Christian Character 2024/25 Discussion Board 1

[pastorderrick]

“Good works that stem out of a relationship with Christ Jesus are witnesses for Jesus.” Bearing in mind that we are not saved by good works (Ephesians. 2:8-9), give validity to this statement or state otherwise.

Your post should be between 400- 500 words while your reply should be at least 200 words.

Paste the same submission from the previous step here by clicking on the REPLY link just above. Your submission should be made on or before Wednesday the 27th of November 2024.

Then scroll down to see your peer submission and click reply to comment on their submissions. You MUST comment on at least one post with a minimum of 200 words on or before 11:59 p.m. (WAT) on Friday the 29th of November 2024. Your comments will also be graded.

[VictorKachi]

“Good works that stem out of a relationship with christ Jesus are witnesses for Jesus.”

Works is not some esoteric religious concept. We are always doing works—some good, some bad, some indifferent. Our emphasis is on Good works as a product of an intimate relationship with Christ
First, what does “works” mean?
The word “works” means things we do, our actions.
In a theological context, “ergon” can refer to both good works, which are the fruit of faith, and works of the law, which cannot justify a person before God.(Berean Strong’s Lexicon)
For example, “good works” in Matthew 5:16 is from érga kalá, which means “good deeds,” and in Ephesians 2:10 is from érga agathá, which means “well-doing, virtue, piety” (Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament).

Clearly, we ain’t saved by good works, salvation is through grace. It is not something that can be earned through good works. Saving was all his idea. it is God’s gift from start to finish. He himself has made us who we are in christ Jesus. So none of us can boast. (Eph 2:8-10)
Are good works profitable?
According to James 2:24, good works are a natural result of saving faith, not a requirement for it.Been saved is by grace through faith.
1. Good works as a tool for effective witnessing.
The best witnessing comes from sharing what Jesus means to you. The best way to witness is to share how Jesus has changed your life and how he guides you. This aims at reaching out to the hopeless and brokenhearted, given them hope and a better future.
2. Good works bring Glory to the father:
Jesus set the example by doing good works Himself (John 10:32; Acts 10:38). And He tells us to do them as well. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
I’ve heard stories and testimonies of people who became born again as a result of an act of kindness from a brother or sister. They believed and confession was made unto salvation to the glory of God
What Good works can not do
1. Good works cannot justify us.
The good things we do cannot make up for the bad things we do. You could do a hundred, a thousand, a million good works, and they can’t pay for a single sin you have committed.
No, we can’t do any works to wipe out our sins. God demonstrates his love for us Rom 5:8
2. Good works do not get you into heaven.
If by our good works we could have a better standing in God’s sight, then christs’ death would have been in vain.
In summary, No action is good enough to provide our own salvation. No good deeds can undo the sins we have committed. Salvation is a gift only God can provide. No matter how much we desire to give salvation to another person, we cannot. Only God can offer the gift of eternal life. Instead, we are called to proclaim the gospel, live it, share it, pray for the salvation of others, and help people grow in the grace of God.

[bright022]

As a believer in Christ Jesus, one of the ways your Christianity becomes visible to others, especially unbelievers, is through good works that result from a relationship with Jesus. This relationship is made possible through your new birth, which gave you a new nature of love.

However, it’s essential to remember that these good works did not grant you salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states that we were saved by grace and not by works. This means that no amount of good works can earn salvation; instead, it’s through faith in the finished work of Christ.

You might wonder, then, how good works that stem from a relationship with Christ are necessary for bearing witnes for Him. Verse 10 of Ephesians 2 provides the answer: “We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” This means that our salvation, which is purely a work of grace and faith, involves our recreation into a new being that can truly do good works that bring glory to God.

This is possible because, at our new birth, we were translated from darkness to light, and now we are children of light. As a result, we bring light to our world through our works, which are enabled by our relationship with Jesus. Every light has a source, and the quality of the light depends on that source. Just as the sun’s light is brighter and higher than the moon’s and stars’, our good works can only truly shine when they stem from a relationship with Christ.

