What can we say about good deeds? A boy scout helps an old lady across a street, someone gives up their seat on the bus to a pregnant lady... Are these good deeds? Well, we'd recognize good in these things. There sadly isn't a lot of this in this world today. But anything done in the name in Christ carries more weight than that which is not done in His name. We are talking about good deeds tonight particularly as they pertain to Christians.
Titus 3:14 “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works...”
“Our people” surely makes this universal to all Christians.
We must learn to engage in good deeds. It does not often come naturally. We have to be taught, to be proactive and search for ways to do this.
Some thoughts on good deeds/works:
We were created for good works
Do you realize if you're a believer you've been created for good deeds?
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
This may be on a broad scale, as in a good work that is something related to our calling, or it could be on a small scale, like a tiny cup of water given in the Lord's name.
We are commanded to perform good deeds
Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.”
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
We also have a command from the Apostles
That has to be the highest quality deed there, isn't it? Anything done in the name of Christ.
1 Timothy 6:18 “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share...”
Good works are inevitable when you are a Christian
Matthew 7:17 “So every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.”
Matthew 13:8 “Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
James 2:17 -18 “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
James 3:13 “...by his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.”
1 Timothy 5:25 “So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.”
Revelation 14:13 “'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'”
What about a lack of deeds? Can you say definitively “I don't think that person's a Christian. Where are their good deeds?”
Titus 1:16 “They profess to know God, but deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
1 John 2:3-4 “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says 'I know Him' but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
Acts 26:20 “...they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.”
What should our attitudes towards good works?
Titus 2:14 “...who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness to purify for himself a people for His own possession, who are zealous for good works.”
Titus 3:1 “remind them... to be ready for every good work.”
Titus 3:8 “...so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.”
Luke 17:10 “We are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty.”
Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works...”
1 Timothy 2:9-10 “women should adorn themselves... with good works.”
1 Timothy 5:10 “has devoted herself to good works...”
2 Corinthians 9:7 “God loves a cheerful giver...”
Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven.”
John 3:21 “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God.”
Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
In the performance of good deeds...
We are equipped to do good deeds
We are strengthened for good deeds
We are gifted to do good deeds
We are supplied for good works
We are prepared for good works
2 Timothy 2:21 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
Byproducts of good deeds
Good deeds exemplified
Hebrews 6:10
Doing good deeds is illustrated in the parables
Our good works are evidence of our salvation, but they are not our salvation
Christianity differs from all other world religions in that right there. They work for their salvation, but Christianity is just the opposite.
Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy...”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Matthew 7:22-23 “On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
