Considering the Place of Good Works in the Life of a Christian

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul makes it clear that our salvation is altogether of God's mercy, love, and grace: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses and sins, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:4-10, ESV).

Our pastor taught through Paul's letter to Titus several years ago. One expression which got my attention is that of good works. These are not saving works; that has been accomplished once for all by the perfect life and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Good works: Titus 2:13-14: "'waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing 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 deeds" (ESV).

Good works: Titus 3:8: "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people" (ESV).

Good works: Titus 3:14: "And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful" (ESV).

What might these good works include? It depends on how the Lord has gifted each one of us, but they are all important to the full functioning of the body of Christ to the glory of God.

See Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 12: "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to thing, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in  Christ, and individually members of one another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them" (vv. 3-6a, ESV).

But there are commands to all, whatever gifts we might have: "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope,.be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints.and show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own estimation. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, leave peacefully with all. Do not avenge yourselves , but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21, ESV).

And of course these positives and negatives from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (ESV).

Lord, grant me by the power of your Holy Spirit to so love and and to so serve that those who see my good works might glorify the Father who is in heaven, as the Lord says in Matthew 5:16. Amen.

Some Thoughts about Spiritual Fruitfulness

True spiritual fruitfulness can only be that of the Spirit as we read in Galatians 5:22-23a: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

This fruit can be grown only on the true Vine, Christ: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.... Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:1-2, 4-5).

How is this fruit manifested as it is grown on this Vine and pruned by this Vinedresser?

Let's go back to Galatians 5 and pick up what Paul also wrote: "Against such things [referring to the fruit of the Spirit] there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another (vv. 23b-26).

Our walk--our daily life in Christ--reflects this daily crucifixion--humility instead of boastfulness, compassion instead of challenging, generosity instead of envying--"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

Some Thoughts about the Church as Family

Speaking  to the Eleven in the Upper Room, Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you love one another. By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35; NAS).

Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul expanded on what such love looks like: "Love is patient; love is kind and not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; NAS).

But such love is not always perfected in us in this life, so we also need to heed these admonitions: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality....Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation....If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men" (Romans 12:9-13, 15, 18; NAS).

Paul included the following in his letter to the Ephesians: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32; NAS).

And this from Hebrews 12: "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble; and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord" (vv. 11-14; NAS).

James stated this: "This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20; NAS).

And this encouragement from John's first letter: "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will seem Him just as He is. And anyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:1-3; NAS).

Family Resemblances

I have been going through old photos recently and can't help but notice family resemblances. If you ever met my rather extensive family, you'd see how. I take after our dad's side and my sister after our mom's side in looks. These are obvious physical similarities. But beyond those, we also share nonphysical interests--the exception being my never having gotten into golf. Because of our common interests, we are a close knit family. But more important than that family tree is another family tree.

Let's begin by looking at two versions of Ephesians 3:17-19.

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of Christ" (NASB).

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (ESV).

I decided to look this up after a Bible study some months ago. It seems that being rooted and grounded in God's love provides both source and establishment of our life and our growth and our fruitfulness.

Psalm 1:1-3:  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way or sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In  all that he does, he prospers" (ESV).

Jeremiah 17:7-8: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit" (ESV).

Psalm 92:12-15: "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him" (ESV).

1 John 3:1-3: "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God, and such we are. For this  reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and it has not appeared yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure" (NASB).

Tree Rings

Trees grow true
To their seed
Yet influenced
By soil, sun, water,
Storm and root,
Shadow and knife.
Each season marks
A ring of life,
Unique though
Trees grow true
To their seed.

Living Joyfully within God-Ordained Limitations

As one of those people with limitations for as long as I can recall--even longer than I can recall--I have gone through a variety of emotions: resentment, anger, resignation, finally reconciliation and realization. Realization? Psalm 139: "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it" (verses 1-6).

How often have I felt hemmed in, limited, and not seen this as wonderful? Yet, as David also wrote in this intimate Psalm: "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately women in the depth of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written every one of them, all the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them" (verses 12-16).

Given, then, that God was involved in those ways in my creation, how could I be angry or resentful or resigned? Instead, through this and other Scripture, I became not only reconciled to my present (not eternal) limitations, but also realized that there are benefits to them, somewhat in keeping with these: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any  affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

I have found a lot of consolation in these verses from Psalm 119 (ESV): "This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life" (50); Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word: (67); "It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might keep your statues" (71); Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments" (73); "I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me" (75); "Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant" (76); "If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction" (92); "I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!" (107); "Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight" (143); "Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law" (153).

By the on-going grace of God, then, I have moved from resentment, anger, resignation, finally to reconciliation and realization that these limitations (temporary) are part of God's process of sanctifying and making me useful.

Revisiting Sanctification--That Huge Subject

In His prayer recorded in John 17, Christ prayed this: "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (17:17; NAS). This, then, points all believers to the one and sole source of sanctification: Scripture.

Romans 11 ends with this exclamation: "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable are His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO HAS BEEN HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen" (verses 33-36).

Where could Paul go from there? Romans 12 begins: "Therefore [in light of these truths] I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (12:1-2; expansion added).

What do we use to renew our minds in line with God's will but God's Word? As Paul wrote to Timothy: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Scripture teaches us, reproves us, corrects us, trains us in righteousness, equips us.

As Peter wrote, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Christ Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Peter 1:2-5).

What are the elements of sanctification? Peter listed several: "Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-8).

What was Peter's testimony? "For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, 'This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased'--and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your own hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:16-21).

How do we decide what to dwell on? "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is  right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

The Question of Spiritual Birth Family

Whether born into a family where the Word of God is believed, loved, cherished,
Or born into one which has not time for that or for Him,
Whether we grew up going to church whenever the doors were opened,
Or didn't have a family which thought in those terms and had other priorities,
We were all born into the family of Adam, of Noah, of sin in our DNA and
Of sin in our hearts, priorities, proclivities--
Sin nourished by the world's systems of all kinds,
Sin nurtured from birth by both the well-meaning and the ill-meaning
In our lives.
And we, because of being born to trespass and to sin,
Revealed in trespassing and in sinning,
Whatever forms those took for us individually.
We were spiritually dead and we didn't know it, and we didn't care.
Entangled in the nets of the world, the flesh, the devil,
Enjoying such entanglements,
Until,
Unless,
The intervening, amazing, saving grace of God;
God in heaven, God incarnate, God crucified, God risen, God ascended, God
Interceding;
Unless,
Until,
And oh then if
He does
Graciously,
Eternally,
Divinely
Intervene and intercede,
Giving us life by giving His life,
Who are we not to fall and not to call,
"Save me, perishing, sinful me," knowing
Such grace is willing, is able, is active.
Mercy so great, mercy so free, mercy so costly,
Saved such as me.