BIBLE STUDIES

DO GOD’S WORD AND WORK

1-INTRODUCTION
2-BE A DOER OF THE WORK
3-HEAR AND DO GOD’S WORD

    It is written, BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES-Ja 1:22. If a person is a hearer of the Word, yet not obedient to it, he is deceived. God delivers this in the form of a command: "BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD." We are to obey and act upon the Word, not just listen to it. For instance, the Bible tells us to witness, so we simply do it. The Bible says to confess Jesus, thus, we confess Him. The Bible says to be baptized, therefore, we do so. The Bible indicates, if you are not a doer of the Word that you are deceived. You may think you understand the Bible, but, your heart may be deceived; thus, your understanding can be distorted. This is illustrated in the following Scriptures: FOR IF ANY BE A HEARER OF THE WORD, AND NOT A DOER, HE IS LIKE UNTO A MAN BEHOLDING HIS NATURAL FACE IN A GLASS: FOR HE BEHOLDETH HIMSELF, AND GOETH HIS WAY, AND STRAIGHTWAY FORGETTETH WHAT MANNER OF MAN HE WAS-Ja 1:23,24. The person who is not a doer of the Word forgets what the Word says. He forgets what kind of person he is supposed to be. He forgets what kind of a person he was, when he repented and received Jesus as his Saviour. He becomes deceived. He beholds his natural face (that which he was before coming to Jesus). He was deceived before he came to Jesus; now he falls back into deception, as he hears but does not obey God’s Word. Or perhaps he obeys certain parts, but not all of the Bible; thus, he is deceived. Is this you? Yet if deception is present, can you accurately answer whether or not you are deceived?

    When the Word enters into your heart and you "know" it is actually God speaking to you (if your heart is right toward God), the result can be a personal relationship between you and Jesus such as you may not have thought possible. As it is written, BUT WHOSO LOOKETH INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY, AND CONTINUETH THEREIN, HE BEING NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER, BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS MAN SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DEED-Ja 1:25. Kindly try to grasp the importance of what has just been said. BUT WHOSO LOOKETH INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY (the Gospel of Jesus Christ), AND CONTINUETH THEREIN (continues in the teachings of Jesus), HE BEING NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER (being not one who forgets the Word, who falls back into the world, putting the Gospel second—a forgetful hearer), BUT A DOER OF THE WORK (please note the words, a doer of the work, work, work; be a doer of the work), THIS MAN SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DEED (this man’s work shall be blessed). What work is the Bible referring to? The answer is given in Eph 2:10-FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM. Let’s cover this verse, in detail, to try to understand its full significance: For we are His (we are whose?), we are the workmanship of Christ Jesus, we are His property. We are His workmanship. We are created in Christ Jesus, we are born-again—why? It says, unto good works (or to do good works, to do the works God has prepared for us). The verse continues, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. God, Himself, has ordained the works for us to do. God, Himself, has ordained that we should walk in them. For this very reason you were born. For this very reason you have been called and created in Christ Jesus. You have been called and created unto good works. It is your obligation to walk in them. If you refuse, you are in disobedience to God’s Word. You may say, "I don’t know what God’s will is for me." Perhaps, this is because you do not know the Bible very well. God’s will for you is revealed in several places in the Bible. Study the Word of God. His will is for you to believe on Jesus Christ as your Saviour, to study (the Bible) to show yourself approved, to be a witness for Jesus, to serve Him, to never be ashamed of Jesus, and to follow His teachings—even to the point of death. You can obey and be blessed, but if you choose to disobey, you may, tragically, end up in the lake of fire screaming, "No one ever told me these things!" The Bible says, MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE-Hos 4:6. Yet if you are reading this message, you cannot say you did not know these things.
   What does it PROFIT, MY BRETHREN, THOUGH A MAN SAY HE HATH FAITH, AND HAVE NOT WORKS? CAN FAITH SAVE HIM?-Ja 2:14. EVEN SO FAITH, IF IT HATH NOT WORKS, IS DEAD, BEING ALONE. YEA, A MAN MAY SAY, THOU HAST FAITH, AND I HAVE WORKS: SHOW ME THY FAITH WITHOUT THY WORKS, AND I WILL SHOW THEE MY FAITH BY MY WORKS-Ja 2:17,18. God’s Word is telling us that faith, by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead. You cannot be saved without faith. In like manner, if there are no works to go with your faith, there is no faith. Your works for Jesus reflect your faith: little works, little faith; great works, great faith. James is saying, I will show you my faith by what I do. YOU FOOLISH MAN, DO YOU WANT EVIDENCE THAT FAITH WITHOUT DEEDS (works) IS USELESS (or dead)?-Ja 2:20 NIV. WAS NOT ABRAHAM OUR FATHER JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, WHEN HE HAD OFFERED ISAAC HIS SON UPON THE ALTAR? SEEST THOU HOW FAITH WROUGHT WITH HIS WORKS, AND BY WORKS WAS FAITH MADE PERFECT?-Ja 2:21,22. Did you hear that? The Scripture relates faith with works. His faith and actions were working together: his faith was made complete by what he did. ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS IMPUTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS…YE SEE THEN HOW THAT BY WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY-Ja 2:23,24. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. LIKEWISE ALSO WAS NOT RAHAB THE HARLOT JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, WHEN SHE HAD RECEIVED THE MESSENGERS, AND HAD SENT THEM OUT ANOTHER WAY? FOR AS THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD, SO FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD ALSO-Ja 2:25,26. If you are not serving Jesus at all (or have no works), it is evidence you have no faith. This could indicate you may not be saved, for you cannot be saved without faith. You may go to church, give money to the church, and be very religious; but if you have no works for Jesus, there may also be no salvation. Remember, a hearer of the Word, who is not a doer, is deceived.

