Created for Good Works

[DHK]

Regardless of any abuses, I would call your attention back to the OP, and subsequent posts, to determine whether my exegesis and premise reflects the accurate biblical teaching on this subject.

Christians have been created in Christ Jesus for good works. Just like Israel was established in order to keep God's covenant, we, the members of Christ's church, have been created to do what God wants us to do, namely, good works. The absence of good works calls into question our profession based on the clear and unambiguous teaching of Scripture. Good works will differ in scope and frequency, and abiding sin may war with the new man making our works scarce at times. But make no mistake, we were created for good works by Christ Himself. They are not optional. They are the evidence of the new birth; not be be confused with a requirement of the new birth. While we were dead in our trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1) we had nothing to bring to Christ besides our sin. Our hearts were a den of iniquity and we were worthy only of wrath. But, oh! Glorious grace! Grace transformed us from workers of iniquity to workers of righteousness through Christ who died for us.

We were created for good works.

I can agree with that as it is written.

 

[steaver]

We are God's poiema (ποίημα - product/creation. What has been made). When something is made it is made for a purpose. The toolmaker makes a tool to perform a certain job. If it is made well the tool will perform as intended.

The fig tree in this passage represents fruitless Israel. Israel was fruitless because it failed to do what God intended for it to do. God's covenant with Israel was contingent upon the nation's obedience.

God made Israel, did God fail to make Israel well?

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; 28 and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

It appears even though God made Israel, God made Israel with a freewill to succeed or fail...or otherwise it would be said that God did not make Israel well...seeing how the tool failed...

 

[steaver]

Psalm 51 is wonderful example of a contrite heart, broken over sin. David was referred to as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Was this because David was sinless and holy? No. David was a great sinner. He committed adultery with Bathsheba; he ordered the murder of Uriah the Hittite; he tempted God with a census; and he was a poor father. But David also had a tender heart and was quick to repent from his sin. This is what the child of God should be like when he sins; contrite and broken, a sign of repentance. So, while we cannot perform good works perfectly at all times, God does grant us repentance and ability to serve God again from an obedient heart.

Not real certain David was "quick to repent" of his sin. First of all, David knew full well going into it that it was sin and he choose to do it anyways. Many a preachers will preach that this is a sign the person was never saved to begin with. Secondly, David showed no desire of repentance until God sent Nathan to confront him.

 

[steaver]

You are not dealing with the premise and exegesis of the OP and subsequent posts. You are trying to draw this into a Monergism vs. Synergism debate. I am not going to allow you to do that.

:laugh: I am directly dealing with the premise!!!!!!!!!!!!! I quoted your premise!!! You laid the foundation using Israel and then went to Eph 2

 

[steaver]

You want to turn this into a Monergism vs. Synergism debate. I am not going to allow you to that. Keep trying, though.

Guess what? You are in the Calvinism vs Arminianism debate category. Do you think their is an Cal vs Arm controversy over whether or not good works follow true conversion?

Now I responded directly to your premise that Israel is a tool God made and is a tool that failed. So why the refusal to defend your premise?

 

[steaver]

There are Dispensational Arminians who believe in Lordship Salvation, so no, it is not unique to Monergists vs. Synergists.

You did not respond to the OP. You came in with an agenda.

God made a covenant with Israel; a covenant that included blessings and curses. God expected obedience and disciplined the nation when it was disobedient. Likewise God expects obedience from us. I call your attention to the OP. Do you agree or disagree with my exegesis? How do you see Ephesians 2:10? Are Christians created for good works? Is that an imperative or just a suggestion? If there are no good works in the life of a professed believer, how does that effect the credibility of that person's profession? Work with the text, steaver. Do some exegesis. Stop with the company line and do some exegetical research and let us know your findings.

Here is my finding...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reformed
We are God's poiema (ποίημα - product/creation. What has been made). When something is made it is made for a purpose. The toolmaker makes a tool to perform a certain job. If it is made well the tool will perform as intended.

