Good works are the actions of a person, coming from pure principles. They are agreeable to truth, justice, and to established principles, whether these principles are natural, civil, relative, moral, or religious. Charitable works are another phrase for good works.
The Greek word for “works” is, “ergon,” it means to labor, to move, affairs, employment, or something to be done.
The following gives a true sense of what Christian good work is.
1. It is according to the will of the Father.
2. It springs from the love of Jesus Christ.
3. It is done in faith.
4. It is done to/for the glory of both the Father and Son.
What are the causes of good works?
1. The Father drawing all men and woman to His Son Jesus, by revealing the Son to them.
2. Man’s being united to Jesus Christ.
3. To trust by faith in all that God said.
4. By the spoken words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. By the administrative work of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:34, Jesus said, “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work,” = (something to be done)
Jesus is pointing to those officials of the church who’s duty as ministers of the faith are to be in total subjection to His will. All that a slave possesses belongs to his master, as Jesus also has a claim on everything that belong to His servants. He demands all their goods, and their good Christian works, these things being appropriated for His service.
Ephesians 4:12, The gift’s of God, come from the Holy Spirit, and are given to those servant’s of the Lord. Some are made prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. From these gifts and with the Holy Spirit to guide us, the four gifts become the force of the Christian movement.
The gift’s of being a prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher are for, “The perfecting = (equipping) of the saints, = (Jesus loyal servants) for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ = (the church.)”
Good works are the actions of a person, coming from pure principles. To conclude this article, I will cover four areas of good works. The first is that of a prophet?
A prophet is a person who is enlightened: inspired, and instructed by God to announce future events. People like Moses, Elijah, David, Isaiah, John etc. Prophets are often referred to as angels = (messengers) of the Lord.
A prophet is one who possesses the prophetic gift imparted by the Holy Spirit, this to the Jew first. In the N.T. the early church prophets were a class of instructors or preachers who were next in rank to the apostles. The gift of prophesy was desired above the gift of being a teacher.
In the Greek, the verb “mibba,” is translated to, “prophesy.” It signifies to foretell what is to come; and at other times it means to interpret, to sing sacred music, and the announce the prophetic declarations of Scripture.
In the N.T. the word is used either for explaining Scripture, speaking to the church by way of exhortation, or singing the praises of God in the language of inspiration. In the O.T. these prophets had a special communication with God, having the future laid open to them. They were also the ministers of the promised Messiah and His kingdom.
These O.T. prophets flourished in a continued succession, during a period of more than a thousand years. They were of the same mind, having the same Spirit, delivering the same doctrines, and predicted the same blessings and curses on mankind.
Their claim to Divine communication with God was further demonstrated by the excellency of their doctrine, by their miraculous powers, and by the fulfillment of many lesser important predictions that were spoken by them. These men were types of the greater Prophet to come, and the future Teacher of mankind, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. This is He of whom they prophesied.
These men of God reproved and threatened the sinful, regardless of their rank, wealth, or circle of power. Their predictions were either uttered in public, or fixed to the gate of the temple, where they could be seen and read. In some cases when confronting the sinful people of the land, they would walk around in sackcloth, showing every sign of humiliation and sorrow. This was the work God showed them to do.
Prophets spoke more from impulse of a unexpected inspiration, or from the imparted knowledge given them by the Holy Spirit, these revelations usually came suddenly.
Prophesying is not to be quenched, because it is the most edifying of gifts to the church. Those who claim to have this gift are to be judged by other prophets, or those who have the gift of discerning = (distinguishing clearly) the spirits, this to prove and to show that this person is prophesying under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and not demon spirits.
There were and are many who falsely claim to have this gift. These are false prophets, those not sent by God. It is therefore the duty of the true prophets to examine all Gospel messages, verifying them, whether they are according to the truth, and the analogy of faith. “The spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”
What is an Evangelist? An evangelist is a messenger of good tidings. He is a preacher of the gospel. He is not located in any particular place, but travels as a missionary to preach the gospel and to establish churches.
2 Timothy 4:2-5, Timothy writes to, “Preach the word; be instant = (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”
Verse 5, “Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
What is a Pastor?
