For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them(Eph. 2:8-10).
The world’s definition of a good deed is something good done, performed, or accomplished. That’s simple enough, except that it leads to another question. What is good?
Good deeds based on the Torah
In Judaism, the law of God is found in the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures. These books of Moses, are known as the Torah. Within the Torah, Rabbis teach there are six hundred and thirteen commandments. Two hundred and forty-eight are positive, or things we should do, and three hundred and sixty-five are negative, or the things we should not do. Either way, if you obey these commandments, by doing or not doing something, that would be considered a good deed. Of these commands, three are considered especially praiseworthy: prayer, fasting, and charity. If you think about it, Jesus taught about these three topics and challenged the religious leaders on how and why they obeyed.
The Law given as a tutor
You see, the law was given as tutor. “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith” (Gal. 3:24). In today’s world, a tutor works with students to help them understand key concepts. When it comes to the Law, it works to help us realize we can never obey all the laws one hundred percent of the time. James 2:10, tells us that the one who “keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” What we learn from the law is that we can never be good enough in our own efforts to get into heaven. So what are the good deeds we are supposed to be doing and how do we get into heaven?
Jesus taught love
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:8-10).
There you have it. Living in the Spirit of love fulfills the Law. Jesus said, he fulfilled the law. When we become his child, we learn to walk in the good works he has prepared for us, because we love him. Our life is his. Look again at Eph. 2:8-10. “For by grace you have been saved….” It is grace, not good works! “Through faith. And this is not your own doing…” Nothing we “do” saves us. It is grace through faith. “It is the gift of God, not a result of works.” Our good works have nothing to do with it. But once we are saved, we become new people committed to walk in the good works God has prepared for us. And those good works are done out of love. It’s not for show, to become liked or noticed, and is not an app. It is for the glory of God.
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About The Inheritance
Written within the allegorical tradition of classics like Pilgrim's Progress, The Inheritance offers a literal but symbolic story for today's fantasy enthusiasts. This cleverly devised tale doesn't tell you what to think, but stimulates thought as to why you believe what you believe in your own quest for the Eternal City. The Inheritance is an ideal discussion starter for youth groups, homeschoolers, and families who enjoy meaningful discussions.
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