To “abstain from the passions of the flesh” requires us to live with a renewed mind, a disciplined tongue, and a controlled body. Notice: the “honorable . To understand what Peter has in mind when he exhorts us to “abstain from the passions of the flesh” we must reach all the way back to what he wrote in 1:14: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. These are the things a person in Christ puts away. . That is the purpose of the vineyard—to produce “much fruit.” Good works follow salvation. Many people make the mistake of downplaying the importance of good works in their lives. Paul says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thess 4:3). . It is good to do everything He says is good. What the New Testament Says about Good Works The ironic tragedy, however, is that Protestantism, after the Reformation, most often refers to good works solely in a negative fashion. Good works is "a necessary consequence of a faith-filled heart," but it is only part of the requirement of salvation. . To you, I wish you all the best as you faithfully serve Christ in the niche He has given you (cf. those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”, 1 Peter 4:19: “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”, This is what honorable conduct looks like. Dependability and Responsibility. It is important not to blame anyone for obstacles leading to disagreements. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Because God is inherently good, work is also inherently good (Psalm 25:8; Ephesians 4:28). In warning about false prophets (Matt. What is required of us to live in this world as citizens worthy of all the wonders and relationships belonging to the next? Environment. In the original, however, they are only one. Second, good works bolster assurance of faith (1 John 2:1-6). It helps establish positive working relationships with bosses, clients, as well as colleagues at work. . If our good works don't count for anything, then our evil dee “God chose you as the first fruits to be saved through … Work also gives people a sense of identify and a feeling of accomplishing activities that contribute to society. 1 Peter 1:15: “ . He listed them as “malice,” “deceit,” “hypocrisy,” “envy,” and “slander” (2:1). Because justification is by faith alone in Christ alone, good works play absolutely no role in our salvation. Here we find the dominical words of Christ: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”. And yet the greatest text of all is taken from Matthew 5:16. Career enhancement: Being a good listener at work-place is very important. Peter says: "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.". Importance of Good Works INTRODUCTION THE GOSPEL was taken to Crete by persons who from there attended the Jewish feast on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2:11. It is nice to know that Christianity is more than a call to abstain from a list of activities. First, good works manifest our gratitude to God for the gift of His Son (Col. 2:6). abstain from the passions of the flesh.” To live in this world as citizens worthy of all the wonders and relationships belonging to the next, we must refrain from acting upon the impulses and desires of the flesh. Here at The Youthhood, we say, “A good day is a pay day.” In other words, if you have a job or a … The religious word “liturgy” means, in its root sense, “the work of the people.” Contra the idea that liturgies are practiced by priests in robes uttering ancient rites, the term more closely points to something participatory. THE IMPORTANCE OF 2. In other words, we are called to honorable conduct, which is nothing less than doing good deeds. The ironic tragedy, however, is that Protestantism, after the Reformation, most often refers to good works solely in a negative fashion. Employers value employees who come to work on time, are there … If love is the basis for your acts, then you really can’t go wrong. To put it simply, if Peter was alive and preaching today, each of us would sense the angst in his appeal and the emotion in his voice. We are to be people who are busy filling our lives with good things as well. The Westminster Confession of Faith states that there are at least six benefits of good works. And may we be faithful until Christ’s return. Peter appears to have intentionally borrowed the words of Jesus, for verse 12 is a very close paraphrase of what Jesus had taught him long ago. Promotes positivity among the employees: If the employees will not adhere to good behavior in an … The Bible teaching about Christian good works is important to our life experience and growth. A stirring commentary that explores 1 and 2 Peter and Jude, reminding believers that there is no cause for despair when they face trials as long as their identity and foundation are in Christ. Peter then went on to define what those passions were. When the next staff meeting rolls around, suggest methods to improve productivity. Nothing that we do can save us, NOTHING. Why Good Works Are Important. May it be rooted in our knowledge of his love. The Apostle Peter gives us his answer in two simple words in 1 Peter 2: abstain (v. 11) and keep (v. 12). For example, the Bible tells us that God’s law is good and is given for our good: “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12). Good Works Are Important. Interestingly, 1 Peter 2:11, 12 are two sentences in English. The value of our good works before we are saved is nothing. If there are no works or change of life to follow salvation, then it should be questioned whether the person is truly saved. It is fulfilling, glorifies God, and brings great reward. To put it simply, if Peter was alive and preaching today, each of us would sense the angst in his appeal and the emotion in his voice. . He is staying close to his Lord. The Powerful Impact of Acknowledging Good Work Acknowledgment is easily forgotten, but can be a powerful tool in business, so what's the best way to work appreciation … Further, we must learn to cover ourselves when tempted to go nakedly into the presence of the illusion that physical pleasure is the end of all things. Compare Gal. Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. They are the attitudes, actions, and way of life in which we once walked. Good works are important because they are an expression of our love and gratitude for God saving us. Salvation is a measure of God’s grace to us. Our good works are necessary as fruit of the eternal election of the Father, redemption in Christ, and regeneration by the Spirit. Our good works are necessary as acknowledgements of God’s authority over us and as acts of obedience to His commandments. conduct” of the first half of the verse is connected to the “good deeds” of the second half. The role of good works in human salvation was one of the crucial issues of the Protestant Revolt of 1517, Martin Luther going so far as to interpolate his own spin on the matter right into the Bible. . Giving Writing Advice My goal for this post is to give the advice that writers, new ones especially, need to have a … gospel-centered, Bible-centered content. I have written a lot about grace on this page. Positive work environments are essential for workers' mental and physical well-being, but they aren't created by accident. One cannot skip from justification of a faith-filled heart directly to the final step of being saved without performing good works and deeds of righteousness. They speak of the season when we were tethered to this world without God’s indwelling power to resist. The way you decorate your workplace can go a long way toward creating good working conditions. Learn more or donate today at. He is the coauthor (with Jon Dennis) of The Genesis Factor; a contributor to Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching; and the author of The Big Picture Story Bible and 1 and 2 Peter and Jude in the Preaching the Word commentary series. We are saved by faith not by the works that we do. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. It allows you to communicate better: One of the biggest benefits that comes with good writing skills … . God is the creator and definer of good. the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing Good works are the evidence of salvation, not the cause of it. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), One Year in the Bible Readings for February 21, Fighting the Good Fight, Running the Race. One of the most important aspects of work is that it provides a person the income necessary to meet basic living needs, according to The Youthhood. However important the priest… Related Share with a friend Let us seek to live lives that model the mature honorable conduct for which Peter is calling. Good Working Conditions for Workers. Updated February 20, 2016. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Jesus taught this very plainly. We must abstain from the malicious desires of our mind that would feast on others as carcasses to be devoured, and we must renounce our tongue when it brings forth the dead wood of slander (2:1). Let’s review. He also serves as chairman of the board of directors for the Charles Simeon Trust, an organization which promotes practical instruction in preaching. Our lives are to be filled with good works. David R. Helm (MDiv, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) serves as lead pastor of Christ Church Chicago. 2:1 with Acts 15. However, there is value to our works after our salvation. 2. Published May 31, 2017. Be careful not to reference any names associated with past or present problems. This is, of course, because of its insistence on justification by faith. This article is adapted from 1 Peter & Jude: Sharing Christ's Sufferings by David R. Helm. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5). However, the command does not say, “Let your light so shine that men will hear your good words.” Actually, many people will not want to hear what we have to say until they see our works of love. Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that exists solely for . Thus, work can be seen as the pillar of social organisation, but also, to a large extent, as an important pillar of the existential organisation of … Good deeds done out of sincere love for others (and for God) are spiritually powerful–they are a pleasing melody to God’s ears. We cannot earn our salvation. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The value of walking the pathway of obedience is manifold. as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”, 1 Peter 2:15: “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.”, 1 Peter 2:20: “But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”, 1 Peter 3:6: “And you are her [Sarah’s] children, if you do good.”, 1 Peter 3:11: “Turn away from evil and do good.”, 1 Peter 3:13: “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”, 1 Peter 3:16: “so that . Titus was a Greek by birth. This is, of course, because of its insistence on justification by faith. Above all, a safe workplace is important. Working, whether paid or unpaid, is good for our health and wellbeing. So, although we cannot be saved by our good works, when we are saved, we will produce good works. The importance of reading good works written poorly. He was present at the great apostolic conference in Jerusalem. Take time to consider the whole work environment and not only your role as an employee. But the New Testament epistles are filled with this idea of good works as an expression of our calling: Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”, Titus 2:7 reads, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works.”, Titus 2:14 declares that Jesus redeemed us “to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”, In Titus 3:8 Paul concludes his charge to Titus by saying, “I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.”. Peter’s first admonition comes in verse 11: “Beloved . It contributes to our happiness, helps us to build confidence and self-esteem, and rewards us financially. By Bob Wilkin In a world filled with conflicting interpretations of what one must do to be saved, it is my conviction, and that of GES, that good works are not necessary for a person to be justified before God. Good Working Conditions for Workers Safety. These are the vices from which we abstain. Decor. I know from my experience of helping those war refugees. Work culture is important for the organization as it directly impacts the ability to attract and retain talent. 1. Good works are simply actions that are good. Verse 12 is a continuation of verse 11—we live well not merely by those things from which we abstain, but by the host of things we choose to embrace. The Importance of Good Works. Furthermore, Genesis 1:31 declares that, when God viewed the fruit of His labor, He called it “very good.” God examined and assessed the quality of His work, and when He determined that He had done a good job, He took pleasure in the outcome. 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