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FAITH AND WORKS IN THE PLAN OF GOD
Rev. Bill Dorman

Compiled by Scottie Allen, Pastor
Grace Community Church, Virginia Beach, Va.

I. Background: This message was delivered by Rev. Bill Dorman at the Pastors Conference, Tulsa Oklahoma on October 11th 1978. It was, in my judgment one of the most needed messages that the Doctrinal Community could hear, and still is for those who do not fully understand the privacy of the Priesthood. There needs to be a balance between faith and works in God's plan. This message puts the two in harmony so that the Believer can, not only be a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word. The church seems to have always had more hears than doers. It is my prayer that God will continue to use this message to His glory in these last days.

II. Objective: To see and understand the relationship between Faith and Works in the plan of God.

III. Introduction:

  1. Man is an incurable doer; work, do, moonlight, hobby, an enthusiast of all kinds. This nature is both a handicap and blessing when it comes to spiritual things.
  2. Faith must be defined. Faith (Pistis) = "I believe". It must have an object; i.e. in P-1 Salvation the object is the LJC. In P-2 CWL the object is the Word of God (WOG).
  3. Work (Ergon) = Work accomplished, a deed that is produced, achieved.

IV. Overview of Faith and Works in all three Phases:

  1. The unbeliever: Born in Adam. "In Adam all die", I Cor. 15:22; "Dead in trespasses and sins", Eph. 2:1,2. This is Spiritual Death. The works of the unbeliever bear the stench of sin and death.
  2. The place of Faith & Works in the POG:
    1. P-1; PR: Faith is necessary, works are excluded.
    2. The object of faith in salvation is the LJC, Ac. 16:31, Jn 3:16. The -work- of the LJC is a fragrant aroma. Eph 5:2 says, "Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us and offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savour."
    3. The work of applying the work of Christ to the believer is the work of God. "He that has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ", Phil. 1:6. Salvation is the work of God.
    4. Faith excludes works, "and if by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace", Rom. 11:6.
    5. Salvation is not by works, II Tim. 1:9, Rom. 3:20,28; 4:2,6; Gal 2:16.
  3. What is the relationship of the believer and works?
    1. Principle: The faith of the believer properly exercised toward the WOG produces works. Faith produces good works. The normal standard outcome of faith produces acceptable works (AW).
    2. The object of faith is the WOG. It reveals the character of God. -It is a means to an end.- This is essential doctrine for the believer.
    3. Maintaining a standard of good works for the believer is not optional. -"We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works", Eph. 2:10. -"Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works", Titus 2:14. -"These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men", Titus 3:8.

This is what James tells us in 1:22-25. If you are a hearer of the word and not a doer, you are deceiving yourself. Ephesians 2:10 again, the objective is that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works; designed to produce acceptable works. Why does a farmer plant corn? To get grain! God made us in order to produce fruit, more fruit, much fruit, John 15:1-5.

Eph. 2:10, "Which God has prepared before" = Made ready ahead of time; He planned ahead; He made provision.

"That we should walk in them" = Good works. This is not optional, we do not have a choice.

D. The acceptable works of the believer is a fragrance to God. He

smells His character reflected from the believer.

E. What is the relationship of works in P-3?

  1. Pr: All men's works or deeds are to be judged. This is a basic of history. Every man's works are going to be recompensed. Violation is the basis for responsibility. God is going to judge the human race. There is a sense of right and wrong. You are going to give an account of your life to God.
  2. We must distinguished between sins and works or deeds:

#Sins; All sin is absolutely sinful, Rom. 3:23. There is no such thing as good sin. It is absolute sin!

#Works; Works are either acceptable or unacceptable, II Cor. 4:10. It is either good or bad. Agathos (good) puts the emphasis on the nature of works. Phaulos (Bad) = Worthless, unacceptable. 

