Turn with me, if you would, to
2 Corinthians chapter 7. 2 Corinthians chapter 7, and let's
read verse 1. Having therefore these promises,
dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Now I'm going to read that verse
again, okay? Let's enter into what he's saying here. Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, Let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God. Now, I've titled this Bible study,
Good Works. All right, that's the title of
the Bible study. Good works. The reason I've titled
it that is because I believe in. And I preach. And I stress. And I exhort and I encourage
good works. The Apostle Paul believed in. And he preached and he stressed
and he exhorted and he encouraged good works. Good works. I want us to see what he has
to say here in this, in this one verse. But first I want to
make something very clear in regard to our good works as believers. It is a great error. It is a
great error to believe that good works are the evidence of salvation. It is a great error to believe
that good works are the evidence of salvation. That's what everybody
believes. I mean, that's what everybody
believes. Every person in this room is
like, wait a minute, what? It is a great error to try to
find assurance and rest our souls on the good works that we see
ourselves doing. That's a great error. That's
a great error. Here's why. This is why it's
such a great error. Good works are not the evidence
of salvation. They're not. They're not. I'm going to really explain what
I mean. I want to say again. I'm not
against good works. I mean that. I want to, from
this moment on, press good works harder than I've ever pressed
them from this pulpit. From here on out, I am pro, I've
always been pro good works. I just want to make it more clear
than I've ever made it. I'm for them. I'm for them. But I must warn us that if we
set the object of our assurance And our hope on our good works,
we are going to miss Christ. We're going to, and that's something
we don't want to do. And if we do that, we're going
to leave this world without evidencing salvation. We're going to leave
this world with a ton of good works and a ton of good deeds
and a really good record in the eyes of other men and women.
And we're going to leave this world without evidencing salvation. So this is very important. This
is very tedious and very important. This is the heart of the issue.
And this is the doctrinal division with people that, you know, talking
about splitting hairs, let's split the hair. Okay. This is
very tedious, very important. And I'm going to prove what I'm
saying. Go with me over to Matthew seven. Matthew 7. Verse 22 says, Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in thy name? And in thy name have cast out
devils? And in thy name done many wonderful
works? And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Do you mean to tell me God considers
being a preacher sin? Yes. Yes, he does. That old writer said, I cannot
preach, but I sin. Everything we do is mixed with
sin. All of our righteousnesses are
filthy rags. But now, do you mean to tell
me that God considers casting devils out of people? Sin? Yes. Well, you mean he considers
doing wonderful works? Sin? Yes. Those are not the evidences of
salvation. They're not the evidences of
salvation. Men can stand in pulpits and
they can preach all of their lives and they can actually cast
devils out of people. And they can actually do wonderful
works and then not be saved. Not go to heaven. It happens
every day. It happens every day. Those are
not the evidences of salvation. Being a preacher is not an evidence
of salvation. It doesn't mean anything. It
does not mean anything. Nothing. It's not the evidence.
Go with me to Luke 18. Luke 18 verse 10 says, Two men
went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other
a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I'm not as other men
are extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast
twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I possess. This Pharisee right here was
not an extortioner. He didn't extort other people.
He was just, he was a just man. He was fair. He was not an adulterer. He did twice as much as was required
of him. He gave 10% of every single thing
he had. Verse 13 says, And the publican,
standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto
heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me,
a sinner. I am quite positive that man
was an extortioner. He was not just. He was not fair with people.
He was probably an adulterer. He never fasted. He didn't give
anything. God Almighty said though in verse
14, I tell you, this man, the sinner, the one who said, Lord,
I acknowledge what I am and I just beg you for mercy. I'm a sinner
begging you for mercy. He said, I tell you, this man
went down to his house justified rather than the other. And listen
to this, for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased. And he that humbleth himself
shall be exalted. Out of everything that Pharisee
did, not one of those things was in evidence of salvation. He was not justified before God.
Now, right here, verse 18 starts the story of that rich young
ruler. He said, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And
the Lord gave him the commandments. And this is what he said. He
said in verse 21, all these things have I kept from my youth up
everything you've told me to do in the law and the commandments.
I've kept it from my youth up. The Lord said to him. But you're
not saved. You lack this one great thing. You're not saved yet. The apostle
Paul said the same thing in Philippians three. He said, all of those
things, I kept them from my youth up. I was of the tribe of Benjamin.