    Mt 25:14-30 NIV-"AGAIN, IT WILL BE LIKE A MAN GOING ON A JOURNEY, WHO CALLED HIS SERVANTS AND ENTRUSTED HIS PROPERTY TO THEM.
   15-TO ONE HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS OF MONEY, TO ANOTHER TWO TALENTS, AND TO ANOTHER ONE TALENT, EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY. THEN HE WENT ON HIS JOURNEY.
   16-THE MAN WHO HAD RECEIVED THE FIVE TALENTS WENT AT ONCE AND PUT HIS MONEY TO WORK AND GAINED FIVE MORE.
   17-SO ALSO, THE ONE WITH THE TWO TALENTS GAINED TWO MORE.
   18-BUT THE MAN WHO HAD RECEIVED THE ONE TALENT WENT OFF, DUG A HOLE IN THE GROUND AND HID HIS MASTER'S MONEY.
   19-"AFTER A LONG TIME THE MASTER OF THOSE SERVANTS RETURNED AND SETTLED ACCOUNTS WITH THEM.
   20-THE MAN WHO HAD RECEIVED THE FIVE TALENTS BROUGHT THE OTHER FIVE. 'MASTER,' HE SAID, 'YOU ENTRUSTED ME WITH FIVE TALENTS. SEE, I HAVE GAINED FIVE MORE.'

21-"HIS MASTER REPLIED, 'WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT! YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL WITH A FEW THINGS; I WILL PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF MANY THINGS. COME AND SHARE YOUR MASTER'S HAPPINESS!'
   22-"THE MAN WITH THE TWO TALENTS ALSO CAME. 'MASTER,' HE SAID, 'YOU ENTRUSTED ME WITH TWO TALENTS; SEE, I HAVE GAINED TWO MORE.'
   23-"HIS MASTER REPLIED, 'WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT! YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL WITH A FEW THINGS; I WILL PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF MANY THINGS. COME AND SHARE YOUR MASTER'S HAPPINESS!'
   24-"THEN THE MAN WHO HAD RECEIVED THE ONE TALENT CAME. 'MASTER,' HE SAID, 'I KNEW THAT YOU ARE A HARD MAN, HARVESTING WHERE YOU HAVE NOT SOWN AND GATHERING WHERE YOU HAVE NOT SCATTERED SEED.
   25-SO I WAS AFRAID AND WENT OUT AND HID YOUR TALENT IN THE GROUND. SEE, HERE IS WHAT BELONGS TO YOU.'
   26-"HIS MASTER REPLIED, 'YOU WICKED, LAZY SERVANT! SO YOU KNEW THAT I HARVEST WHERE I HAVE NOT SOWN AND GATHER WHERE I HAVE NOT SCATTERED SEED?
   27-WELL THEN, YOU SHOULD HAVE PUT MY MONEY ON DEPOSIT WITH THE BANKERS, SO THAT WHEN I RETURNED I WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IT BACK WITH INTEREST.
   28-"'TAKE THE TALENT FROM HIM AND GIVE IT TO THE ONE WHO HAS THE TEN TALENTS.
   29-FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS WILL BE GIVEN MORE, AND HE WILL HAVE AN ABUNDANCE. WHOEVER DOES NOT HAVE, EVEN WHAT HE HAS WILL BE TAKEN FROM HIM.
   30-AND THROW THAT WORTHLESS SERVANT OUTSIDE, INTO THE DARKNESS, WHERE THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.'

    Mt 7:24-27-THEREFORE WHOSOEVER HEARETH THESE SAYINGS OF MINE, AND DOETH THEM, I WILL LIKEN HIM UNTO A WISE MAN, WHICH BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON A ROCK: AND THE RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE; AND IT FELL NOT: FOR IT WAS FOUNDED UPON A ROCK. AND EVERY ONE THAT HEARETH THESE SAYINGS OF MINE, AND DOETH THEM NOT, SHALL BE LIKENED UNTO A FOOLISH MAN, WHICH BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON THE SAND: AND THE RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE; AND IT FELL: AND GREAT WAS THE FALL OF IT.