Expert: Dean Gade - 12/13/2005

Question
Do you mean it's not good enough to do good things, but you have to be good ?


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Followup To
Question -
Can you please explain the parable of Martha and Mary?
Answer -
The account of Mary and Martha is told to point out what is important in God's kingdom.

Our human tendency is to do something for God, to be considered worthy by doing things for Him.  This is the system of the world:  good work is rewarded and doing things for God seems to be  the greatest good.

However, in God's kingdom it is the spiritual growth we gain by listening to Him that is most important.

This is not easy to accept completely. It always seems more reasonable that God wants us building and maintaining churches and being good rather than fulfilling our desire to be close to Him.  And when we feel overwhelmed by the tasks of ministry, we complain to God that no one is helping us.

Jesus is telling Martha (and us) that being religious is not the important thing, but a personal relationship with Him IS the most important thing for us to seek.

Matt 6:33-34
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(from New International Version)  

Answer
Jesus explained that the "good" we do which is acceptable to God is the "good" which is the result of being(being remade) "good".

Luke 6:43-45

"43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

And further St. Peter writes:

1 Peter 2:4-5

"4 As you come to him, the living Stone-rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

It is the obedience of faith, the obedience to God that is the product of having faith in God's commands as being good, which is desired by God.

Matt 9:12-13

"12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

God knows that we are all sinners and that sin even dwells even in those who have been reborn of the Holy Spirit.  So, He first sent His Son to be the sacrifice to fulfill all the righteousness demanded by the Law..on our behalf.  That HAS BEEN accomplished on the cross.

Now that we ARE God's children in Christ, there is also the life of "sancfification" which we are to have as a goal.  Sancification means "set apart for good".  It is a life long struggle of faith over and against the nature within us which pushes us to be selfish and protect our ego.

In the world there are "good works" which can be done by people even thouigh they are not redeemed by the blood of Christ .  Those who do them are "civily righteous".  They will be rewarded by God ON THIS EARTH, but these works fo not merit eternal life.  But the good works that God desires are those which proceed from His power, which leave us no room to boast of our selves but only of Him.

Rom 3:27-4:6

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.


Romans 4

4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."   

4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
(all above from New International Version)

What God desires is that the hearts of man be turned to Him and recognize Him as our creator, lord and loves us all enough to give us eternal life with Him.