datethewordtest

Tag: Works

  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatian 3:24

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatian 3:24

     Our verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatians 3:24
    Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
     JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

    How is a person saved?  This is one question we absolutely do not want to get wrong.  When the Roman jailor in Acts 16:30 asked the Apostle Paul what he must do to be saved Paul answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”  

    As one looks at the answer one should also “see” what is not in the answer.  He did not say believe and be baptized, though shortly afterward the soldier along with members of his household were baptized.  He did not say to start doing good works and when your good works outweigh your bad works you will be saved.  He did not say to pay a certain amount of money.  He did not say pray a certain number of prayers.  He did not say to start keeping the Old Testament law.  What he did say was BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and you will be saved.

    My spiritual upbringing did not answer the question of what must I do to be saved the way the Apostle Paul and Barnabas answered the Roman soldier.  I heard mixed messages about doing good works and keeping the LAW.  It really was not until I was in Bible College that I began to understand WHAT COMES FIRST.  One of the verses that helped me CLEAR up the answer of what must I do to be saved is our verse to date, Galatians 3:24.

    As one looks to study the book of Galatians one needs to know the theme is law versus grace.  Our verse to date tells the role of the LAW and how it is used so that we might be saved. Paul does not dismiss the law but rather shows how the law was a tutor to BRING US TO CHRIST.  

    The law is our TUTOR.  If you are like me, you are probably asking what is a TUTOR.  A tutor is like a guardian or a like trainer. They watch over and prepare the child for the one that will be the teacher or the coach.  The law, as a tutor, shows us our need of a SAVIOR.  It points us to the SAVIOR.  The law does not save.  

    As Paul explains the role of the law, he once again gives the true answer to how a person is saved and that is by faith.  He states as he did in Romans and as he did earlier in Galatians that a person is JUSTIFIED by FAITH.  

    You may ask what makes justification by faith so important?  I wish I could have one of my professors, Dr. Paul Fink, give the answer.  He explained it so very well.  He explained to us that in order to go to heaven we had to be as righteous as God and since none of us are righteous as God we all will die and go to hell.  However, Jesus Christ came and lived and was righteous. Justification then comes into play when a person believes by FATIH in Christ alone for salvation. Being justified we are DECLARED righteous by God as there is an exchange.  Christ takes our sins and gives us His righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:21) God now sees us “clothed in CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  We are now as righteous as God because we have CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.”   Having Christ’s righteous means above all that we have PEACE WITH GOD!  (Romans 5:1).  We can now spend all eternity in heaven!

    As you ponder on Galatians 3:24 know that you are looking at one of the most important verses for how a person is saved.  Believing or calling on the Lord by faith is first.  After being saved comes keeping His commandments and doing good works.  We don’t do those things to be saved but we do them because we are saved!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatians 3:24.  It says, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

    May I ask, have you believed, called on, or trusted Jesus Christ by faith and faith alone for salvation?   Works don’t work. Keeping the law does not work. Only by believing in Jesus works! 

    Continue Strong knowing how a person is saved,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 14 (3/14) is Titus 3:14

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 14 (3/14) is Titus 3:14

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 14 (3/14) is Titus 3:14
    Titus 3:14 says, “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

    DOING GOOD WORKS

    The Apostle Paul over and over makes it clear that our WORKS DON’T WORK for salvation.  It is a false gospel to tell a person that good works will save them.  As he writes to Titus he makes it abundantly clear how one OBTAINS salvation. Notice Titus 3:3-7 “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  It is hard to miss that we are “NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE.”  Works don’t work to save!  

    However, while works do not work to save, once one is saved one will be diligent to do good works! Following verse 7 Paul writes in verse 8 “This is a faithful saying and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”   It is hard to miss that we who “have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.”  

    GOOD WORKS DON’T WORK TO SAVE BUT THE SAVED WILL DO GOOD WORKS!

    I think I can make a strong argument that the Apostle Paul was PASSIONATE that a person is justified by faith and faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ AND that he was passionate that a believer will be fully engaged in doing good works.   Three times in the book of Titus alone he stressed the necessity of believers doing good works.  Notice these verses: Titus 2:14 says “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
    Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”
    And our verse to DATE: Titus 3:14  “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

    You might recall his teaching on good works followed after being saved from Ephesians 2:8-10.  He wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

    Are you learning to MAINTAIN good works?  Are you watching for opportunities to DO GOOD, to do good, especially to members of the household of faith?  (Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.)

    As we do good to and for others we glorify God and even cause the unbelieving world to notice and glorify God.  “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

    I read that Benjamin Franklin liked to ask two questions each day, one in the morning and one in the evening.  The morning question was WHAT GOOD SHALL I DO TODAY? The one in the evening was WHAT GOOD HAVE I DONE TODAY?  

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 14 (3/14) is Titus 3:14. It says, “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful,”

    I can’t think of a much worse commentary of a believer’s life than to hear one is unfruitful!   Be good and DO good!!  

    Continue Strong DOING GOOD WORKS!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD