Zealous for Good Works
A trip to the grocery store often brings one to purchase a gallon of milk. Universally, the most important thing we look for on that gallon of milk is an expiration date; we want the full fourteen days. At the same time we go and buy laundry detergent and could care less how long it has been on the shelf. We know that it does not fail to achieve its desired goal because of the length of shelf life.
All of this to say that most Christians think of God's wisdom as milk instead of detergent. Many think that the wisdom of God in the New Testament is antiquated and needs to be updated for our times. Because of this they ignore God's wisdom in scriptural elderships! They ignore God's wisdom in an organic church (made up of members, each doing their part – Ephesians 4:16) and gravitate towards institutionalism (human wisdom, by which boards, groups, committee's, etc… take on the God given responsibilities that each member is responsible for). They ignore God's wisdom in His plan of salvation! They ignore God's wisdom in acceptable worship! We can go on forever!!!
- Paul teaches Christians, that we have been “created in Christ Jesus for good works” – Ephesians 2:10. This denotes purpose and function (like a screwdriver for screws, a hammer for nails, the right tool for the right job, so to speak).
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Paul teaches Timothy as an evangelist (in order to teach Christians), that the purpose in scripture is to complete us or equip us “for every good work” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17. This is the blue print that defines exactly what good works we as the tools of God are to accomplish ( only! ).
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Paul teaches Titus as an evangelist (in order to teach Christians), that since we have been purified as God's special people, we should be “zealous for good works” – Titus 2:14.
[This establishes precedence!]
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Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
As Isaiah states that through the work of the suffering victorious Servant of God (the Messiah), men must seek the Lord while He may be found; there is the recognition that men have questioned the wisdom of God since the very beginning. Universally, this has been brought about by man's desire [not] to obey God's wisdom for us!
[This is still the case!]
When the Apostle Paul acknowledged prophetically that some of the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:29-30), would be among those who would ravage the church, did he state that God's wisdom in this office should be questioned? Negated? Dismissed?
NOPE!
He simply gave Timothy the qualifications of elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7); so that through teaching of these qualifications, they could be replaced with men who would be faithful (Timothy would be placed in Ephesus, as an evangelist, to make sure that no other doctrine was taught - 1 Timothy 1:3). Paul trusted the wisdom of God through the word, and so should we!
This exercise can be used with every problem in the church! It boils down to whether or not we are truly zealous for good works; and that we define good works by the wisdom of God through scriptures, ONLY!
Our world is only different, in that the tools of sin may be different looking; however, they are still of the same origin – lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, or the pride of life (1 John 2:16); and we can still say NO!
But only if we have gained the strength necessary through the word! See: 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17.
With this understanding note the words of Paul to Christians living in and among a perverse generation:
Philippians 2:12-16
“Therefore, my beloved, as you
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
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for it is God who works in you
both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14
Do all things without
complaining and disputing,
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that you may become blameless and
harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and
perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16
holding fast the word of life,
so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or
labored in vain.”
[Can we bow before the Omniscient God of creation and place a shelf life on His wisdom?]
We were not created in Christ Jesus for that!
Be zealous for good works as established by the wisdom of God through Christ Jesus our Lord, by His word; and be satisfied and thankful!