     3. All sins have been paid for by Christ, I Jn. 2:2; 4:10; Rom.
        3:25; II Cor. 5:14.

     4. All works or deeds of man will be judged by God, Rom. 2:5-8.
        God cannot tolerate a member of the human race who rejects
        Christ.

       a. The unbeliever will be judged at the GWT, Rev. 20:11-15. It
          is the work of Christ verses the good works of man.

       b. The believer's works will be judged at the Judgment Seat of
          Christ(JSC), II COr. 5:10. Reward or loss of reward.

The distinction: At the JSC the believer will be rewarded for positive volition who has been obedient to the WOG. The natural outcome of that = AW.

c. Distortions of Faith & Works in P-1 & P-2:

P-1 P-2 

            Truth    Faith              Faith produces
                     no works           works

        Distortion   Faith plus         All Faith no works
                     Works i.e. Bapt-          or
                     Regeneration       All works no faith

Pr: Faith & Works go together to make a complete picture; 

                               Brings glory to GF
                                      I
Wisdoms way =                        DVP = AW
Skill in living the CWL on        -  I      -

basis of the WOG.

:
All faith/no <<<<<<<<< : : >>>>>>>>>> All works, no faith 

   works                :    O   :
                                   :
                      :      S       :
                                   :
                        :    N   :
                          :    :
                            : >>>>>>>>>>>>>Human view point
                                           always distorts

WOG brings us us back to Wisdom's Way.
#Distortion of works in P-2; "I can do what I please. God loves me and He would not send one of His creatures to hell." Rom. 14:10-14 (Emphasis on v.12).

PR: We are bond slaves of Christ. He has made us weak in order to provide for us, II Cor 12:7-10.

Application: Be careful that you are not hearing just what you want to hear rather that what God has for you. We can be thankful that His word steps on our toes. So no positive believer need wear steel-toed shoes!

F. Two categories of works. What is an AW and what is an unacceptable work? 

           ACCEPTABLE           !           UNACCEPTABLE
                                !
 1. Comes from believer only    !  From unbel, wicked works Col. 1:21
                                !  From carnal bel = works of darkness
                                !  Rom. 13:12. This may be motivated
                                !  by sin, and the work acceptable,
                                !  i.e. Simon, Acts 8:13-24, hence
                                !  unacceptable. Also a good thing
                                !  done in a wrong way, same thing.
                                !
 2. Agathos work=Unacceptable*  !  Kalos work = Unacceptable*
                                !

*Must distinguish between two words; Agathos = Good by nature, good by concept. Agathos works are directed toward God

*Kalos means good which is directed toward man. Works evident to others, i.e. moral goodness. Kalos works are for the sake of man.

-Agathos-kalos work has origin from God and benefits man. -Agathos work is behind every kalos work from God to man. -Agathos must be behind every kalos work produced by the believer. We call this production of divine good. Divine Good = Agathos work. -Kalos work benefits man but does not glorify God. It glorifies man.

3. Passages on Agathos works and Kalos works:

  1. Agathos: -II Cor. 9:8. Giving is an Agathos kalos work directed toward God. -Col. 1:10 Walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work.
  2. Kalos: Evidenced to man but Agathos behind it.
  3. The Kalos works of the unbeliever. The Divine Establishment

    principle in man is Kalos works. They are good even though produced by the unbeliever. They are unacceptable to God.

#1. Under the concept of morality they are condemned by Titus 3:5 

      "Not by works of righteousness..." The unbeliever's works may be
      righteous, but instead of being Divine Good, they would be
      relative righteousness. They would conform to the standards of
      man! We would not condemn them but they would not be acceptable
      to God.

#2. Morality is not spirituality. Morality was designed by God to

preserve order in society. A standard of right and wrong.

But misguided man starts w/a standard(it may even be his own) has faith , the standard, believing it is the proper thing to do, then starts cranking out Good works. This is a Kalos work.

It was provided by God to give stability to the human race. It does not provide salvation. Faith > standard = Kalos work.

#3. Carnal believers are responsible to produce Kalos works, even 

      when they are out of fellowship, i.e. they must obey the laws of
      the land; children must obey their parents.

