There are the works we "have" to do. There are are works we "don't" have to do. But there is no reason why we can't do good works any time we want to.
Things like giving to the poor, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, taking care of widows, and helping old ladies across the street won't save us without Jesus.
But even so... there is no reason not to do these things. We have pushed the "no works, no works, no works" thing until it's almost a sin to do anything for God or the church.
The fact is.. it isn't a sin to do good works under any circumstances.
There is a verse that says we aren't saved by works (Eph 2:8-9; ).... OK that's great. There are a dozen more that say we better do good works "after" we are saved.
Why do go with the "one" scripture, and ignore the other twenty scriptures? It's before and after. No good works can save you (before you are saved).
Some good works are required (after you are saved).
Jas 2:14; What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works?
Can that faith save him?
Jas 2:15; If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
Jas 2:16; and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
Jas 2:17; Even so
faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Jas 2:18; But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Jas 2:19; You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
Jas 2:20; But
are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
Jas 2:21; Was not Abraham our father
justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
Jas 2:22; You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
Jas 2:23; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.
Jas 2:24; You see that
a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Jas 2:25; In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
Jas 2:26; For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also
faith without works is dead.
Matt 5:16; "
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Eph 2:10; For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that
we would walk in them.
1 Tim 6:18; Instruct them to do good, to
be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
1 Tim 2:9; Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
1 Tim 2:10; but rather
by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
1 Tim 5:9; A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
1 Tim 5:10; having
a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
Col 1:10; so that you will
walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in
every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
2 Thes 2:17; comfort and strengthen your hearts in
every good work and word.
2 Tim 2:21; Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified,
useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
2 Tim 3:17; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped
for every good work.
John 6:27; "
Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."
John 9:4; "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
1 Cor 3:13;
each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of
each man's work.
1 Cor 3:14; If a
ny man's work which he has built on it remains,
he will receive a reward.
1 Cor 15:58; Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Gal 6:4; But each one must examine
his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
Eph 4:12; for the equipping of the saints
for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Col 3:23; Whatever you do,
do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
2 Thes 3:10; For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is
not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
2 Thes 3:11; For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life,
doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
2 Thes 3:12; Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ
to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.
1 Pet 1:17; If you address as Father the One who impartially
judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
Matt 7:24; "
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
@Dave M - already posted this but....
Jas 1:22; But prove yourselves
doers of the word, and
not merely hearers who delude themselves.
www.epm.org
