Repentance from Dead Works

REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS [RELOADED]
Text; Heb 6:1, Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God

The study is a call to self examinations. As God's children, we are required to be perfect. This refer to moral soundness and maturity. We are called and accepted by God just as we are  but we are not to remain as we are. We must grow up in character and in learning. As is normal with God, if he required something of us, he tells us how to achieve it. Now God is showing us that the way to perfection is to jettison dead works. So what are dead works? Dead works simply put, are works that have no life in them. You see, the Word of God is life (John 6:63). Therefore, whatever you do that is not motivated or inspired by the Spirit and Word of God is a dead work.

As Christians, the day you gave your life to Jesus, you died and the only life you live now is the lived by the faith of Christ. (Gal 2:20). Outside Christ we are dead and so is our product.  Anything that we do outside Jesus is therefore dead and regarded before God as dead works (2Cor 5:14-15). Those works are dead because they are bereft of the word of Christ which is life (John 6:63). Living works are those that are done because of God’s word. Therefore whatever a Christian does (no matter how nice it may seem) outside Jesus or His will is dead. Thus we must always ask ourselves, what is my motive and motivation for doing this thing. Remember, God is the judge of motives.

EFFECTS OF DEAD WORKS
Dead works decreases our productivity for God. This is because we use the time and resources with which we would have used to produced living works for dead ones. That is the reason why some people's works will be burnt up when tried by fire before Christ on the day of judgment. Christians will not be judged with sinners because we have escaped judgment. But 1Cor 3:13-15 reveals that we shall face another judgment after we have been raptured and saved from hell. That is the judgement to determine rewards and awards. Then Jesus will try our works to determine what reward we are entitled to. If all we have are dead works, they will burn as hay and will attract no reward. Then the Christian--though saved will be like one that escaped from an inferno. You know, when you run from fire, you don't bother about possession. You escape just with your skin. So shall such people be.

SOLUTION
The only way to make sure all you do is motivated by the word of God is to saturate your heart with God's word. Read and meditate on it daily. Soon you'd discover that you think on the word of God always and like you know, your thought determines you words and actions. Psalms 1:1-3 says

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

This scriptures shows us that delighting and meditating on the Word makes us fruitful and prosper in our doings. Because the word of God has eternity in contemplation, prosperity here, being unqualified refers to prosperity in this realm and the next. This means that we will be rewarded by God here on earth and when our works are also judged in heaven, we shall have reward.

ACTION POINT:
Will you not rather spent 1 hour with the word of God so as to put value on your remaining 23 hours and make them worthy of reward across eternity, than rushing out to come back with harvest of dead works--24hours of unprofitable labour? The time you spend with the Word of God is worth it. So decide today to soak yourself with the word of God. Never step out of your room without meditating on it because it is what put value into your day's work.

PRAYERS
Thank God because no condemnation stands against you no matter what you did in the past

Thank him for power to live unto him and not unto the flesh

Ask God to order your steps by His word.

Ask God to make you understand His word

Request that the light of God floods  your heart and illuminate it

Receive grace to live unto God and put flesh under subjection

Ask God for mercy to fix your attention in heaven

Pray for the church of Christ, the Nation and for me too.

Further reading
Eph 4:19-22, 2Cor 5:14-21, Mic 6:6

STAY CONNECTED TO GOD

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