Topic: Doing Good Works This Holiday Season
By Ptr Arsenio “Jack” Segismundo
Text:
Ephesians 2:8-9
“8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Introduction:
Just because we are not saved according to our works doesn't mean that we shouldn't be concerned about pursuing a life of good works in full obedience to God's Word. Good works aren't bad. They are good. As Christians, we should want to do them. Good works are bad when they are seen as the basis of our salvation. A person is not saved by works but by God's grace through faith in Christ.
Titus 3:4-5
“4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
In this time of the pandemic, God is providing us an opportunity to do good, the greatest opportunity God has given us. Now is the time to do good. Now is the time to earn your riches in heaven.
Good works are the fruit of our salvation. There are Six benefits of good works:
1. Good works shows our gratitude to God for the gift of His Son
Colossians 2:6
“6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,”
2. Good works strengthen assurance of faith
1 John 2:1-6
“2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God [a]is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
3. Good works are a means of encouraging other Christians toward greater acts of Christ-centered love.
Hebrews 10:24
“24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,”
4. Good works are concrete ways for following the doctrine of God our Savior in life and ministry
Titus 2:7-10
“7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,[a] 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of [b]you.
9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not [c]pilfering, but showing all good [d]fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.”
5. Good works silence critics who devalue the goodness of biblical Christianity
1 Peter 2:12
“12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
6. Good works glorify God by displaying His work of love in our lives
John 15:8-11
“8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
And then we argue, “ I do not have the luxury of money to do good things” I say unto you utilize your resources
1. Use your Time and share it with the sick, with the lonely, with the hopeless
2. Use your money and share it with the needy
3. Use your talents and share it to the oldies and to the lonely
Conclusion:
Make every opportunity to do good not because it’s holiday season bit because we are saved. We learn that good works are the result of our new being and they testify to the fact that we have been saved so that our lives might reflect the character of God. Good works are also the result of our being united to Christ.
Matthew 7:16
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?”
Matthew 7:19-21
“19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
