Faith and Works and Your Motives (Lutheran, church, believe, Jesus Christ)
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The key to faith and works is one's motivation to do such works.
Faith alone with no works is likely not true faith and is useless.
Faith in God through Jesus Christ should result in some outward manifestation. It could be sharing Christ with a neighbor. It could be participating in a ministry at church. It could be giving money to a ministry or food to the poor. If the motivation stems from our faith in Christ - then it will be credited to our spiritual accounts and we are doing God's work.
However, if works such as participating in a ministry, or giving money to a ministry, or even feeding the poor are done with other motivations - in other words, those works may be done because it makes sense, or because of peer pressure, or because we will benefit from those deeds - then it will NOT be credited to our spiritual accounts and we are NOT doing God's work. This is not saying these deeds aren't good deeds by earthly standards, but God wants His people to do His work, His way, which is through faith in Him.
The faith in God, that motivates us to do works, is saving faith. Even if you are young in the faith, and you may be slow to show those outward works, you should at least have the spiritual urgings to do God's work outwardly - and as you grow, your faith will manifest itself through your outward works.
The works done apart from faith in Christ does not benefit God, even though it may benefit others. It is OK to benefit others apart from God. But the life that follows God should primarily do the works of God, which is motivated by our faith in Christ.
Well, gee, what pleases you more...your child loving you and doing nothing but
look at you adoringly wanting hugs...or
a child doing chores for money or out of fear?
Then, you have a child adoring you wanting to hug you all the time...AND
helping you with things.
This is not rocket science you need direction or a book for with some rigid
guidelines to be impressed on or preached to others.
The key to faith and works is one's motivation to do such works.
Faith alone with no works is likely not true faith and is useless.
Faith in God through Jesus Christ should result in some outward manifestation. It could be sharing Christ with a neighbor. It could be participating in a ministry at church. It could be giving money to a ministry or food to the poor. If the motivation stems from our faith in Christ - then it will be credited to our spiritual accounts and we are doing God's work.
However, if works such as participating in a ministry, or giving money to a ministry, or even feeding the poor are done with other motivations - in other words, those works may be done because it makes sense, or because of peer pressure, or because we will benefit from those deeds - then it will NOT be credited to our spiritual accounts and we are NOT doing God's work. This is not saying these deeds aren't good deeds by earthly standards, but God wants His people to do His work, His way, which is through faith in Him.
The faith in God, that motivates us to do works, is saving faith. Even if you are young in the faith, and you may be slow to show those outward works, you should at least have the spiritual urgings to do God's work outwardly - and as you grow, your faith will manifest itself through your outward works.
The works done apart from faith in Christ does not benefit God, even though it may benefit others. It is OK to benefit others apart from God. But the life that follows God should primarily do the works of God, which is motivated by our faith in Christ.
In fundamentalist Lutheranism, that was our rationalization for ignoring good works too.
Doing something to help another person benefits both parties. It feels good to make a difference. It feels good knowing someone has your back when you are in need.
It has nothing to do with God, or keeping some sort of strange check list before you give cash to the person who lost her home in a fire, or flood.
You help, because you can. Nothing more, nothing less.
If you read the OP - there was nothing mentioned against doing general good deeds. But there is a difference between doing general good deeds and doing the works of God through faith - if you desire to please God.
If you read the OP - there was nothing mentioned against doing general good deeds. But there is a difference between doing general good deeds and doing the works of God through faith - if you desire to please God.
IF God is pleased by good works, he doesn't give a flying fig who does them or what they believe when doing them.
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