I need to apologize and do a better job of explaining. Last week, I posted an article in which I stated that anything done in the power, strength, wisdom, abilities and resources of the flesh was worthless and of no eternal value. Only those things done by the power of Christ - His ability, His power, His strength, His wisdom, His resources - have any eternal value and can truly be called "good works". After posting the article on my other blogs and sites, I received a lot of negative feedback. I realized that I had done an awful job of explaining my point and that I needed to clarify some points of irritation and concern mentioned by others. So, I would like to do so now.
First, we need to look at the nature of the Fall. This will be foundational to explaining my point.
When God created man (i.e., mankind, humans), he breathed into man his very own life (Gen. 2:7). God created man, male and female, in his likeness (Gen. 1:26-27). So, man was to bear God's likeness and to share in God's life. The Holy Spirit dwelling in man's spirit, expressing God's likeness through man's soul and body. This was God's original design for mankind, both male and female. God's very own life shared with mankind through a dependent love relationship; man lived in a dependent union with God expressed through loving obedience. All that Adam and Eve did before the Fall were deeds done in loving dependence upon an indwelling Lover and Creator who was behaving through them. Only God can behave like God and mankind was created specifically to live in a love relationship with their indwelling Creator and to give expression to his likeness through dependent, loving obedience.
This life of love and dependence (called "faith" in the scriptures) is represented in Genesis by the Tree of Life. This tree grew in the middle of the garden of Eden along with another tree called the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 2:9). The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents life apart from God, a life lived independent of his presence in the human spirit. In short, this tree represents mankind's efforts to be like God but without God. The promise of this tree was two-fold: 1) the wisdom to know good from evil, right from wrong; and 2) the ability to choose the good and then do it - all without ever needing God. God knew this and loved them enough to say so. From this tree only God commanded them not to eat. "For in the day that you eat of it," said God, "you shall die." Well, we all know the story. They disobeyed God and ate from it.
But did they die? Not physically. But God said they would die "in the day that you eat of it". If they didn't die physically, how did they die? In the soul - mind, will, emotions? No. All those things were alive and functioning. Granted, their self image was skewed by the Fall. But how did they die? Spiritually. When Adam disobeyed and ate of the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, God's Spirit withdrew from the human spirit and man died, just as God had said. Man was now spiritually dead and alive only in soul and body. Death entered into humanity and the world and began to spread into every faculty and department of mankind (Rom. 5:12). With God's life now absent from the human spirit, man was no longer sharing God's life; and with man no longer sharing God's life, he was no longer capable of bearing God's likeness. You see, in scripture, likeness is never the result of imitation; it is only the result of impartation. So, even though Adam and Eve were still able to talk, walk around, and to do "good deeds", their deeds were now contaminated with death. Every activity was a "dead work", no matter what kind of deed it was, good or bad.
Another scriptural principle comes into play that illustrates the point even further in the story of the Fall of Man. That principle is this: "Like begats like"; i.e., dogs begat dogs; birds begat birds; fish begat fish; etc.. Notice in Genesis 1 how often the phrases "after its kind" and "after their kind" are used in relation to God's command to "be fruitful and multiply", which is given to every vegetable and plant, and every living thing on land or in the sea. Then, God says, "Let Us make man in our image", i.e., after Our kind. As stated above, God created mankind to be God-like by living in loving dependence upon and obedience to an indwelling Creator. Like begats like. And that's why, after the Fall and their expulsion from the garden of Eden, scripture says that Adam brought forth a son "in his likeness, according to his image" (Gen. 5:3). God begats "sons of God" (Luke 3:38 - Adam is called a son of God; 1 Cor. 15:45-49 - Jesus is called "the last Adam"); fallen man begats fallen man.
In summary, mankind is capable of doing "good deeds" (in the eyes of men) and I do not believe that God is not pleased with good deeds done by anyone. I believe that God would prefer that human beings do good to one another rather than evil. I also believe that God takes note of men's deeds of kindness and goodness, regardless of nationality, religion, or sin (Acts 10:31 - God remembered Cornelius's alms; Cornelius was a God-fearing Gentile; Rom. 2:26-27).