I was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. I was so zealous and so strict. I persecuted the church. He said,
but I wasn't saved yet. I was not saved yet. You know
the story of Samuel in the Old Testament? Young Samuel, Hannah
couldn't have a child and the Lord blessed her and she lent
him to the Lord. Literally, when he was old enough,
gave him to the service of the Lord. He lived in the temple. He lived in the church. He was
the assistant to God's priest. He daily ministered in the things
of the Lord. It goes on down to say, now Samuel
did not yet know the Lord. He wasn't saved. He was not saved. Good works are not the evidence
of salvation. Is that clear enough? Good works
are not the evidence of salvation. What is, what is, what is the
evidence of salvation? Turn with me to Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 verse one says, now
faith is the substance of things hoped for salvation, eternal
life. Faith is the evidence of things
not seen. Faith in Christ is the evidence
of salvation. Faith in Christ is the evidence
of salvation. The question is asked over and
over in the scripture, what must I do to be saved? The apostles
gave the answer, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ. There are men and women everywhere
who evidence good works in a way that we will never live up to. Monks have given up everything. There are people in denominations,
every denomination on this earth, And they truly do love other
people. I mean, they truly do forgive
other people. They really do. They they commit
themselves to church services. As I as I look as an outsider
looking in, I see that and I think. I. Covet their zeal, I mean,
I. There are people who exhibit
good works in a way we'll never live up to. But they do not believe
God's Word. They don't believe God's Word.
And their hope of eternal life is not totally, completely wrapped
up in the good work and blood of Christ alone. Their hope of
eternal life is wrapped up in the good works that they're watching
themselves do. Therefore, they're going to leave
this world with no hope, no hope. They have their good works. But
good works cannot save anybody. Good works are wonderful. I love
good works. Maybe I ought to title this,
I love good works. I adore good works. I thank God
for good works. They encourage me. I love seeing
good works in others. I want to see more good works
in myself. But good works can't save anybody. Only the blood of Christ saves
sinners. That's something that those who
believe on Christ. God has given that that ability
to do that. They're convinced of it. I mean,
they're convinced of it. They don't mix works and grace. Do believers believe in good
works? I honestly don't know one who doesn't. But they don't
mix works in grace in no way. Does that discourage them from
works, even though they don't mix them, it doesn't discourage
them at all. Let's do this. Let's do this. It does not never
would that promote a heart to disobey the God they believe
in never. Every child of God will say,
he'll, he'll ask himself this question. Am I just going to
run in the sin and the rebellion of evil, terrible, horrible,
wicked works just because I'm saved by grace alone. God forbid,
God forbid. No. Aren't we so thankful for
free grace? Aren't we so glad? It produces
so much love in here, in the heart for the one who saved us
by free grace. We never want to disobey and
rebel against him. We do because we're sinners,
but our hearts don't want to. Look with me at Ephesians 2. Ephesians 2 verse 8 says, For
by grace are you saved through faith. And that's not of yourselves. The grace is not of yourselves. The faith is not of yourselves.
None of it is of yourselves. Every bit of it is the gift of
God, not of works, lest any man should boast. We establish that
first. I mean, we make that clear first. How were we saved? By grace. By free gift. Well, what's the
evidence of that salvation? Faith. Believing on the Lord
Jesus Christ. Believing that ability to say,
it's not my works. He did it. His blood alone. He did the choosing. He did the
dying. He did the raising up. He did it all. That's that evidence
of faith. What does it say in every heart? Not of works lest any man should
boast. We're not here to boast. Not
at all. And then once that's established,
we go on to verse 10. For we are his workmanship created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them. We see why verse nine and verse
10 are side by side. He cries not of works, but God saved us unto good works.
That makes sense, doesn't it? That makes sense. That's easy
to understand. Nowhere in this word does our Lord tell us to
trust in our works. and find assurance of salvation
based on what we see in ourselves. Now, if you're going to be saved
now, this is what you need to see in yourself. If you don't
see this in yourself, you're not saved. Thank God it does
not say that. It says you look to that blood
alone and it's finished. That's what it says. You trust
that blood alone. Our assurance, our hope is always
pointed to the will and the work and the blood of Christ alone.
Always. Only because of the will and
the work and the blood of Christ alone, only because of it do
we believe and preach and exhort and encourage good works. Look with me at Titus chapter
3. Titus 3 verse 1, the apostle
Paul told Titus, put them in mind to be subject
to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready
to every good work. He said, put them in mind to
that. You put them in mind to be ready to good works. Verse
two, to speak evil of no man. Tell them, don't speak evil of
anybody. Don't be brawlers. Be gentle, showing all meekness
unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes
foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lust and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after
that, the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared. And then he stresses, not by
works of righteousness which we have done. Let's lay that
down again. But according to his mercy. He saved us. We didn't cooperate, He didn't
say that. We didn't earn. According to His mercy, He saved
us. By the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Savior. That being justified by His grace,
and grace means gift, free gift. We should be made heirs according
to the hope of eternal life, period. Verse say, this is a
faithful saying. And these things I will that
thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God, those
three words believed in God. They which have believed in God
might be careful to maintain good works. These things are
good and profitable unto men. Do we see where the emphasis
is? Those that believe in God, God
did all of this, sent faith, caused them to believe in Christ.
And that's who we're preaching to. And that's who we exhort
good works to. But that emphasis is on Christ
alone. The emphasis is on a who. Not
a what. A who. Okay, go back to our text. We're going to wrap this up.