A pastor is one who cares for, and feeds the flock. = (the church) He is also referred to as a shepherd, herdsman, and a spiritual guide. Jesus was called the Great Shepherd who watches over and provides for the welfare of the church. Jesus speaks of them in,
Matthew 24:45, He said of a Pastor, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat = (food at the right time) in due season?” Here Jesus speaks of a pastor as having the qualities of faithfulness and prudence. If a pastor is faithful, he will not deceive others, if he is prudent, he will not deceive himself.
Prudence is wisdom applied to practice. Prudence differs from wisdom in this, that prudence implies more caution and reserve than wisdom, or is exercised more in foreseeing and avoiding evil, than in devising and executing that which is good.
Pastors must have,
1. Pure and spiritual goals!
2. They must be sincere, with complete integrity of heart.
3. Faithful in their discharge of duties.
4. Impartial in the administration of Christ’s house.
5. They must stand firm, and persevere to the end.
Jeremiah 3:15, The LORD said, “I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Ezekiel 34:2, The LORD said to Ezekiel,
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds = (pastors) of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds;= (pastors) Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”
We read in,
Ezekiel 34:5, that the people of Israel, “were scattered, because there is no shepherd:= (pastors) and they became meat = (food) to all the beasts of the field, = (enemies of God and the Jews) when they were scattered.”
Fidelity and honesty make a good Christian, but when prudence is added to fidelity, this makes a good steward. Faithfulness focuses the eye upon the right goals, but it is prudence that directs a pastor to the proper means of attaining it. It gives clearness to the mind, by freeing it from the passions of the flesh and physical impressions. He is therefore able to understand what is best to be done, and the proper means to make his choices correct in their application.
Teachers:
A teacher is one who instructs, he is a master, and a minister of the Gospel. These ministers of the gospel should be sound as to their principles. Their hearts should be renewed by divine grace, and their thoughts, opinions, and judgments, are derived from the oracles of God’s truths.
Teachers without principles will never do well; those who claim to believe in a system, should see to it that it agrees with the word of God. Their spirit should be deeply impressed with a sense of the beauty, harmony, and usefulness concerning the doctrines of God, realizing their value and importance.
Teachers are not to have a haughty, dictatorial spirit, for it is a disgrace to the character of the office, and generally will breed contempt. They must be patient, and ready to do good to all people. They need to be good conversationalist, courteous, giving comfort without violating the truth, and able to bind a person to the Christian faith without flattering them.
These teachers of the gospel should be superior as to their knowledge of Scripture. God has never sanctified ignorance, or used it in His service. They must break the shackles of ignorance, enlarge their minds, and store it with useful knowledge.
The Bible should be well studied, and the scheme of salvation by Jesus Christ should be well understood. They should always be ready with a quick answer to any Biblical question, and able to communicate their answer to the person asking the question.
Other aspects of their work are to visit the sick, correct children, administer the ordinances, and preach God’s word. A good teacher will prove to be a blessing to those God has planted.
The works which Jesus was sent to fulfill
John 17:4, Speaking to His Father, Jesus prayed, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
In the above prayer, Jesus words, “I have glorified thee,” and, “I have finished the work,” are to be understood as works already finished. = (past) Jesus had already sacrificed himself for the sins of man, and only speaks of this finished work.
This can be further understood, when we read in verse 12,
“While I was = (He is speaking in the past tense) with them = (His disciples) in the world, I kept them in thy = (the Fathers) name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost = (destroyed) but the son of perdition;= (Judas) that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
Jesus was looking forward in time to that period when through the preaching of the Gospel, his sacrificing work, would be acknowledged. In this, the true God would be known and worshipped by all men.
Jesus said, John 5:20-36, “The Father loveth the Son, = (Jesus) and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he = (the Father) will shew him = (Jesus) greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”
Verse 36, “But I = (Jesus) have greater witness than that of John: = (John the Baptist) for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”
The above speak of the perfect fellowship, and mutual cause of love that the Father communicates to His Son Jesus. The Father’s counsels, added to the things He has shown His Son has and is being executed in a mediatorial = (go between) character. With the Father, “Doing is willing,” Jesus acting alone. The oneness of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is not an unconscious or involuntary thing, but speaks of the glory of the Godhead, also of the will, and love, of the three persons of the Godhead.
Jesus said, John 10:37-38, “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”
This can also be applied to an individual Christian or the Christian community as a whole. People will see the good works done in us, and will know that Christ lives in us.
The work of the Lord, which he began and left was to be continued by His apostles then, and by His disciples now.
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com