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WORKS
GOOD
WORKS.
While
following the instructions in The Scriptures to: “be
concerned for one another in order to stir
up love and good works” (Heb
10:24),
the retort we often receive is quoted: “by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of G-d: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph
2:9).
We
state here and now: this is the Word of Yahweh, it is Truth and we
believe it! We also believe Isaiah
64:6 “All
our righteousnesses are as soiled rags. And all of us fade like a
leaf, and our crookednesses, like the wind, have taken us
away.”
Here
are a few Scriptures to bear in mind for those who would make excuses
for not letting their light shine:
Matthew
5:16 “Let
your light so shine
before men, so that they see your good
works
and praise your Father who is in the heavens.” (Yahushua)
Ephesians
2:10
“For
we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yahushua unto good
works,
which Elohim prepared beforehand that we
should walk in them.”
1
Tim 6:17-19 “Charge
those who are rich in this present age not to be high-minded, nor to
trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living Elohim, who
gives us richly all for enjoyment, to
do good,
to be rich
in good works,
to be generous, ready to share, storing up for themselves a good
foundation for the time to come, so that they lay hold on everlasting
life.”
Titus
2:14 “who
gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse
for Himself a people, His own possession, ardent
for good works.”
Titus
3:8 “Trustworthy
is the word, and in this regard I wish you to strongly affirm, that
those who have believed in Elohim should keep their minds on maintaining
good works.
This is good and profitable to men.”
Titus
3:14 “And
our brothers should also learn to maintain
good works,
to meet urgent needs, so that they shall not
be without fruit.”
James
2:18-20
“But
someone might say, “You have belief, and I have works.”
Show me
your belief without your works, and I
shall show you my belief by my works.
You believe that Elohim is one. You do well. The demons also believe
– and shudder! But do you wish to know, O foolish man, that the
belief without the works is dead?”
1
Peter 2:12 “having
your behaviour among the gentiles good so that when they speak
against you as evil-doers, let them, by observing your good
works,
esteem Elohim in a day of visitation.”
1
Peter 2:15 “Because
such is the desire of Elohim, that by doing
good
you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
1
Peter
4:19 “So
then, those who suffer according to the desire of Elohim should
commit their lives to a trustworthy Creator, in doing
good.”
Here’s
the critical verse:
“Therefore
to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James
4:17)
So,
although we know our works cannot save us, we can see from The
Scriptures that we must strive to good works, works are a sign of
ones Belief and when Yahweh reveals to us that His desire for us is
to do such and do not do it; it is sin!
“But
as for the cowardly,
and untrustworthy, and abominable, and murderers, and those who
whore, and drug sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false, their
part is in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur, which is the
second death.” (Revelation
21:8)
Could
it be that the “cowardly” mentioned in his verse are those
who
are too afraid to stand up and share the Good News and be a witness
for Yahushua Messiah and in avoiding the great commission are in fact
denying Him:
“But
whoever shall deny
Me
before men, him I shall also deny before My Father who is in the
heavens.” (Matthew
10:33)
It
is quite evident that many of these Scriptures are speaking of our works
of Torah
- that of obedience to His Laws
and Commands.
It is clear from Scripture - and contrary to those who claim to be
saved simply because of their belief in a Messiah - that we will be
judged at the Judgement whether we were obedient to his laws and
exercised those works of righteousness:
Yeremiyah
17:10
“I, יהוה,
search the heart, I try the kidneys, and give every man according
to his ways,
according to the fruit
of his deeds.”
Proverbs
24:12 “If you say, “See, we
did not
know this,” Would not He who weighs the hearts discern it? He who
watches over your life, Would He not know it? And shall He not repay
man according to his work?
Mat
16:27 “For the Son of Adam is going to come in the esteem of
His Father with His messengers, and then He shall reward each according
to his works.”
Romans
2:6-8 “who “shall render to
each
one according to his works”:
everlasting life to those who by persistence in good work
seek for esteem, and respect, and incorruptibility; but wrath and
displeasure to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the
truth, but obey unrighteousness.”
Revelation
22:12 “And see, I am coming speedily, and My reward is with
Me,
to give to each according to his work.”
Seriously,
how can one read all these Scriptures and believe that they are saved
eternally and that's it! It's like picking one or two texts out of
Scripture and ignoring every other just because one says the words,
"I believe the Messiah died for my sin."
It could be
compared to a fool reading an Olymic athlete's manual which reads,
"an athlete must bear the colours of their represented country."
then putting on the clothing of an Olympic athlete and proclaiming,
"I am an Olympic athlete!"
There
also comes a dire warning from the words of Yahushua for those who
think they are saved yet are not producing the good fruit that a
believer is recognised by:
“Every
tree that does
not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by
their fruits you shall know them.” Matt
7:19-20
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