Q32. Good Deeds

[Pastor Ralph]

Q32. (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:1-2; James 2:17-18) How are good deeds related to humility and compassion? What kinds of good deeds were common in the early church? Is it possible to have faith without any fruit of good deeds that demonstrate your faith?

[Brother Clifford wilson]

Key word being faith.  Faith in the imputed word of God.  Faith is where action comes from.  Knowledge comes from faith in God.  We have the written word as our guide.  Humility and quiet meditation have its strength in compassion.  The early church and godly leadership.  Leadership from Paul, Stephen, Barnabus Peter and young Timothy were essential to the teaching of the goodness in Christ. The good deeds of the early church, such as feeding the poor and taking care of the widows.  Teaching sound church doctrine. The Christ taught teachers changed the hardened ways of old traditions. Humility was and are essential qualities to teach the word of God in faith.  To have faith is to command tasks and to serve others.  Good deeds and faith come with Gods practicing humble servants.

Edited Tuesday at 04:50 PM by Brother Clifford wilson
spelling check, spiritual review

[Zanele Tlhakanelo]

Good deeds are related to humility and compassion in that when you take care of the poor and the needy, your focus is on serving others and not the self. Jesus Christ taught us to take care of the widows, orphans and the poor and He also demonstrated how to have compassion on all people. When He served the multitude who followed Him, it was a lesson to all of us that it is not about the needs of the self but of other people.

In the early church, sharing of food with the hungry, clothing the naked and providing shelter were common among the people. In the Book of Acts we also know that those who had properties even sold them so that they could share among themselves and that no one could be noticed as being lacking.

Faith without deeds is dead. It is important to understand that we are to glorify God by doing good at all times. We cannot say we love God yet our brothers that we see daily while suffering, we do not take care of them. God's love is a demonstration of our faith that we have been saved and therefore we must be generous with what we have as God gave us His only begotten Son that we may have life in abundance.

[Jewells]

Q32. (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:1-2; James 2:17-18) How are good deeds related to humility and compassion? What kinds of good deeds were common in the early church? Is it possible to have faith without any fruit of good deeds that demonstrate your faith?

Good deeds are considered actions or good fruit which are seen as we obey God's word instructing us to be kind, merciful, gentle, good, and caring of others.  We are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus by the word of God who has instructed to love our neighbor as ourselves.  The Holy Spirit reveals the love to us and we pour the love on those in and around us as God instructs or shows us the needs.  We abide in Him.  In the early church there was no social welfare systems or insurance programs or different organizations to care for the sick and the poor or the widows.  Paul instructed them to reach out and fill these needs as they were everywhere.  He instructed them to work and to give to those in need.  He instructed them to give as God has given to them.  This requires faith to believe that as we give more will come to give again.  So good works and faith work together.

[Brenda Joy]

Q32. (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:1-2; James 2:17-18) How are good deeds related to humility and compassion? What kinds of good deeds were common in the early church? Is it possible to have faith without any fruit of good deeds that demonstrate your faith?

It is a core belief of Christianity that we do unto others.  When we are looking to others before ourselves that demonstrates a humble spirit and a humble spirit offers compassion.   We feed the poor, clothe the needy, share Christ to the lowly, children and helpless.   In the early church they gave shelter, clothing, food to the poor, strangers, foreigners.  It is not possible to have faith with out works... The Bible clearly said faith without works is dead...   Dead faith is not faith...

[Clelie]

Humility that comes from loving God prompts us to reach out to those who are in need as commanded by scriptures. Doing good to others , showing love, giving and helping are all marks of compassion and humility as modeled by Christ. 

In the early church sharing with people who are in need, selling properties and distributing the proceeds to those who needed help were some of the acts of good deeds  especially to those  of the family of believers. 
 

Faith without deeds is death as James expressed it.

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q32. (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:1-2; James 2:17-18)

How are good deeds related to humility and compassion?

When you are doing a deed to other in a caring manner, a heart that reach out towards the needy.

What kinds of good deeds were common in the early church?

Sharing clothes and food.

Is it possible to have faith without any fruit of good deeds that demonstrate your faith?

According to James, NO. "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."