Blatant Disregard

So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. [Romans 7.4]

Why doesn't my life reveal good deeds - the works of Christ in the earth today?

Jesus said it like this:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

In contrast, we see from Paul's explanation that producing a harvest of good deeds for God is the result of dying with Christ and being raised with Him.

So, Jesus' words, "believes in me..." and Paul's words, "died with Christ..." are saying the same thing because both result in good deeds (works).

It is simply a lie to say "I am a believer" or "I am crucified with Christ" when there is no harvest of good deeds. According to the Bible, the Christian Church today then is full of deceived people! This is not good. People attend church and call themselves "believers" as if attending church makes it so. Church attendance is not the good deeds Jesus, Paul, and others were talking about.

James would later say it like this:

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. [James 2.14-17]

I know we don't want to hear this. But to ignore this is to blatantly disregard the Bible!

Father, forgive me for looking at my good-deed-less life and deceiving myself that I am okay. Forgive me for a blatant disregard for Your Word.