UNDERSTANDING WORKS (2 OF 3)
by Eddie Snipes
Scripture: I CORINTHIANS 3:11-15
This content is part of a series.
Understanding Faith, Understanding Works, Understanding Love (2 of 3)
Understanding Works
Eddie Snipes
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
Good deeds or works fall primarily into two categories: man driven works and God produced works. Man-centered religion always works to improve self in the hope that we will reach the level of salvation. Even Christians fall into this trap. Man driven works is either the attempt to become a god or an attempt to become acceptable to God. God never accepts man-driven works. Isaiah 64:6 explains by saying, "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags". Our righteousnesses are righteous acts and attempts on our part to become righteous or to do good deeds by personal effort.
God does not accept man's efforts because God is holy and He requires holiness. Can a sinful man produce unpolluted works? This would be like a polluted pond trying to give unpolluted water. We can't purify ourselves and we can't produce pure works. On top of that, what can we give God that He does not already possess? What can we give God that can measures up to God's holiness? There must be another foundation laid that is greater than ourselves.
The foundation of Works
Begin with 1 Corinthians 3:
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
The under girding principle in this passage is that no other foundation can be laid other than Jesus Christ. Until Jesus is the foundation of our life, there can be no godly works. The only ...
Understanding Works
Eddie Snipes
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
Good deeds or works fall primarily into two categories: man driven works and God produced works. Man-centered religion always works to improve self in the hope that we will reach the level of salvation. Even Christians fall into this trap. Man driven works is either the attempt to become a god or an attempt to become acceptable to God. God never accepts man-driven works. Isaiah 64:6 explains by saying, "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags". Our righteousnesses are righteous acts and attempts on our part to become righteous or to do good deeds by personal effort.
God does not accept man's efforts because God is holy and He requires holiness. Can a sinful man produce unpolluted works? This would be like a polluted pond trying to give unpolluted water. We can't purify ourselves and we can't produce pure works. On top of that, what can we give God that He does not already possess? What can we give God that can measures up to God's holiness? There must be another foundation laid that is greater than ourselves.
The foundation of Works
Begin with 1 Corinthians 3:
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
The under girding principle in this passage is that no other foundation can be laid other than Jesus Christ. Until Jesus is the foundation of our life, there can be no godly works. The only ...
There are 17438 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
