Theology Of Good Works
Theology Of Good Works
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
I recently read the following words of John Stott in his book Listen to the Spirit, Hear the World that said “The whole Gospel for the whole human being, and for every human being.” This phrase reminds us of the full mission, ie, a look at the human being as a whole, not only in the spiritual realm, because man is not only spirit but also a body, a body that has wishes, desires, physical needs , emotional and sentimental, just can not look for a human being just trying to meet their spiritual needs.
We are living in a time of great social crises. Sick, homeless, hungry, who have suffered losses, have been betrayed and abused, thus portraying the critical situation we are. Every day we need each other, but it seems the old saying “every man for himself” continues increasingly gained ground. In our generation has risen to those who speak much and do little, and those who are mere spectators, merely awaiting the sad end of this novel, without knowing what they are doing her part. This is the background that is inserted into the Lord’s Church. So do not just be the Church within the Church but the Church outside the Church, through this we can have a look out seeing the man in full and using the vehicle of social work for which they can see Christ in us.
1. Integral Mission: A biblical perspective.
The Church as an agent of transformation can not close our hearts to the social crisis, which the human being is, but should rather be a vehicle of social standards Ephesians 2:10, which brings us to the responsibility to perform good works (ergon Agata), this being one of the purposes of our existence “created … to …” culminating in a beautiful highway to which we saved in Christ Jesus, we must go, because our God has prepared for that we should walk in it.This, by no means new to the Church, for Christ in Matthew 25:33-40 reports that the social responsibility of the Church is to fill the hunger, thirst and clothing from your neighbor, be sympathetic to the sick and assist the inmate, because when this is accomplished, for Christ is what we do.
Means by social responsibility here any help or act of mercy. Social responsibility fully know that the Government will, however, the Church can not abandon the order of Scripture: “do good to all …” Galatians 6:10.
Good work comes from the Greek ergon (action, work, work, work, make, operate, perform) and agate (good, good, good). Making the interpretation of certain texts of Scripture, we understand how important the practice of good works as a conclusion of faith.
In Ephesians 2:10 Paul says to us clearly that we are created in Christ for good works, and these were prepared for us to do. The classification of verbs in the Greek gives us the idea of completeness, since as a whole was done and can not be changed. Literally would be – has been created – so we can not escape this responsibility, in this act are completely passive. E – pisemos around him – where we are already quite active, giving us the idea of walking in it, does not deviate. Already a preposition – to – point to the intention, purpose and goal of creation. The context here refers to salvation is by grace not by works (v.8, 9), but we were created for good works, then we come to the conclusion that I do not do good works to be saved, but because I am saved is that I do good works.
Galatians 6:10 is in agreement with the text above, it shows us that we should do good “while we have opportunity,” this term was removed from the word kairon (time set – which comes from kairos) – a set time, set by God, therefore gives us the idea that will only end when he determined, that is, as He keeps us alive in this world. What do good for the Church must be something pleasant, with a good heart (verse 9). The verb ergazometa – do we operate, we made that says we as a body, we should be active, working efficiently, even when the benefit is one of our brothers.
2. Integral mission today: practical action
The Church must not only be concerned with the spiritual realm of people, but seeing the man as a whole being, that needs to be careful not only in the spiritual aspect, but also in the physical and emotional. This is the concept of integral mission – see man as a whole. We can work evangelization “shakes hands” with social responsibility, viewing it as a bridge (because it’s close), as a partner (because it works) and as a result of evangelization, (because to become our brother, we can not remain indifferent to their needs).
Below are some designs that have this vision, which can be a source of inspiration for our lives, they are: ACAHERJ: Evangelical Chaplaincy; Isis Foundation Bruder; GTME – Group of evangelical
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