Walk in Good Works

	Name:
	E-mail Address: *
1.	According to Matthew 7:22-23, salvation is based on faith in Jesus ("they call him Lord") AND good deeds, i.e., prophesying, casting out demons, and performing miracles. True False
2.	In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus talked about a Pharisee who believed in God, did good things, and did not do bad things. Yet, he was not saved. Why not?
3.	Salvation by doing good works seems right in the eyes of man. One of man’s basic desires is to be in control of his own destiny, and that includes his eternal destiny. Salvation by works appeals to man’s pride and his desire to be in control. Being saved by works appeals to that desire far more than the idea of being saved by faith alone.
	What is wrong with this thinking, according to Ephesians 2:8-9?
4.	On the other hand, James 2:26 tells us that faith without works is _____, because the lack of works reveals an unchanged life and a heart that has not been transformed and regenerated by God.
5.	a) Our godly attitudes and _____ display evidence of our devotion to Christ. (Matthew 5:15-16)
	b) The important thing is to be sure that our works glorify _____, and not ourselves.
6.	Give two reasons why all of us should be faithful students of God's holy Word. (2 Timothy 3:17)
	a)
	b)
7.	In Romans 2:10, what did the apostle Paul say will come to those who "worketh good."
	a)
	b)
	c)
8.	In the Old Testament days, and probably still today, some claimed to have the "gift" of faith, but not the "gift" of works. They would say something like, "It's fine for you to have your gift of works and it's nice that you help take care of the needy. But that isn't my gift (or my calling)."
	James would not tolerate this type of thinking. How did he answer this in James 2:18?
9.	a) I believe that putting your full tithe in the offering basket on Sunday (Malachi 3;10) isn't really giving. That is simply not stealing - not keeping back from God what is already His. In addition to the tithe, we are also to _____. (Luke 6:38)
	b) Using both Malachi 3:10 and Luke 6:38, what has God promised to do for "givers."
	* Required

Continue to Chapter 21

Divine Briefing ...

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).

Once we become a believer in Christ Jesus, God expects (has ordained) that we become active in good works. Good works are an integral part of God's plan for us. Our good works are solid evidence that we are walking as one of God's chosen.

In verses 8 and 9 just before, Paul had emphasized the fact that our salvation is not a result of good works, saying, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Good works don’t lead us to salvation. Rather, salvation leads us to do good works. We have not been saved by works. We have been saved for good works.  Our good works flow from our salvation. In addition, the works to which we have been called have been pre-ordained and pre-prepared by God.

Knowing this, we can be encouraged. God has planned the course of our Christian service. All opportunities for good works that come across our path have been pre-planned and pre-arranged by God so we can “walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). All we have to do is become more sensitive to His leading, and when He nudges us to do something … obey.

Looks Like ...

In 1735, John Wesley decided to become a missionary (to save his soul) and sailed with his brother Charles to the Americas. Their mission was not as successful as they had hoped and John began to question his beliefs about faith and how to be saved. Gradually his theology began to change and he began to preach "salvation by faith alone" rather than "salvation through righteousness and good deeds".

He began to speak and teach about this with his brother, Charles, and the Methodist revival began as a movement within the Church of England in the 18th century. Large crowds of up to 20,000 were drawn to hear this eloquent, soberly dressed man teaching about salvation.

Wesley didn't restrict his good works to preaching the gospel. He began to write hymns, and he also put his mind to medicine. He set up free clinics, which were some of the first in England to use electricity for medical purposes. He also wrote "Primitive Physick: An Easy and Natural Method of Curing Most Diseases", published in 1747. His hope was to educate the common people so that they had something practical they could use to help themselves.

In addition, John Wesley wrote a commentary on the entire Bible, to help us understand the Word. John has been credited with saying, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." Whether he actually said it or not, he lived his life by this principle.

Ask Yourself ...

Look around to see what opportunities for good works God has put right in your path.  Have you been so focused on yourself that you missed seeing them?

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