What are good works?

Following on naturally from the post on What is faith? I want us to consider: What are the good works we should be working?

James said: Faith without works is dead
Paul said: God created us in Christ unto good works, which he prepared beforehand for us to walk in them.

I look forward to your well considered contributions, beloved!

Blessings,

Maybe these comments should be included under 'what is faith", but I think they cross over.

So many times we think of faith as something completely in the heart of man. We say we believe, and that is faith. But belief is not evidenced by words or sentiment. Belief is evidenced by action. "I believe that my parachute is good, was packed correctly, and will bring me safely to earth."
"Really, is that so? So why is it that you refuse to step foot in the airplane?"
This, I believe, is the point Paul is making. You say you have faith but where are your works? Paul was a man who believed in faith evidenced by action. Remember when he said that he did not come speaking words, but he came with power evidenced by manifestation?
I tell you I have faith, and I demonstrate it by my works.

Faith is manifested by obedience which produces evidence in the form of action.

"I believe you God that you will supply all my needs."
"OK son, so I want you to quit your good paying job, get a part time job, and go into ministry."
"Oh no Lord, but how will I pay my bills. I cannot do that."
This is the evidence of unbelief.

"Joseph, Mary. I know you are poor. I know it means leaving your business, family, and everything you know here in Nazareth. But Herod seeks the life of your son. You cannot protect him here. Go to Egypt and stay until I call for you."
"Yes Lord, we will go." And they went. This is evidence of faith.

The works are works of obedience to God that serve as the evidence of our faith.

I found this sermon illustration and thought it was quite good at pointing out the connection between true faith and good works. It is a true story-

The Great Blondin, probably the Evel Knievel of his day, was notorious for his incredible, death-defying acts. On one occasion, he strung a tightrope across the Niagara Falls. As a crowd gathered, he stood before them and said, "How many of you believe that I, the Great Blondin, can walk across this tightrope to the other side?"

They all said, "We believe! We believe!" So he walked across the tightrope and came back again. The people applauded, thrilled by his death-defying feat.

Then he said, "How many of you believe that I, the Great Blondin, can not only walk back across that tightrope, but this time do it while I push a wheelbarrow?"

"We believe!" they yelled louder, wanting to see him do this.

Then he said, "How many of you really believe it?"

"Oh, we really believe it!" they shouted back. One man was yelling a little bit louder than all the others, so the Great Blondin pointed to him and said, "Then get in the wheelbarrow." The man quickly disappeared.

That's how a lot of people are today. We'll say, "I believe! I believe!" But how many are truly willing to get into God's wheelbarrow, so to speak? Some people have a pseudofaith but not real belief as the Bible would require. It is, therefore, of the greatest importance that we know what true faith is. The book of James points out there is such a thing as a phony or dead faith. And any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration. It is faith alone that justifies. But faith that justifies can never be alone.

https://www.harvest.org/devotions-and-blogs/daily-devotions/2014-10-17

-Daniel

James 1:27. A good place to start I believe

The Lord is good, beloved!
While I was jogging...these are the thoughts the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance.
Galatians 5 verse 6:" Because in Christ Jesus, having circumcision or not having circumcision are equally of no profit; but only FAITH WORKING THROUGH LOVE"
John 6 verse 28 and 29:" then they said to Him ( Jesus ) How may we work the works of God. Jesus answering,said to them. This is the WORK of God, to believe in the One Whom He has sent"
Jesus also said: " A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you"
So the root is faith in Jesus, the fruit is works motivated by love.

The whole law governing man's works is summed up in: Love your neighbor as yourself.
There is a negative and a positive to this love. Negative = love does No Harm to its neighbor. Positive = do Good to all men, especially of the household of faith.

Works can be categorized as behavior/ character (1 Corinthians 13)and acts / deeds (James 1 v 27)
Good works have a " spiritual" part and a " human/ material " part, eg. Preaching the gospel feeds the hungry soul but we should also give physical bread to the physically hungry. Both are good works.
Praying for healing in Jesus Name is a good work. So is taking a person to hospital to get much needed treatment or attending to the needs of a suffering or dying patient.

Micah 6 verse 8: " He has shown you, o man, what is GOOD and what does the Lord require of you: To DO justly, to LOVE mercy and to WALK humbly with your God"

God bless,beloved.

Joh_8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

We are also told to have the faith of Abraham, so we see that the two are very closely intertwined. And the greatest works of Abraham were the works of his faith and obedience to God... Works are the fruit of the faith and of the knowing of God that comes through faith.

Another quote from the gospel of John:

Joh_9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Jesus says this and I think it really shows what good works are - the works of Him that sends us to do them. Good works are good because they are commanded of Him and inspired by His Spirit and do not come from our own vain and sinful hearts. The unbelievers also do "good" things, but those are not truly good in that they do not exude from the mind and will of God.

Just some thoughts. :)