The fig tree in this passage represents fruitless Israel. Israel was fruitless because it failed to do what God intended for it to do. God's covenant with Israel was contingent upon the nation's obedience.


God made Israel, did God fail to make Israel well?


Quote:
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; 28 and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

It appears even though God made Israel, God made Israel with a freewill to succeed or fail...or otherwise it would be said that God did not make Israel well...seeing how the tool failed...

This is a good example of how confused Calvinist can get and they do not even realize their contradictions. Or they do realize it but choose to ignore it and hope any light shed on it goes away.

 

[steaver]

I am done with you in this thread. You lead with your agenda and prove, repeatedly, that you lack the ability to exegete the text. Have fun talking to the hand.

That's usually what I get when the questions get tough. But I believe asking the tough questions is what exposes truth from error. Many simply don't want to face their contradictions they post, but that doesn't help them understand truth from error, it only hinders their understanding and growth. But the important part is there are dozens if not hundreds of silent observers watching to see the responses. If I can help them avoid the errors many have made then I have done my good works for the day.

 

[Iconoclast]

Here is my finding..

This is a good example of how confused Calvinist can get and they do not even realize their contradictions. Or they do realize it but choose to ignore it and hope any light shed on it goes away.

no stever it is just an example of you failing to answer the bell. You were asked to participate biblically and answer the questions and you fail once again because of your agenda

 

[steaver]

no stever it is just an example of you failing to answer the bell. You were asked to participate biblically and answer the questions and you fail once again because of your agenda

Are you still mad because of the checkmate I put you in on the TULIP and John 10 Sheep debate? Hey, I just hold people accountable to their own words. :wavey:

 

[Iconoclast]

Are you still mad because of the checkmate I put you in on the TULIP and John 10 Sheep debate? Hey, I just hold people accountable to their own words. :wavey:

fact is you didn't do anything in the other thread just like you didn't do anything here it's all happening in your imagination but on the actual Baptist board you're not answering you're not able to respond biblically . You post your foolish little comments then retreat

 

[jonathan.borland]

Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Eph 2:10). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

We are God's poiema (ποίημα - product/creation. What has been made). When something is made it is made for a purpose. The toolmaker makes a tool to perform a certain job. If it is made well the tool will perform as intended.

In Matthew 21 we read this of Jesus' encounter with a barren fig tree:

Matthew 21:18-19 18 Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He *said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mt 21:18–19). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The fig tree in this passage represents fruitless Israel. Israel was fruitless because it failed to do what God intended for it to do. God's covenant with Israel was contingent upon the nation's obedience.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; 28 and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Dt 11:26–28). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Deuteronomy 28:15 15 “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Dt 28:15). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Christians have been created in Christ Jesus for good works. Just like Israel was established in order to keep God's covenant, we, the members of Christ's church, have been created to do what God wants us to do, namely, good works. The absence of good works calls into question our profession based on the clear and unambiguous teaching of Scripture. Good works will differ in scope and frequency, and abiding sin may war with the new man making our works scarce at times. But make no mistake, we were created for good works by Christ Himself. They are not optional. They are the evidence of the new birth; not be be confused with a requirement of the new birth. While we were dead in our trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1) we had nothing to bring to Christ besides our sin. Our hearts were a den of iniquity and we were worthy only of wrath. But, oh! Glorious grace! Grace transformed us from workers of iniquity to workers of righteousness through Christ who died for us.

We were created for good works.

And why is this in the Calvinism/Arminianism debate room?

 

[Yeshua1]

Oh, but you do.

The key point though here is that AFTER we have been saved, then God expects to see us walking in Him and doing those good works, as fruit of us already having been saved by him, not a requirement to get saved by him!

 

[convicted1]

The key point though here is that AFTER we have been saved, then God expects to see us walking in Him and doing those good works, as fruit of us already having been saved by him, not a requirement to get saved by him!

The OP never made that ascertion to begin with. This post is a non-sequitor...

 

[Yeshua1]

The OP never made that ascertion to begin with. This post is a non-sequitor...

My mistake, as I thought that it was hinting at the question of 'easy believism" Christianity!