This study was first taught on June 23, 2010

Topic: The Believer’s Responsibilities (1): Good Works (1)

No audio available for this study.

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Background
In our study on “To Be or To Do” last week, we noted that the Lord Jesus wants us to grow into who God wants us to be: like Him! We observed that He did not ask us to do perfectly, but to be perfect. We saw that there is a difference between being and doing: many want to do without being, but it is being that makes us do without getting frustrated. God wants us to keep growing in our acts of kindness and goodness until we are like Him: perfect! But we cannot show acts of kindness without being kind on the inside!

To grow in acts of kindness, we must first be mature as believers. Growth happens in degrees; and begins for the Christian, after he is born again, and then circumcised in his heart. Being born again, is therefore not an end in itself, but a means to becoming like the Son of God; and circumcision is not the mere physical cutting off of the foreskin, but the preparation of the heart of the believer in Christ to be able to receive from God! This is a fundamental aspect of becoming like Jesus, which enables us to do like He did. We noted that ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ (WWJD) is not a question we ask, but something we know because we are linked with Him in a vital and ongoing relationship.

Thus, we said that, to be perfect or complete, as God is, we must steadily and purposefully grow from new born babes in Christ to maturity. This process is helped through teachings from the word of God, which sets the believer in the Lord Jesus apart for holy use; makes him distinct from people of the world; and enables him to be integrated more and more into the Body of Christ, as Christ is formed more and more in him. By reason of use, or the application, of the word of God in our daily lives, we will indeed become more and more like God.

We concluded that we must focus on building a solid ongoing relationship with God by yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit (and by so doing, make Christ more and more at home in our hearts and lives). Only then will our motives and deeds be pure, and in line with God’s standard.

Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 6:1- 4
Tonight, we see from our text, that the Lord is building on the previous verses, as He enumerates the responsibilities or duties of the believer in Christ. There really is no place for believers who are irresponsible or who shy away from their duties in the kingdom of God. May the Holy Spirit help us to fulfill our divine responsibility as we ought to, in Jesus name, Amen.
First, let us make some observations: (a) The word ‘when’ in our scripture text as used in context, suggests that we have to do alms (otherwise the Lord would have used the word ‘if’); (b) The word ‘alms’ does not just mean to give something to someone in need; but is more concretely ‘righteousness’, ‘righteous deeds’, ‘good works’ or ‘works of charity’; and (c) The phrase “reward of your Father which is in heaven” should read “reward with your Father …”. Now we should better appreciate what the Lord Jesus is saying in these verses. It is clear that He intends for Christians to do good works as a mark of God’s righteousness in them. But what qualifies as good works? Is that all I need to be a Christian? Why good works?
Matthew 5:44-47; 25:35-40; 26:10-13; Acts 9:36-41; 2 Samuel 9:1-13; Galatians 6:6-10; Luke 4:18-19; 18:10-14; Hebrews 6:1; Luke 3:8-14; James 1:27; 2:14-26; Acts 10:38; 2 Timothy 2:20-21; Luke 12:15-21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 3:8; 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12; Titus 3:1-8.

Conclusion
Our study tonight is challenging us to show by good works or acts of righteousness, that the righteousness of God is in us. Just as children in a home must perform chores as duties and responsibilities in the home, so must believers in Christ perform good works as their duty and responsibility in the kingdom of God. Every responsible Christian will be involved in one form of good work or another.

Good works or righteous acts are acts of kindness, of charity, and deeds that God wants us to do toward His other and less privileged creation. Good works are numerous, and vary from helping the needy to preaching the gospel to those who need to hear it, and performing miracles in the lives of those who need them. Good works are not to be done to good people only; but most especially to those who are wicked and evil.

While good works or righteous acts do not necessarily qualify a person for heaven; they are nonetheless a duty for those who are born again and sanctified unto every good work. They also serve to bring people to God as these people see our good works and glorify Him.

Please note that works done by people who have not been saved by grace are dead works and do not count as a condition for entry into heaven.

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