Matthew 5:15-16 reinforces this point: “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” This scripture emphasizes that good works are expected of believers, and these works should inspire others to glorify God.

The question, then, is not whether good works are expected, but whether you have an active relationship with Jesus that enables you to do good works that bring glory to Him. Any good works that do not stem from a relationship with Christ are merely acts of philanthropy, not bearing witness to Christ.

As Paul emphasized in Ephesians 2:10, “We are created unto good works.” This means that recreation is necessary to do good works that truly bear witness for Christ.

The story of the rich man in Matthew 19:16-26 illustrates this point. The rich man asked Jesus what good things he must do to be saved, revealing his misconception that salvation could be earned through good works. Jesus’ response showed the rich man that his good works were rooted in selfishness, not a genuine relationship with God. Despite claiming to have kept all the commandments since his youth, the rich man’s good works did not lead him to salvation. Instead, Jesus presented him with a way of grace, instructing him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. However, the rich man’s inability to rejoice at this instruction exposed the true motivation behind his good works – selfishness, not a desire to glorify God.

In conclusion, 1 John 2:3&6 reminds us that we ought to walk in the same way Jesus walked. Jesus went about doing good and healing those who were afflicted. As followers of Christ, good works are expected of us, and by doing so, we bear witness for Christ.

[VictorKachi]

A relationship with God is the core foundation. This is actually the start of the Journey as it gives birth to Good works which is then seen as lights before men for the glorification of the father (Matthew 5:16).
Like you pointed out,
Any good works that do not stem from a relationship with Christ are merely acts of philanthropy, not bearing witness to Christ.

Our new identity, our recreated spirit is the bench mark for good works that magnify the Good News.
Just like a lamp isn’t put under a basket, our good works aren’t supposed to be hidden.True humility is not hiding our good works from the world, but using them to point to our King. We don’t live righteously so that we might be seen (Matthew 6:1), but so that He would be.
We are called to be spotlights, not chandeliers. Both serve the purpose of giving light, but they are different in nature. When a spotlight shines, the fixture is not gazed at, people look at the object the spotlight is fixated on. Our good works aren’t meant to illuminate us, not for our good and glory—but for our neighbors good and our Father’s glory.

[ambcovenant]

The statement “Good works that stem out of a relationship with Christ Jesus are witnesses for Jesus” is valid when we understand the role of good works in the life of a Christian. While it is true that we are not saved by good works, as Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states, good works still play an important role. They do not save us, but they serve as a testimony to the world about the transforming power of Christ in our lives.

Salvation is Not by Works
Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This verse makes it clear that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned through good deeds. We are saved solely through faith in Jesus Christ and His grace, not by anything we do.
Although good works cannot save us, they are a natural result of salvation. In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” This means that after we are saved, God has a purpose for our lives, and part of that purpose is to do good works. These works are the evidence that we have been transformed by God’s grace and that we are living according to His will.

Good Works as a Witness to Others
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus tells us, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” This verse highlights the idea that our good works should not be done for our own benefit or recognition, but to point others to God. When we live out our faith through acts of kindness, love, and service, others will see the difference Christ has made in our lives and be drawn to Him. Our good works become a powerful witness to the world, reflecting the light of Christ.

Faith and Works Go Together
James 2:14-26 teaches that faith without works is dead. This doesn’t mean that works are necessary for salvation, but it does show that genuine faith will always produce good works. Paul also emphasizes in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” This means that our faith in Christ, when truly alive, will naturally lead to actions that demonstrate God’s love to others.

In conclusion, the statement that “Good works that stem out of a relationship with Christ Jesus are witnesses for Jesus” is valid. Good works are not the means by which we are saved, but they are the evidence of our salvation. When we have a genuine relationship with Christ, our lives will be transformed, and our good works will reflect His love and grace to the world. As Matthew 5:16 reminds us, our good works serve as a witness to others, drawing them to God and giving glory to Him.

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