2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
We are God’s handiwork. He made us perfect, but we spoilt it because of sin, and He took steps to restore us again.
• You can say He created us, and then re-creates us again, back into His own likeness. Jesus paid a heavy price for that.
• God has a vested interest in you because we are made in His image (Gen 1:27).
Previously we were DEAD in our transgression and sin. We lived to gratify the cravings of our sinful nature. We lived only for ourselves.
• But God turned that around when He saved us through Jesus Christ. He brought us back to the light and help us understand the real intent of life.
• He gave us a new life. This life has a purpose. We are created in Christ Jesus to do the good works which He has planned for us to do.
WE DO GOOD BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN MADE GOOD
We don’t do good works to gain God’s favour. We do good because we have been made good by our God.
• Good works flow from this new life that we have received through Jesus Christ.
• Any other reasons for doing good put us at the wrong starting point.
Almost all religions teach us to BE good and to DO good. That would be the way to gain favours with gods, the way to achieve a good life or even a better afterlife.
• But that’s putting the cart before the horse. That’s trying to be good by doing good.
• God says the truth is, we are sinners in need of salvation. We need God to renew our lives.
Take a look at the creation story in Genesis 1.
• Each time after God created the things, He stopped and reflected on the creation and said, “It was good.”
• Six times He did that, at each step of the creation. The works are good because the Creator is good. The painting is good because the artist is good.
It is not the other way around – His good works make Him good.
• God is inherently good. Nothing can makes Him good.
• He is by nature good, and therefore everything that comes from Him will be good.
The good works we do today are the fruits of the new life we have in Christ.
• God has given us a new life, and this life will show, through the good works that we do.
• The good works do not make us good. We are made good by God, and that goodness shows in our works.
The good works flow – not from ourselves, not from our own goodness and kindness – but from the love of God in our hearts, they flow out of the new life that we now have in Jesus Christ.
• We are created IN CHRIST JESUS to do good works.
• Everyone can do good works, from a good heart. So can we. But we go beyond just a good heart. Our works flow from God’s love, from the new life we have in Christ.
• We are called even to do good to our enemies – to love our enemies and do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27).
We do good because we have been made good by God through Jesus Christ.
• That is why Jesus says, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:16)
• People will eventually recognise the source of these blessings. It’s God. It’s the Jesus that we trust in that resulted in all these.
• Therefore Jesus says, do not put it under a bowl. Don’t hide it. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Put it on a stand and let it gives light to everyone in the house (cf. Matt 5:14-16).
We can do simple acts of love and kindness. Believe that God can use you.
• We can bless someone by doing the “good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do.” We are made with this purpose in mind.
• We don’t exist for ourselves. We are not placed on earth to occupy space and simply watch the game of life pass by.
• We are made to serve God by serving others. This is God’s plan.
WE DO GOOD BECAUSE IT IS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR US
This perspective needs to be cultivated. We do not usually see it this way.
• We do not see the PURPOSE of life as doing good for others. Rather, we tend to think of the PURPOSE OF DOING GOOD.
• We ask questions like, Why must I do good for others? What benefits do I have? What can I gain out of this good deed? I will be good to him if he is good to me.
We tend to look for REASONS for doing good. And we want REWARDS for doing good.
• All religions teach people to do good. If your good deeds outweigh your bad ones, you will be rewarded. Not only in this life but also in the life after.
• It feels like you are buying your way into heaven. But it makes us feel good.
• Doing good becomes the means to an end. And that end can be selfish – to make a name for himself, to be well-liked, or it can open a pathway for your success.
The Bible paints a different picture. Doing good is an end, not a means. God made us to BE GOOD and to DO GOOD.
• It is His nature, and it now becomes the mark of our new life in Christ. Doing good is the purpose of life.
• Do I need a reason to do good? Must I find a purpose for doing good?
The answer is NO, according to God’s Word. We are CREATED to do good works.
Look at the good Samaritan man in the parable that Jesus shared (Luke 10).
• Does he has any good reasons to help the injured man on the street? No.
• As a matter of fact, he can give many reasons NOT to help – the Samaritans and Jews are not in good terms; he has to forgo his appointment, it’s a waste of his time, not to mention the oil and wine he has to use for the wound. And then he has to sacrifice his ride on the donkey, pay the inn-keeper for the lodging and the extra expenses incurred…
• I dare say he gain nothing from doing good. What did he really get out of all these? His only motivation? LOVE.
You see, you don’t need a reason to do good. We are created to do good works, with or without reasons, with or without benefits.
• We are simply called to do good because that’s the most loving thing to do. That’s what our loving God did for us, and would do today.
• We are like Him. We must be like Him. That’s who we are now in Christ!
• That’s the purpose of our life. We are most like Him when we do good.
WE DO GOOD BECAUSE IT IS A WAY OF LIFE
So now, what is the good that we are supposed to do? Give me a list. Tell me what good works I can do. That’s the Singaporean way. Tell me what to do.
• If you want a list, Jesus did give a list when He talks about the sheep and goats in Matt 25.
• Matt 25:35-36 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
• Matt 25:37-40 "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'” 40"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The righteous did not even notice the good things they have done. Why?
• It is not a list they were following. It has become a way of life. It has become a part of them. They were not even conscious of the good they have done.
• It is not a checklist we are asked to follow. It is a way of life we are called to live.
We need to be more spontaneous, and be aware of the opportunities that God has presented to us.
• We want to be good, gracious and kind, just as our heavenly Father is good, gracious and kind.
• In every situation we find ourselves in, we are to ask instinctively, what is the most good thing I can do? Am I doing the best I can?
• If such a mindset becomes a part of us and guides our actions, then we will find ourselves doing good more and more without having to check a list.
We visited two elderly sisters in their homes on Wednesday. At the first house, we were served coffee, and later she brought out dumplings for us. Her daughter knew that we were coming and bought them especially for us. We just had our lunch but we ate. It was just after 2pm.
Then we headed for the 2nd home. The last few times we visited her, she would invite us to go earlier and take lunch at her place. This time around we didn’t call early, so I thought that would be good. She won’t be frying bee hoon for us.
We were wrong. She had bread with fried egg and bacon all ready for our arrival. We had late lunch, then two dumplings and now at 3pm 'McDonald' breakfast meal! Can we still eat? What do you think? We ate, what else can you do.
That’s their way of being hospitable. That’s their way of doing good, in that contexts. [Practice hospitality, that’s what the Scriptures say.]
Do good because we are created for that. Do good because that’s God’s will.
• Do good because that’s the best way to live this life.
• We love God by loving people. We serve God by serving people.
Wherever we are, let us allow our hearts and lives be filled and guided by God’s love.
• We want to be spontaneous and open to the many good things He has prepared for us to do, things that Jesus Christ would love to do if He is here.
“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” … A Quaker Missionary
