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Bible studies:
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). First, 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "When you have the Spirit of God, you just naturally do the good works. You do not have to consciously think of doing them. It is a natural result of having the Spirit." Is there anything wrong with the above statement? It sounds good to the ear. It even sounds reasonable. To be sure, let’s hold it up against the word of God. The apostles were commanded by Jesus Christ to teach people all that He commanded and taught them in their three years of training. What does this teach us? We are commanded by Jesus Christ to do things (Matt. 28:20). Jesus says a determination is being made as to whether we will keep His commands and bear fruit or not (Matt. 3:10). He says we must strive to enter by pushing ourselves, and many will not make it (Luke 13:24). We have to give up something (Luke 14:33). We have to persevere to win our souls (Luke 21:19). We have to force our way into the kingdom (Luke 16:16). Our righteousness must surpass the hypocritical stage - the scribes and Pharisees were hypocrites (Matt. 5:20; 23:5, 13). The Bible tells us we will eventually be like happy slaves, doing God’s Will (righteousness) from the heart (Eph. 6:6). But first we must overcome our natures by disciplining ourselves according to godliness; and to do this, or deeds (1 Tim. 4:7; Rev. 2:26; John 14:12). We are told to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 4:7). We are told to endure to the end to be saved (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Heb. 10:36). In other words, we are to do good deeds until the end (Heb. 10:24-25). We must not grow weary or lose heart in doing good deeds (Gal. 6:9). We have to live this Way daily to be worthy of Christ (Matt. 10:38). We are commanded to be careful to engage in good deeds for the purpose of overcoming the devil (Titus 3:8; Rom. 12:21). If we prove zealous for good deeds and allow God to crush Satan’s will in our lives, he can do us no harm (1 Peter 3:13; 2 Tim. 2:26; Rom. 16:20). Now, let’s ask the question again. "Will you just naturally do good as a result of having God’s Spirit in you?" In order to continue to think that doing good is automatic for a disciple of Jesus Christ, a person would have to cancel out all of the above Scriptures, and they represent but a few of the many to be found in God’s word. (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.) Bible studies:
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