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Can the unsaved to good works?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006.

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  1. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    Hi everyone.
    I see my long, long thread was finally closed! It was getting out of hand so that was a good thing.

    But, one thing that came up briefly in that thread I wanted to address here:

    Can an unsaved person do a good work? In other words, is there any good other than God?

    If an unsaved man gives money to help feed the hungry etc, is that a good work?
     
    #1 Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006
  2. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    In the eyes of man, it is the greater good. In the eyes of God, all the good works in the world are but rubbish.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
    #2 Joseph_Botwinick, Jul 12, 2006
  3. IveyLeaguer

    IveyLeaguer New Member

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    Agree.

    :Fish:
     
    #3 IveyLeaguer, Jul 12, 2006
  4. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Acts, chapter 10



    "1": There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, (unsaved right then)

    "2": A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.

    "3": He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

    "4": And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.


    KJMatt.25
    35": For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

    "36": Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

    "37": Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

    "38": When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

    "39": Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

    "40": And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

    "41": Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

    "42": For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

    "43": I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

    "44": Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

    "45": Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

    Call it "good deeds". If this is not true then quit taking people's money to go on your missionary trips.
     
    #4 Brother Bob, Jul 12, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 12, 2006
  5. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    Well said, Joseph.

    If someone walked up to me and gave me a new car, I would be happy at any rate.

    If this man did it to prove he was a good person, he was still in sin.
     
    #5 Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006
  6. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    No unsaved person can do good works. Matthew 19:17 says only God is good. Any good works from a saved person are done because of the righteousness of Christ. Feeding the poor, caring for the sick would more correctly be called a kind act by an unsaved person, but for the Christian, it is commanded we do things like this.
     
    #6 saturneptune, Jul 12, 2006
  7. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    Good point Saturn.


    How about this verse from Proverbs:
    An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin
     
    #7 Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006
  8. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    It would be sin for the Christian too.
     
    #8 Brother Bob, Jul 12, 2006
  9. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    It is a sin for a Christian to havea proud look, but plowing?
    That is not a sin for the Christian, only the unbeliever.
     
    #9 Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006
  10. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Plowing of the wicked?

    Just plowing is not sin.
     
    #10 Brother Bob, Jul 12, 2006
  11. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    When a man plows, who is not a Christian, IE the wicked, is that sin?
     
    #11 Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006
  12. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Depends how he is plowing and if he considers God when he is plowing or is it just for his own selfishness.
     
    #12 Brother Bob, Jul 12, 2006
  13. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    Is that what Proverbs says there?
     
    #13 Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006
  14. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Somewhere in proverbs it says almost that but would have to look it up again.

    The man, who plows the soil, acknowledging God in his work, and seeking his strength and blessing- "does it acceptably to the glory of God." It is essentially a religious action. But the wicked, who does the same work without any regard to God-for want of a godly end, his plowing is sin (it came from a commentary)
    If he were doing it to feed his family it would not be a sin for a man that will not provide for his family is worse than an infidel.

    2 Thessalonians, chapter 3
    10: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
     
    #14 Brother Bob, Jul 12, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 12, 2006
  15. J. Jump

    J. Jump New Member

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    Spiritually dead men can not produce spiritual works. When is the last time you saw a dead person do anything?

    Works can ONLY come after salvation. Anything that is done in the site of man may be good in the site of man, but God knows the heart and there was something that was wrong in the motivation even if it wasn't consciously there.

    Dead means dead.
     
    #15 J. Jump, Jul 12, 2006
  16. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    I agree.
    And only when we have faith can we please God, so even if we as men see a man in the field plowing, if he is unsaved, then he is in sin in his plowing because no man that is unsaved is Acknowledging God and wants to please him. So it isn't the plowing itslef, but the fact that the man is in rebellion against God.
    Would you agree with that?
     
    #16 Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006
  17. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Not if he is doing it to feed his family I wouldn't think so.
     
    #17 Brother Bob, Jul 12, 2006
  18. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    If an unsaved man, plows so he can feed his family? That is still sin. The Bible says so, even though we wouldn't see it as such.

    All that the unsaved do is sin.
    They are uncapable of anything else.
    For that matter, so are we without God's grace.
     
    #18 Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006
  19. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    I don't believe that is what it is saying. What are you saying that a man laying under a shade tree with his family starving is better than a man from the sweat of his brow is feeding his family. Come, rightly divide the word. It says if he plow without any regard to God. Well feeding his family is well and good before God.

    Remember "even the dogs have compassion".
     
    #19 Brother Bob, Jul 12, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 12, 2006
  20. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    What I am saying is that without faith, it is impossible to please God.
    Yes, the man under the shade tree, or the man in the field are both in sin. And always will be until they are saved.
    They are not doing a bad thing from mans perspective, but form God's, there is none that doeth good.

    Would you not agree that we are totally sinful in our flesh? IN our flesh there is nothng good and only when God saves us can we please God and cease to sin?
     
    #20 Dale-c, Jul 12, 2006
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