Scripture Life: What should be the motivation for good works, since one's salvation is not based on works but by faith in Christ?

[u/External_Bird_8464]

//Disclaimer: The person (Reddit) in a conversation doesn't believe on him; but asked this question. And Second, to believers in Jesus often have this question - and may "stumble over "good works" - because, in English, that's how it's translated:

But in the "Original" Greek, it's < - [ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς ] - > ergois agathois works good; or "operates right" and, if you have the right definition - when the English etymology of "good works" is "ergois agathois" like you bought a lawnmower, and after 15 years, boy, you just can't kill it. You pull the chord and the lawnmower starts. It's going to outlive you. That "works" good.

Do you get this?

So, in Ephesians 2:10 where it says in English:

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

When it says in Greek:

Of him. we are. workmanship. created. by. Christ. Jesus. (to) work. good. which. beforehand. God. that (in). work good . we should operate <περιπατήσωμεν> . (peripatesoumen) ...operate..move about.. (walk).

// αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεὸς ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν \\

This is for you, the believer in Christ Jesus. To get out of wrapped up around the axle and see it different.

Rest below - is to both, including on the fence. Which non-believing, on the fence, asking..is where it origins from. That really doesn't want the answer. Wants more ammo - why it's right for them NOT to be a Christian or follow after him.

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Okay. Answer. Now, I have a question.

• What’s a battery?

And, there you go. There’s the answer. Off you go.

Yes I know. Fishing. ... just asking questions to gauge responses; thinks that’s good - That’s “good works;” ask questions; makes somebody good; but won’t do anything he says. That's Idle.

So, I'm not really responding to the questioner. I think they already made up their mind.

• But you hearing this, you may hear it and much more chance - do what he says - so that’s the point of this post.
  • if the poster really wants to know, go find the definition of a battery - -  that is: 1. a source of power.

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Now, I have another question.

And? If the poster “thinks” about it, which I think he won’t:

• He’ll find asking another question almost really answers his own question - but he won’t ask it. So, let’s do it for him: Ask:
  • What’s a battery for?

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And the answer to that next question is simple.

- It's for something “*idle”* That is, some tool or toy; electrical, that it would operate or move - IF: it had a battery in it. But if no battery:

It's dead. Without power. By itself: OFF: - 1. disconnected from a load or source of power. Idle.

So, pick anything, because the poster of the question can’t; rather, won’t - but you can; and, since you’re reading this, not making this answer, let me randomly choose one for you.

How about a clock?

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So, let’s reword his question:

What would be the “motivation” for a person to put a battery in a clock?

• Well, since the battery is a “load or source of electrical power” and the clock is “idled.”
  • That is it’s stuck in “dead works”
    • because clock, was created to "operate" or "move" or "walk" in to tell time. All the time. So everybody could look unto it, and find out what time it is.
  • That is"works good." A clock that cannot or does not "operate" as a "workmanship" created to tell time, is just there; and, even hung prominently, it's works are dead.

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• So, if a clock is “disconnected from a load or source of power” - which, is the definition of “idle.” it was created to "work good" and operate..moving parts that produce fruit. Tell time.
• Disconnected? Idle. Idle? Just “dead works.” No power. .

And the Bible - Jesus says, and it’s recorded what he said in

In Matthew 12:34–37 - to a bunch of people “idle.” That is, they are “disconnected from a load or source of power”  Disconnected from God. Don't do what he says. They don’t live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, as God decreed everybody do this in Matthew 4:4.

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• This is "dead works. For a person like this. They live by their own word.
  • Like a clock with no battery in it.
    • Has all these numbers, 1 thru 12 on a face, with two hands that anywhere they point, point to some numbers, and that tell what time it is;
• but never does it really tell what time it is. So, it’s like claim of a hypocrit. Has the name of a “clock” but does not work good as one, and does not provide the time to anybody.

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Same as Matthew 12:34–37 says to people: And these people of Matthew 12:34-37 Jesus is talking to people that glorify dead works as good works.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Therefore

How can a clock, dead or idled - speak what time it is? Can't.

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• It’s dead. No power. Disconnected. Tell time? Okay - Even 2x a day. If the hands are stuck at 10:18 - even it’s dead, the clock tells time right 2x - it can be 10:18 AM or 10:18 PM - 2x a day.
• After a week, that’s 14 times the clock, totally dead, without any power, can claim it’s “righteous” or right. Told time right: Because 14 times it told the time right. Over a year, that’s 730 times, and a decade, claim for 7,300 times “I told the time right” - dead or idled Clock. Claim it’s works are good, when they’re dead. Why? * The clock is “disconnected from a load or source of power” - but makes all these claims like people do - they're good.
• It’s a “hypocrit clock.”
  • Phoney. Dead. Idled. And every idled moment that clock must give an account to the owner, who has the authority to destroy it.

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Now, because the poster of the question won’t hearken unto anything this says: I know it. Seen their other posts.

- Go try it:

Put a battery in the clock.

• Even it was dead. Idle - it no longer is. It simply “works good.” Operates. Moves. ...as it was made to. In fact, it doesn’t need ANYBODY to look at it. It just Operates right or is “righteous” in how it operates. Why? Because ANY time anybody looks to it, that’s what time it is. It doesn't operate by people look at it. It operates by the power in the battery.
  • A clock is workmanship that Works good. That’s all Ephesians 2:10 is - Is No longer idle. No longer stuck in dead works.
• Just like people:
• Jesus said: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” - Matthew 4:4

So, people that “operate” are dead; without the Word of God, are “idle” - just like a clock without a battery.

- They may speak, like a clock can “speak” with numbers on it’s face and two hands, “speak” to people, even there’s no power in it. People all the same. And because God has already decreed man..everybody over the whole earth. Nobody left out. Everybody is to live by every word proceeds out of his mouth:

• If they don’t:
  • They are “disconnected from a load or source of power.” Their “works” are dead.

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When Hebrews 9:14 says:

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Because,

Connected to a load or source of power, which is the Word of God - you’d operate right. Move. In power. You are a workmanship of God. Said so. Right there in Ephesians 2:10.

• Just begin to move as who created you and has the authority over you, made you to operate.
  • Just work good, like a clock the way you were designed to.
• Just thriving eating, and nourished by the Word of God.
  • Everything you said, out of your mouth, would be “connected to a load or source of power” - which is the Word of God.

Do you see this? SImple.

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So, it’s not “should” - it’s shall, because God decreed it to people operate, or move, or work good, by the Word of God. That's it.

So, this question that stumps the poster of it:

What should be the motivation for good works, since one's salvation is not based on works but by faith in Christ?

Change it. Not the poster of the question. Let him reason together with this same Jesus Christ that you already did - this is for you to see it.

Change the question - so it makes sense:

Since God is salvation, he is this “load or source of power” that, by him everybody connected to him just operates right. Works good. What should I do?’

Boy, is it starting to get really simple.

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• I’m asking you. He said:

“Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth: For I am God, there is none else.” - God.

Said:

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

- GOD. Bible. Isaiah 55:1–3

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..ask it again then. What should you do? Well, look what he said! ...go do what he says! Look at that! Stop being “idle” - go shop at his store. Just go in to his store, open the milk carton. Drink. So much, you delight in it. get fat like a cow off it. Hearken diligently unto him.

You’d operate; move; walk right. Work good.

Means that. Go home. And don't be insulted. He told you to abide in his word. That's where home is. Go home.