#4. We must be careful to distinguish between AW & Unacceptable

works: 

      -AW are permanent, "not in vain" I Cor. 15:58.
      -Unacceptable works will perish
      -Fruitful works are AW, Phil 1:22; Col. 1:10; Titus 3:14.
      -Unacceptable works are the product of the OSN, Gal 5:19.

4. Summary: 

     -We have had a word study on works
     -Object of AW is to glorify God.
     -Unacceptable works deny God, Titus 1:16. Kalos works w/o Agathos
      denies God, even if it is a good work.
     -AW glorify God because they manifest the Character of God. God's
      character is revealed through the believer.

D. Components to an AW:

  1. It must be compatible with Divine Norms and Standards (N/S).
  2. It must be produced by God's power.
  3. It must have proper motivation. These three ingredients will produce AW that will glorify God.
  4. Components of Unacceptable work:
  5. Divine N/S plus motivation plus energy of the flesh.
  6. Divine power plus motivation plus human viewpoint.
  7. Divine N/S plus power plus selfish motivation.

# AW must be compatible with Divine N/S. The standard revealed in the WOG.

# Every command is a standard, it defines an AW.

There are many ways to show the principle:

The Three Functions of the believer, Priest, Minister, Ambassador. 

            GOD
        ---------------------------------------------------------
        !            !                                           !
        !   P        !                  MINISTER                 !
        !   R>>>>>>>>!>> Directed toward other believers  service!
Input   !   I        !   or use of spiritual gift                !
  of>>>>!>>>E        !-------------------------------------------!
 WOG    !   S        !                  AMBASSADOR               !
        !   T>>>>>>>>!>> Directed toward the unbeliever as a     !
        !            !   witness - giving out the Gospel         !
        !            !                                           !
        ----------------------------------------------------------

Note: When you function to other believers and the unbeliever, you function through your Priesthood, Rom. 15:15,16. This is an AW. Remember, no Priesthood - no ministry - no witness!

In relation to other categories: 

  -Priest to God      Ministry to Believer       Witness to unbel.-
M !1. Faith Rest        1. MA of PT toward Cong    1. Non Judgmental
A !Heb 3/4= AW          Great patience, 2 Tim 4:2  attitude toward
  !                                                unbel Luke 23:34.
  !2. Confidence        2. MA of Bel. Heb 10:36    "they know not
  !II Cor. 5:8                                      what they do"
S !------------------------------------------------------------------
p !1. Prayer            Exhortation                 Giving the Gospel
e !2. Thanksgiving      Comfort                     Acts 1:8
e !3. Praise, giving    II Cor. 1:3-5               I Cor. 15:1-3

c !- God the credit
h !1. Giving 2 Cor 9:7 Sharing goods, Rom 15:26 Good Samaritan !2. Body as a Sac- Hospitality, Heb. 13:1-3 Luke 10:30-37 

  !   rifice, Rom 12:1,                             Goodness &
  !                                                 Kindness toward
 -!                                                 unbel, Rom 2:4-

# The Doctrine of Privacy operates within the area of Priesthood, Mental attitude, prayer and Giving. If you try to apply privacy to Ministry and Ambassadorship you distort the doctrine.

# AW are produced by the Power of God, Acts 5:38,39. It is the works of men vs the work of God. "If it is of men it will come to naught."

Resources: The Word of God (unlimited supply). It must be resident in the Soul of the Believer. The Holy Spirit acts as the Pump.

Motivation: Col. 3:23 "...as unto the Lord".

<Documentation>: James 1:20-25, Doer vs Hearer

  1. Physical(preparation & ! Mental (objective hearing = Gnosis ! HEARER

    !

  2. Faith = Epignosis !
  3. Faith exercised/applied =Epignosis !
  4. AW ! DOER ------------------------------------------! Result: The WOG has become productive in the believer's life.

Conclusion: As new creatures in Christ, we are weeds or tares made into wheat; pigs made into sheep. Reason - to produce fruit, bear wool. This is the lesson of John 15.
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