2 Corinthians 7 verse 1. Having therefore these promises,
dearly beloved, Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Having these promises, dearly
beloved, because we have the promises of God, because we have
them. What are some of these promises?
In Christ, He promised us adoption. Look back up at 2 Corinthians
6 verse 18. He said, I'll be a father unto
you. You'll be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty. He promised us adoption. In Christ,
He promised us redemption. He's promised to put us back
where we were before we fell. Reinstate us to everything we
were before. In Him, we have the promise of
being justified. God says you're justified, sanctified,
glorified. In Christ, we're promised the
inheritance of Christ Himself, joint heirs with Him. He said,
because we have the promises, we have them. Because that's
a done deal. Verse one, having therefore these
promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh. And here's what I want to say.
Let's do it starting today. This is October the first day.
Number one's a good day to start. Let's start today. Let's start
today. I do want to stress good works. Let's stop doing, and I speak
to myself first, let's stop doing the things that are defiling
ourselves. Let's strive. If it was that
easy, we would, wouldn't we? But it's not. We got to beg God. We got to call on God. Lord,
help us cause us to be more and more conformed into the image
of Christ. Lord, teach us, make us grow. Let us stop defiling ourselves
inside and out. He said, the filthiness of the
flesh and spirit inside and out, perfecting holiness in the fear
of God. Perfecting means taking up in
Christ. We have the promise of holiness.
What Paul is saying is take it up, lay hold on it. Let's put off the old man and
put on the new man. That's what he's saying. And. I'll close with this, go to Ephesians
four. Everything that he says here.
Let's do this. Let's pray, Lord, help us, help
us to do this. Ephesians 4 verse 17, this I
say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you henceforth
walk, not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind.
Lord, would you relieve me of the vanity of my mind? It's all
about me. I'm going to tell you, it's all
about me. Verse 18, having the understanding
darkened, being alienated from the life of God through ignorance
that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Lord,
would you put the eyes of faith in this heart right here? Verse
19, who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness. That's lust. This flesh lusts
against everything and we just freely give in to it. Oh, well,
I think I'll just give into it. Lord, would you please stop me
from that? Stop me from that. Being past
feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work
all uncleanness with greediness. Does that not describe this flesh?
He said, but you have not so learned Christ, if so be that
you've heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is
in Jesus, that you put off concerning the former conversation, the
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust and be
renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that you put on the
new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
I mean this. I want to wear him around town. I really do. Verse 25, wherefore
putting away lying. He says that all the time, doesn't
he? We lie so easily. We do. Putting away line, speak every
man truth with his neighbor. We're members. One of another.
He said, be angry. Get angry is what he's saying.
Angry? Look, and sin not. Be angry at
sin. Get angry at the sin we see in
ourselves. Fight against it. Be ye angry
and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon
your wrath. Don't go to bed mad at somebody. Don't go to bed mad at somebody.
Don't go to bed mad at a spouse. Don't go to bed mad at a neighbor.
Don't go to bed mad at a brother or sister. Don't let the sun
go down on your wrath. The next verse says, neither
give place to the devil. Don't, don't give in to those
divisions. dissension verse 28 let him that
stole steel no more but rather let him labor working with his
hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him
that needeth let not corrupt communication proceed out of
your mouth that that means don't have a filthy mouth. You hear
you hear the word the world's filth and how easily does the
mouth just want to fall in line. Let not corrupt communication
proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good. Let good
things proceed out of your mouth to the use of edifying that it
may minister grace unto the hearers and grieve not the Holy Spirit
of God. He's saying when we do these
things, we are grieving the Holy Spirit of God. No believer wants
to do that. How sad is that? Whereby you're
sealed unto the day of redemption. Are you not relieved by that?
He said in the same verse of scripture, while you're grieving
the Holy Spirit of God, that same Holy Spirit has sealed you
to the day of redemption. It's not by works, it is by God's
good, free, and sovereign kind grace. Verse 31, he said, let
all bitterness, you know how we just become bitter? I'm just
bitter about it. Let all bitterness and wrath
and anger and clamor, that's a crying out, an outrage. You
know, bitterness wells up in the heart and finally it outrages.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil
speaking, that's slander. We love doing that. We love slandering
other people, slandering their names. He said, let all that
be put away from you with all malice. That's a desire to hurt
someone. And He said, Be ye kind one to
another, tender hearted. Lord, would you run a tenderizer
over this heart right here? Be kind one to another, tender
hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you. He has forgiven us. He's freely,
freely forgiven us. There is not a more powerful
reason than that. Every time believers come back
to that reason, that's it. That's it. There's not a more
powerful reason with an eye completely focused on that for the sake
of the cross. Because God for Christ's sake
has forgiven us. Let's obey his word. Let's strive
to honor him. Let's strive to do the things
that he declares to be good works, not because we're trying to earn
his favor, not because we're trying to earn heaven only because
he has already freely given us his favor, freely given us salvation. So may the Lord enable us to
do these things. You're dismissed.