This morning as I continued to study the
book of Romans, the words of Paul continue to convict me. It’s popular these
days to say, “I am a Christian”, yet live as if that only matters on Sunday. If
we think that we can go to church for an hour, sip our coffee, sing some songs,
and listen to an entertaining sermon that never strikes fear into our hearts,
then we are deluded. The Bible tells of a very different life for those who
claim Christ as savior. The Christian life is not just about us “going to
heaven” or having the “best life possible”, as one very misguided TV preacher
claims.
Be clear on this; We are saved by grace,
not by our works. But any complete study of the scriptures will take us to an understanding
of God’s Word and His law that warns us of the coming judgment.
I could spend hours preaching about the
demands our faith puts upon us. Instead I am simply going to share in this
post, fourteen passages from God’s Word that instruct us on the importance of
our works. Please, please take time to look at these, meditate on them, and ask
the Holy Spirit to teach you what they mean. Maybe take one verse each day and
make it your object to think on and seek to employ in your life.
I will sum them up with this conclusion
for you to consider as you read these scriptures. We are saved by grace, but
our salvation is proven by our works. How God judges you at the end of your
life will be based on whether your works have either proven your faith or
whether they have shown that your profession of faith was not real, but they
were a careless effort to secure simply insurance against hell, and not from a
heart that desired to please God and bring glory to His name.
I am not passing judgment on any of you.
That is not my agenda. My agenda is to lead you to do as I am trying to do and
that is follow this command in 2 Peter 1:10-11 which says, “Therefore,
brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if
you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there
will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Here are the fourteen scriptures.
Romans 2:6-10
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.
Revelation 20:12-13
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
Isaiah 3:10
Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
Jeremiah 17:10
“I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
“I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
John 5:28-29
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
1 Corinthians 3:8
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
1 Corinthians 3:11-13
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
Romans 14:12
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Matthew 7:16-20
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
May
we not deceive ourselves. The consequences are too important. They are eternal.
No comments:
Post a Comment