Of saving faith, part 3

Of good works, part 3

CONFESSION OF FAITH CHAPTER 16: OF GOOD WORKS 3. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ.1 And that they may be enabled thereunto, beside the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of his good pleasure:2 yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.3 ---------------------------------------- 1. JOHN 15:4-6 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. EZEKIEL 36:26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (ESV) 2. PHILIPPIANS 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. PHILIPPIANS 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 2 CORINTHIANS 3:5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, (ESV) 3. PHILIPPIANS 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, HEBREWS 6:11-12 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 2 PETER 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 2 PETER 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 2 PETER 1:10-11 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ISAIAH 64:7 There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. 2 TIMOTHY 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ACTS 26:6-7 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! JUDE 1:20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)

Of good works, part 2

CONFESSION OF FAITH CHAPTER 16: OF GOOD WORKS 2. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith:1 and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,2 strengthen their assurance,3 edify their brethren,4 adorn the profession of the gospel,5 stop the mouths of the adversaries,6 and glorify God,7 whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,8 that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.9 ---------------------------------------- 1. JAMES 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. JAMES 2:22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; (ESV) 2. PSALM 116:12-13 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, 1 PETER 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV) 3. 1 JOHN 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 JOHN 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 2 PETER 1:5-10 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (ESV) 4. 2 CORINTHIANS 9:2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. MATTHEW 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV) 5. TITUS 2:5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. TITUS 2:9-12 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 1 TIMOTHY 6:1 6:1 Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. (ESV) 6. 1 PETER 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (ESV) 7. 1 PETER 2:12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. PHILIPPIANS 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. JOHN 15:8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV) 8. EPHESIANS 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV) 9. ROMANS 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (ESV)

Of good works, part 1

CONFESSION OF FAITH CHAPTER 16: OF GOOD WORKS 1. Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy Word,1 and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.2 ---------------------------------------- 1. MICAH 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ROMANS 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. HEBREWS 13:21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV) 2. MATTHEW 15:9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” ISAIAH 29:13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, 1 PETER 1:18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ROMANS 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. JOHN 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 1 SAMUEL 15:21-23 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.” (ESV)

Of repentance unto life, part 6

CONFESSION OF FAITH CHAPTER 15: OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE 6. As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof;1 upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy;2 so, he that scandalizeth his brother, or the church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confession, and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended,3 who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.4 ---------------------------------------- 1. PSALM 51:4-5 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. PSALM 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. PSALM 51:9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. PSALM 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. PSALM 32:5-6 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. (ESV) 2. PROVERBS 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 1 JOHN 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV) 3. JAMES 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. LUKE 17:3-4 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” JOSHUA 7:19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” PSALM 51 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. (ESV) 4. 2 CORINTHIANS 2:8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. (ESV)

Of repentance unto life, part 5

CONFESSION OF FAITH CHAPTER 15: OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE 5. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavor to repent of his particular sins, particularly.1 ---------------------------------------- 1. PSALM 19:13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. LUKE 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 1 TIMOTHY 1:13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 1 TIMOTHY 1:15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (ESV)