What Are Good Works?
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 6/12/2011 PM |
Text: | I Corinthians 10; Lord's Day 33 |
Psalters: | 268, 141, 404, 246 |
- Their right standard.
- The law of God is the only objective standard for identifying good works. Biblical proof:
- This excludes all other standards.
- The principle behind this criterion is two-fold:
- One, God created all and controls all the absolute monarch of the universe.
- Two, God gives instructions in order to establish a personal link between Himself and His subjects.
- In the law God demands the heart: His law is fulfilled only with love (Romans 13:10-12; Matt. 22:37-39).
- Good works must proceed out of faith.
- Biblical proof: Rom. 14:23; Hebrews 11:6.
- The root of man s being is the heart (Prov. 4:23), and by nature man s heart is totally depraved spiritually.
- Faith is God s gift which binds us spiritually to Christ (John 15:1-8).
- Christ bears fruit through us, and without Him we can do nothing good (John 15:1-5).
- God s work of grace in us produces a small beginning of the new obedience.
- All good works must have the correct goal or purpose of the glory of God.
- Man s works all have a purpose or an end. Every deed of every human is ultimately either unto man or unto God.
- To be good a work must have as its goal the glory of God.
- God created all things in order that they might radiate His glory (Rev. 4:11).
- Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31).