Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians

The Foundation of Jesus Christ
Lesson 11

How are dead works related to sin?

A servant is responsible for working, assisting and attending to a master. The master of Natural Life people is uncleanness. They attend to their lives by being constantly in the company of and serving their master sin. Through their serving of all things unclean, they and their works become unrighteous, wicked and dead. Dead Works are acts performed in disobedience to the law of God that are without life and inanimate and are not functioning, operating or productive.

The master of Spiritual Life people is righteousness. They attend to their lives by being constantly in the company of and serving their master righteousness. Through their serving of all thing righteous, they and their works become holy and alive. These works performed in obedience to the law of God include righteous deeds, growth, creation and building in the spiritual life.

We now have arrived where we started our study. Remember Hebrews 6:1-3 and the laying of foundation?

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. (Hebrews 6:1-3 AV)

Hebrews 6:1-3 is where we learned about the doctrine of Christ. Inside the Scripture was a list of the specific doctrines contained within the doctrine of Christ. One of those doctrines was "repentance from dead works" which we called "Sin" in our studies.

19 ¶ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:19-21 AV)

11 ¶ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15 AV)

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:13-14 AV)

Remember.... everything a person has done as a human being is works. If a person does not have the salvation of Jesus Christ, the works he does is dead. A person’s conscience needs to be purged of all dead works because of all the effort that was wasted on vanity (nothingness).

When a person stands before the Judgment Seat of Jesus, he will be asked about his works while on earth. If his works were not accomplished to serve the living God, they will be considered dead works. If they are considered dead works, they cannot be presented to Jesus on the Judgment Seat.

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8 AV)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 AV)

A person cannot do anything to save himself, and no amount of “works” can effect salvation. Salvation is a gift from the LORD GOD and is obtained by just one way... what a person believes is Faith! Salvation never comes because of what a person does which is Works!

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2:17-18 AV)

Every student that has been taught the Doctrine of Works by us, has asked the same question. “How do we achieve works of gold, rather than works of stubble?” The simple answer is this...the more you let the LORD GOD and Jesus Christ use you, the more valuable the vessel becomes. How does a Christian produce honorable vessels of gold, silver or precious metal?...

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 AV)

Now you have the knowledge of why Becker Bible Studies exists, and why you are participating in such an intense study of God’s Word. It is the LORD GOD’s Will that Christians are prepared through study of His Word to complete honorable works through Jesus Christ. This study was developed by the LORD GOD, through Jesus Christ’s good work, at the touch of the Holy Spirit to teach you. You are being prepared to do good works for Jesus Christ. While you may not know yet what those works are, you do know that the LORD GOD has chosen you for that work. Study God’s Word and prepare well for your coming assignments, so you are never ashamed of the work that is produced through you.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 AV)

This concludes the “Sin” studies contained within the 001 Foundation study series. If you have a complete and detailed understanding of sin and dead works, and have successfully completed all of your tests, proceed to the next section for lessons on “Faith.”

Cite Article Source

MLA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. and Joanne Holstein. "How are dead works related to sin?." The Foundation of Jesus Christ Jan 2004.   <http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin8.htm>.

APA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. and Joanne Holstein. (2004, January) "How are dead works related to sin?." The Foundation of Jesus Christ Retrieved   from http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin8.htm

Chicago Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. and Joanne Holstein (2004) "How are dead works related to sin?." The Foundation of Jesus Christ (January), http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin8.htm (accessed )

About the Authors

Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a Religious Studies student of Liberty University, Hebrew language student attending Israeli taught Ulpan and a Homeschool parent teaching the things of God. She is also well-known as a child advocate of innocent children tortured and suffering from the abuse of sexual perversion, out-of-control violence, and pathetic neglect by a carnal world gone mad.

Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a Religious Philosophy student of Liberty University, and a Homeschool parent and child advocate. She is well-known as a counsleor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.

Receive our Becker Bible Studies newsletter and updates

Get Becker Bible Studies RSS feeds, modules and links

©2004-2008 Becker Bible Studies. All Rights Reserved.