Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 67

March 8;    Ephesians 2:10;    67/260(II);    ‘Good Works’

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.

The Bible teaches us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that when we become a Christian, we are a new creation.  The Holy Spirit recreates our spirit and comes to live in our spirit.  He deposits the love of God into our spirit and the fruit of the Spirit as well.  In reality, the work that the Holy Spirit does in us duplicates the character and nature of Jesus.  We still have to choose to act like our Lord, but now, as a Born Again believer we can.  One of the reasons the Lord created us for, was to bless others by our good works toward them.  Our sincere interest and care for others, helping them in any way that we can, often will open them to the realization that we have something that they need.  Good works is one way that we ‘witness’ to them.  Where religion and Christianity get confused, is that religion teaches that we earn heaven by our good works, whereas Christianity teaches that we do good works for others because we are Christians.  Good works do not get us to heaven.  Putting our faith in the sacrificial work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf is how we become saved.  Our good works toward another, makes us feel right inside.  Even the unsaved feel better about themselves when they help others.  Their problem is that often their good works stirs up pride in what they have done.  If they believe there is a god, he would have to be very impressed with their wonderful deeds.  In reality, as Christians, we are so impressed in what Jesus did for us, we desire that everyone comes to know Jesus as we did.  Good works, helping others, is a biblical way to share your faith.  Plus you sure do feel good.