The Fruits of Good Works
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
6/22/2014 PM
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Text:
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Psalm 106;
Lord's Day 32
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Psalters: |
176, 267, 90, 251 |
- Why the fruits?
- Our good works flow naturally from the Holy Spirit's work of renewing us in Christ's image.
- Objectively we are united to Christ; it is the tie connecting the branch to the vine so the branch can produce good fruit.
- Subjectively, we love Christ, so we seek to show our love and to please Him.
- God saves us, not as an end in itself, but unto His glory and praise (I Cor. 6:20; I Peter 2:9).
- The chief reason for everything God does (including our salvation) is for the glory and praise of Himself.
- We are clothed with Christ's righteousness, not to roll in the mire of sin, but to show the glory of His name (Titus 2:14).
- God is honored when His creatures do what He says (Matt. 5:16; I Peter 2:12).
- Because our best works are spotted, they are acceptable to God only because Jesus washed them too.
- The chief motive and the chief purpose of good works is to thank God (Ps. 106:47; I Chron. 16:35).
- What is gratitude or thankfulness?
- In general, it is acknowledging the person from whom we have received benefits.
- Of what does Christian thankfulness consists?
- Thankfulness is a gift of God.
- Man’s nature is not thankful, willfully denying to see God as the Giver and to give Him praise and thanks (Rom. 1:21).
- The only way we can see the hand of the Giver is that God changes our heart and opens our eyes (Canons III,IV-11).
- Thankfulness is the expression of the experience of salvation.
- The joy of being forgiven and delivered moves the believer to fall down before Christ and give Him thanks (Luke 17:16).
- Free grace shows the proper perspective of good works.
- The other fruits of good works.
- By his good works the believer is benefitted by being assured that he has faith.
- To find in ourselves some desires not found in carnal men is proof of salvation.
- Therefore, those in whom good works are found must be saved.
- Also others are gained to Christ by our godly conversation (Luke 22:32; I Peter 3:1).
- First, realize that the gain is Christ's, not ours nor (first) our neighbors.
- God is pleased to use our good works as an example of faith and gratitude to lead others to Christ.
- When our life shows salvation, then we are most effective witnesses and we arouse the interest of others.