I also believe that God uses sinful, fallen men (as well as good men) to accomplish his good and perfect purposes in our lives and in the world (scripture is full of examples, but I can think of none at this moment!). Men can and often will do very good works and noble deeds - and I believe that God takes note of them and their works. But I believe that scripture clearly teaches that, although mankind can do good deeds (in man's eyes) and that God can use those deeds to bless others, they are still "dead works". It has nothing to do with the kind of works (good or bad); it has only to do with the source, the fountain from which they flow: "Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh?" (James 3:11-12). "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit" (Matt. 7:18). An atheist can do a good deed, but what's at the source? The source of an activity - not the nature of the activity - determines whether it's a "dead work" or a "work of righteousness". A good work in the eyes of man can still be a dead work in the eyes of God.
This is by no means an exhaustive treatment of the topic, but it is a foundational beginning. I hope you'll stay tuned as I cover more ground on this subject.
I would like to ask one more thing: I appreciate all feedback, positive or negative. However, if you disagree with me, just simply disagree with me. Name calling isn't necessary and accomplishes no good to the Body of Christ, as far as I can see. So, please, if you disagree, that's fine; that's your prerogative. I ask only that we disagree agreeably and without name calling. Thanks.
What do you think about the subject of flesh versus spirit? Do you think God appreciates all good deeds, or only those done with His intentions at heart?
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Comments (73)
I think that Christians really need to follow my example and walk in the spirit with true wisdom, discernment and humility. Dat's what I think.
There are problems in the post that need a little clarification. For example:
An atheist can do a good deed, but what's at the source?
The answer is yes, an atheist can do a good work because the source of the action is a human being, not a fig tree, or a fountain. Nor is the end result of such a good act, a fig taken from a vine or salt water from a fresh water fountain.
All things except man are ordered. Consequently, a grape vine will not yield a fig. But because of the Fall, human beings are disordered. Consequently they produce good, evil and everything in between.
The human being, in other words, has a complexity that doesn't fit into the simplistic fortune cookie usage of Scripture seen in this post.
But how did they die? Spiritually.
I've heard some say that the Hebrew word for die means the "process" of death. In other words, in the day that Adam ate, began the process of his physical death, and he did end up dying.
I think this total post is crap because it has been proved the story of Adam and Eve didn't really happen.Man was created through evolution.The laws of nature created man.I am tired of posting my idea of god so i am skipping that.God is neither good or evil and its not true that if you do a good thing good things will come to you and evil things will bring evil things to you..(The definition of good and evil is itself very vague.).But think what will happen if everyone thinks that.That's where religion comes in to guide you so that you lead a good life.Shouldn't you focus on the true teachings rather than thinking so much about what god thinks about your deeds.Does it teach anything at all?because all i hear about Christianity is follow the christ.He is supreme.Tell others in the world about this great being rather than his teaching like love thy neighbour.Is it anything more than fairy tale stories?.
@smartsandyboy@xanga - All the facts and logic in the world won't make a difference with these mental midgets they want it to be true. The smartest thing to do is just laugh at them.
A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.
~Neitzchie
@smartsandyboy@xanga - Yet another anti-Christian post by someone who knows absolutely nothing about Christianity.
@ChevalierSeingal@datingish - Revelife doesn't discourage comments from people who aren't Christian, but if all you're going to do is write smart-ass remarks that serve no other purpose except to insult us then keep them to yourself...because all you're doing is making a fool of yourself.
There's a difference between saying God can use sinful people, and asking if God appreciates good deeds done by or for reasons other that to serve the Good. It comes down to the will -- God sees our heart, and so can judge. God does not love us for our deeds, it is His nature to love, He is Love, and loves us for us.
Man's good works are not dead. Let's consider prayer: Jesus told us to pray, so that's what we objectively should do -- it's not a dead deed, but there is death in the idea that our works are dead, as this leads to inaction and apathy.
Man takes things in thru the senses, thinks about things rationally, then makes a decision of the will (that is, takes an action, does a work). If the will is removed, man is incomplete.
