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As a diligent student of the Bible, you will want to make sure the Bible really says what this study says. Always remember to test all things with God's word - as the Bereans did. They "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). Read the study all the way through, without looking up the Scriptures. Then read the study again, this time looking up the Scriptures. Highlight or mark each verse you look up so you can easily find it later. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Did Jesus Christ glorify God by performing good works (Matt. 5:16; John 8:29, 39; 10:37-38)? Are we supposed to serve Jesus Christ by following His example of doing good works (John 12:26)? Will some of us do greater works than He did (John 14:12)? We bear good fruit by doing good works (Col. 1:10). If good works are the same as good fruit, then isn't it by doing good works that we prove ourselves to be Jesus Christ's disciples (John 15:8)? Were we not chosen and appointed by Christ to go out and bear good fruit, which is doing good works (John 15:16)? The false Christians-which the Bible calls dogs, goats, hearers, wicked, tares and bad fruit-are those who profess to know God but are worthless for any good works (Titus 1:16). If Jesus Christ is the axe described in Matthew 3:10, and if we are the trees and the fruits are good works, what is this verse saying? Are good works necessary for a resurrection of life (John 5:29)? What kind of works is Jesus Christ talking about (Matt. 25:33-46; Luke 14:13; 1 Peter 4:11, 2)? Didn't Jesus Christ die that we might live to righteousness (1 Peter 2:24)? Isn't living to righteousness doing good (1 Peter 3:11, 13)? Didn't Paul warn disciples of Jesus Christ to learn to do good (Titus 3:8, 14)? Isn't Christ making for Himself a people who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14)? Isn't doing good works how you overcome (Rom. 12:21; Rev. 2:26)? Aren't we warned not to get weary of doing good works (Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13)? Were we not created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2:10)? Don't good works include helping the needy (James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17-19; Luke 3:11)? Aren't we, then, to bring forth good fruit if we say that we have repented (Luke 3:8; Acts 26:20)? Isn't this the Way (Acts 24:22)? Isn't this the message of how to be righteous? Isn't this the message many people refuse to believe when they hear it (Matt. 21:32)? Isn't this how you know you are born again and considered righteous by God, no longer a child of Satan (1 John 2:29; 3:7, 10)? Isn't doing good works how you serve God and glorify His name (Mal. 3:18; Matt. 5:16)? Isn't this how you do God's Will and enter God's rest (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 4:10)? Isn't this the Way of righteousness Jesus lived, which we are to imitate (1 Cor. 11:1)? After reading all these Scriptures, do you believe good works are important in God's complete message of salvation (Acts 5:20)? (Feel free to give copies of this study to others who want to know God’s truth. You will be doing God’s Will when you show and tell others how to live this special Way.)
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