Last month I emphasized the absolute necessity of the cross and the blood of Jesus in God’s plan for salvation. We do not get to Heaven by our good works, only through faith in Jesus…faith that He has done all that is necessary to redeem us from the penalty of sin.
      Yet the Bible has much to say about good works, good deeds. In Acts 9 Dorcas was commended because of her good works. Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are created to do good works. I Timothy 2:10 urges us women to be “clothed” with good deeds. Paul taught in Titus 3:14 that Christians must lead fruitful and productive lives. He tells us in I Timothy 6:18 that we should be “rich” in good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 instructs us to encourage one another to love and good deeds.
      Why all this emphasis on good works? Peter tells us one very good reason in I Peter 2:12: We are to live in such a way that our good works will show Christ to the lost.
      Have you ever noticed in your own family, or in other families, certain personality characteristics that seem dominant in nearly every member? In some, it’s the “gift of gab”; other families are more reserved and quiet. In some families everyone is sharp in math or they all love to read. In one family, the most noticeable trait is a similar sense of humor. In others, it’s a quick temper.
      As members of God’s family, we are supposed to have certain similar characteristics that set us apart from the world. One of those “family” traits is good works. By our actions (as well as by our speech), we give evidence that we belong to God’s family.
      We are not our own. We were bought with a price, and that price was the precious blood of Jesus. As Christians we no longer answer only to ourselves; we have the responsibility and privilege to answer to our Father God for our behavior and our attitudes.

by Mary Carothers

     Have you ever heard the expression, “Your actions speak louder than your words?” Well, God said it first in Titus 1:16. There He says that although some people claim to be Christians, their actions deny it. If this happens to be true in our lives, Acts 26:20 tells us how to correct this problem. Repent, turn toward God, and by our actions prove our repentance.
      No article on works/faith can be complete without mentioning James, chapter two. Many folks are puzzled by the seeming contradiction of his statement: faith without works is dead. Many translations clarify it by using useless in place of dead, so we can better understand what James is saying. He is telling us to be sure that our actions agree with our words. We could paraphrase it ourselves something like this: “You say you are a Christian? Well then, let’s see the evidence of your salvation by the way you live, by your speech, your attitudes and by your actions!”
      Attitudes and actions make up our days. They can be Christ-like, reflecting and glorifying Jesus, or they can be carnal – showing that our own nature is still in control. Let’s each of lay aside something we habitually do – such as gossiping, eating too much, losing our temper, criticizing each other, or being lazy. Then let’s determine to replace that bad habit with some attitudes and actions that will cause Christ to be formed in us.