for us! • 1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
- 7. Why is HE the great GOD? • Because HE gave HIMSELF for us while we were sinners! • Because He demonstrated His love by taking the punishment due to us on the cross! • Because He left heaven became a human like us and died for people so that we could be with Him forever in heaven through obedience to the gospel! • The cross of Christ should change our entire lives and give us a new reason for living
- 8. Got any Zeal? Titus 2:14
- 9. Zeal defined ➡Zeal (Gk. zelotes) One who is earnestly committed to a cause. ➡Deep commitment to a side or purpose. ➡An enthusiast. • Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- 10. Zealous for good works Concern for other spiritual welfare • Job 1:5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. • Matthew 23:37-39 …turn with me please… • Matthew 23;37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
- 11. Zealous for good works Sharing a meal together and feeding the needy • Job 1:4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. • Matthew 15:32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” • Matthew 15:36-37 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.
- 12. Zealous for good works • Matthew 25:34-46 • Matthew 25:35-36 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’
- 13. Zealous for good works Matthew 10:42 •And whoever in the name of a disciple give to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward! •God will reward our service!
- 14. Zealous for good works Prayer • James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. • Nehemiah 1:6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. • Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
- 15. Zealous for good works • Widows and orphans • Deuteronomy 14:29 The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. • James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
- 16. Summary Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.