Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good… We ought to follow Christ in taking all opportunities of doing good. I. WHAT ARE THE GOOD WORKS WE SHOULD DO IN IMITATION OF CHRIST? 1. Works of piety. (1) Internal (John 4:24). (a) Love (Matthew 22:37). (b) Fear (Proverbs 23:17). (c) Faith. (d) Trust (Proverbs 3:5). (e) Submission (Luke 22:42). (2) External; as praying, hearing, etc. 2. Works of equity (Micah 6:8). (1) Distributive (Romans 13:7; Matthew 17:27). (2) Communicative (Proverbs 3:27, 28; 1 Thessalonians 4:6). 3. Works of charity (1 Timothy 6:17, 18). (1) To pity others in misery (Matthew 15:32; Matthew 20:34). (2) To pray for their felicity (Luke 23:34). (3) To supply their necessities (Matthew 20:34). Consider — (a) Without this there is no true religion (James 1:27). (b) By it we imitate God (Luke 6:36). (c) Whatsoever we have more than is necessary is given for this end. (d) God, notwithstanding, will repay it (Proverbs 19:17). II. WHAT THINGS ARE NECESSARY FOR OUR IMITATION OF CHRIST IN DOING GOOD? 1. Exerting the utmost of our power in doing it (Ecclesiastes 9:10). 2. Managing all the circumstances aright. 3. Doing it constantly (Luke 1:74, 75). (1) Negative. (a) Not for the applause of men (Matthew 6:1). (b) Nor to merit anything from God (Luke 18:10). (2) Positive. (a) Subordinately for our own safety (1 Corinthians 9:24, 27). (b) Ultimately for God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). III. IN WHAT SENSE ARE WE ALWAYS TO BE DOING GOOD. 1. So as never to do evil (1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). 2. So as always to be designing good. 3. So as to embrace all opportunities for doing good (John 4:7, 8; John 6:25). IV. WHY SHOULD WE BE ALWAYS DOING GOOD? 1. We are commanded (Luke 1:74, 75; Psalm 34:13). 2. We are always receiving good. 3. Our beings were first given, and are now continued to us, that we might always be doing good (Isaiah 1:2-4). 4. When we are not doing good we are doing evil (Psalm 37:27). (Bp. Beveridge.) Parallel Verses KJV: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. |
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