Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Titus 1-3/Philemon
Titus 3:14
And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
What are the “necessary uses” of good works? First, notice who is admonished to learn these good works. “Ours” meaning Christians, those who have called on Christ for salvation believing, and confirming, that He died on the cross as their sacrifice to God for their sin. Below are five Biblical reasons that make good works necessary in the lives of God’s dear children.
The good works of a child of God glorify God, Matthew 5:16. Notice as you read that verse, those who see the good works may or may not glorify God, but the good works always do.
Good works constantly expose those who fail to perform good works, I Timothy 5:25. This is why some always oppose those who do good works.
Good works can make one rich, I Timothy 6:18. Some are rich in money, some are rich in good works, some are both, and some are neither. The good works of a Biblical nature are eternal, money is temporal. Treasures in heaven are laid up through good works.
Good works are profitable to those who perform them, Titus 3:8. The greatest proof of this is the law of sowing and reaping. Since all people reap that which they sow, sowing good works, reaps the receipt of good works. Thus making good works both eternally and temporally profitable.
The last word on good works is in I Peter 2:12, the “day of visitation” could be that day spoken of in John 5:29. But we do know this for a fact, somehow, somewhere, at some time those who have rejected Christ will glorify Him because of the good works performed by His children. This is a mystery, but it will happen and when it does which side will be better? Those who performed the good works or those who did not, but then knowing of their own failure, praise the good works of others?
These are some of the reasons why good works are necessary. Which is why Paul admonished Titus to, Put them in mind…to be ready to every good work, (Titus 3:1).
Philemon 1:10
I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
This touching personal letter may be the shortest of all Paul’s epistles, but it may be the most practical and enduring. In it the apostle intercedes on behalf of Onesimus. While reading Paul’s letter to Philemon try to see it in the light of it being a parable, or perhaps at least a representation of all the saved no matter what their names. Try to see Philemon as representing God the Father, Paul representing Jesus Christ, and Onesimus representing a saved person.
God the Father has the right of final judgment, as Philemon did. Jesus Christ has the ministry of reconciling sinners to God through His sacrifice, as Paul reconciled Onesimus to Philemon, and Onesimus is the one who willingly chose salvation through his own free will.
This short story is also one of the clearest stories highlighting grace, intercession, and restitution found in the Holy Writ of Scripture.
It is a wonderful letter of Christian grace mixed with boldness and logic. While reading it, see yourself as Onesimus, as Paul, and even as Philemon in this regard, would you have granted Paul’s intercession?
Dr. William T. Howe
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