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As a diligent student of the Bible, you will want to make sure the Bible really says what this study says. Always remember to test all things with God's word - as the Bereans did. They "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). Read the study all the way through, without looking up the Scriptures. Then read the study again, this time looking up the Scriptures. Highlight or mark each verse you look up so you can easily find it later. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Many well-meaning Christians
are waiting for God to push a button, so to speak, to make them willing
servants of others. They think that God will give them the desire
to serve others, and that just having God's Spirit will automatically catapult
them into a life of good deeds for Christ. Many of these same people feel that if you force yourself to do good works for God, you are engaging in self-righteous works and are trying to gain your salvation by doing good works. What's really going on? What does the Bible have to say? Let's find out. The Bible says you glorify the Father by doing good works (Matt. 5:16). You enter the kingdom of heaven with righteous works (Matt. 5:20). Jesus Christ told His true followers that they would do more works for God than He did (John 14:12). Being zealous for good works is part of putting on the full armor of God (1 Peter 3:13; Eph. 6:11). By keeping Christ's works, you overcome your nature and put on Jesus Christ's righteous nature (Rev. 2:26). In the Bible, believers are cautioned against becoming weary in doing good works (Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13). The apostles told believers to
engage in good works (Titus 3:8). They stressed that it was something
they would have to learn to do (Titus 3:14). It would not come automatically.
They would have to strive, be diligent and persevere in doing these good
works (Luke 13:24; Heb. 4:11; 10:24; Rom. Paul forced his body into subjection
so that he would become a willing slave to righteousness (1 Cor. 9:27; Rom.
6:18-19). He was a slave to Jesus Christ, doing God's righteous works
from the heart (Eph. 6:6). He knew that doing righteous works would
allow God to crush his old satanic nature under Satan is the enemy of all who
would practice righteousness for God or who live as God lives. Satan
preaches against any form of good works done for God's glory so that people
will continue to be held captive by him, doing his will instead of doing
God's Will as it is being done in heaven on a Don't be religiously deceived. You will know Jesus Christ's followers by their works (Matt. 7:20-21). God's word says even Satan's ministers will be judged by their works, whether they like it or not (2 Cor. 11:15). How blessed are those who practice righteousness at all times (Psalm 106:3). (Feel free to give copies of this study to others who want to know God’s truth. You will be doing God’s Will when you show and tell others how to live this special Way.)
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