Dead work notes
● Opening (Heb 5:9-6:3)
● Prayer
● Dead Works defined.
- The NT speaks of the works of the flesh in Gal 5:19-21 “Now the works of the
flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of
the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19–21 KJV)
- We know that a true Christian, as a spiritual person, can never indulge in these
sins. These works are obviously sinful that it would be difficult for a believer to
practice any of them without being deeply convicted in his conscience.
- They are evil, but they are not dangerous in the sense that it will deceive us.
- Dead works are much more deceitful, the NT in Hebrews tells us to repent from
dead works. (Heb 6:2)
- In the OT there is no such thing as dead works, you either have good works, or
evil works, but in the NT you have good works, evil works and dead works.
- So what are dead works?
- Dead works are works that appear good externally but that spring from a corrupt
motive or done for the wrong reason.
- For eg. It could be a prayer, you could sing a solo in a Christian meeting, and
your aim may be to get honor for yourself… This is a dead work.
- It is well known among believers that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from
all sins according to (1 John 1:7), but what is not well known is that the blood of
Christ must also purge us from dead works.
- “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 9:14 KJV)
● Sub Opening “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he
that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast
a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If
therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know
what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not
defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that
overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name
out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his
angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
(Revelation 3:1–6 KJV)
● 5 types of dead works
1. No Joy (Works done without Joy)
● These are works done without any joy, in other words, these are works
done out of compulsion or necessity, or the fear of punishment, or
something like that. Give 1 or 2 examples. (being forced to do homework,
or being forced to pay tithes and offerings)
● “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17 KJV)
2. No Love (Works done without Love)
a. Eg, You know how, in the home of a new couple that are just
married, the wife serves; everything she does for her husband is
out of love; She cooks the food, washes the clothes, and keeps the
house clean; all done out of love. Twenty years later you go to the
same home, the wife is still cooking the food, still keeping the
house clean, still washing the clothes, but it is not out of love
anymore.
b. Revelations 2:1-5 (Church of Ephesus, return to thy first love)
c. 1 Cor 13
3. No Zeal (Works done without Zeal)
a. “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” (Romans 12:11
KJV)
b. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment.” (Mark 12:30 KJV)
c. You have to be consumed with the love of God, “For the love of Christ
constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were
all dead:” (2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV)
d. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man
love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15 KJV)
4. No Faith (Personal Convictions)
a. James teaches that faith without works is dead. I would say also that
works without faith is dead. “But without faith it is impossible to please
him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
b. For example, you pray for half an hour, and you pray for a lot of
powerful things but you don't believe that God is going to do one of
those things, what is the use of that type of prayer?
5. Personal gain or honor
a. Anything we do to impress another man is a dead work.
b. “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men;
but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among
men is abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15 KJV)
● Conclusion
● Call to repentance.