I just wonder if the word "intention" is too subjective to zero in on an answer to this question. My take is that God is at the heart of all good in the world, even if they aren't aware of it.
i think that, if one wants to learn the value of good deeds, the result should be seen in who or what the good deeds are done for. to the family who has a home thanks to Habitat for Humanity, no good deed is dead in any sense. if the only reason you do good is to please God, then it is not good at all.
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - Not having the approval of Revelife really makes me like totally emo and makes me really want to like cut my wrists and stuff and it totally like makes me take a double dose of my prosac because it makes me like super depressed and stuff. Can you ever find a place in your heart to forgive such an unrighteous emo vampire soul like myself??? How bout if I like beg and plead for your righteous approval and stuff???
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - That a girl, show those sinners how humble you really are! You should shank them unbornagainers next time!
@ChevalierSeingal@datingish - Did you read my comment? I said there's nothing wrong with non-Christians posting their thoughts on Revelife...but it should be done so in a mature way. Please grow up.
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - Forgive me???
@ChevalierSeingal@datingish - Thanks for the tip :)
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - Sorry i didn't know logic,thinking rationally and not believing in fairy tales was anti-christian.I should have known.Blind faith does not get you anywhere.Grow up.Earth is just a dust in this universe.And the lifetime of earth and solar system is just like one billionth of a second...Get out of the well..I hope i didn't say anything anti-christian in this post.I don't really mean to.About my knowledge on Christianity.I did try to read the bible but it seemed to defy all logic.My knowledge of reality cried out when i read the lines about the creation of the world so i gave up.I don't think my views would make any difference i had read the whole thing anyway.All or most religions are born because of oppression rather than faith.Even in Christianity there are two sects from my knowledge that is protestants and catholics.I guess they were formed coz one was oppressed by the other.You can never find out why life or the universe exist.You might think you know but you don't.Life is short.Enjoy your stay here.Try your best not to hurt others.Don't worry too much about the bill.
Anyway there is no point arguing with someone who refuses to think.
So where is God now? Playing Scrabble or Tiddlywinks with some other Adam and Eve in some other Universe? Then how are we even having this discussion? You seem to separate the spirit from the body. True, we can't exist without the spirit but if God ditched us for greener pastures we wouldn't be having this discussion. An all knowing God knows past, present, and future so why did he create an Adam and Eve when he knew they'd take a bite out of that apple? Is God stupid? Did God have to recall his product? Apparently not and we should all be glad that Adam and Eve ate that apple. Apples are healthy. Might I recommend Washington "Delicious Apples".
@TheSutraDude@xanga - ROFL :):)..I mean i am really ROFL:):)
@smartsandyboy@xanga - It would be senseless to debate evolution with someone who knows nothing about it, so likewise it's senseless to have a conversation with someone who hasn't even done research on Christianity, yet has such strong opinions on why it's invalid. Do yourself a favor and stop making blanket statements about all Christians not knowing how to think. You probably don't like it when Christians assume that atheists have no morals. You have to give respect in order to get it. And you can't fight fire with fire.
I think intentions, or motives, are very important. For example, what if a guy woos a female by doing "good deeds" as you call it, but the intention is shady? Our intentions come from our heart, do they not?
I have no issue or objection to
Christians,atheists,Muslims,Hindus, or any other group.They are
expressing theirs and i am expressing mine.I absolutely acknowledge and
understand your inability to think rationally and handle criticism so i don't expect you to debate with me..Its just my
opinion. i do have a lot of respect for you..No at first i thought you were one of the weirdos but i read one of your blogs.I would have had a lot more respect if you had pointed out why i was wrong rather than making baseless statements.
And you can't fight fire with fire.
You are really good at quotations.But just for your info literally fire is actually used to fight fire in some cases.
In
the sense you are trying to say it can be fought by
censorship,denial,irrational or logic defying arguments,or just running
away and lot other ways.
@smartsandyboy@xanga - She thinks she is the boss who knows everything. She must be a "genius" she believes in Santa Claus being impregnated by a virgin.
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - 12 year old's like you know everything!
@ChevalierSeingal@datingish -
You totally understand "The Fall Of Man"....God bless you for sharing, for this is where the great story of Jesus starts,(the Last Adam). What marvelous Salvation from sin, death, & defeat! Your post was very inspiring...thanks so much for sharing!