If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?
3 sermons cite this verse
for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Lastly, John chapter 9 and verse 4, Jesus is speaking and he says, I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming when no man can work. Let's go to work. Father, we thank you so much for your word. It is a lamp unto our feet. It is a light into our path. In the beginning was your word, and your word was with you, and your word was you. God, we recognize that we don't live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of your mouth. God, I thank you for the rich and radical love you have for your sons and daughters. God, those here present, those watching via live stream, those who will watch later. And I pray, God, that you would love your people through me, through the words that you give me to feed them. …
I wanted to read the whole passage. I didn't want to leave anything out. Now what is all of this talking about? I want to make this abundantly clear, and I want every human being, every mother's child in this congregation or those who may be listening by television or radio or tape, I want to make this absolutely, totally clear. You are saved by grace through faith alone and not of works of any kind. Now I want that to be very, very clear. It is not by works of righteousness that we've done, but according to his mercy he saved us. The Bible says in Ephesians two, verses eight and nine, for by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. And Paul said in Romans 11, six, and I love this, he says, and if by grace it is no more works, otherwise grace is no more grace. And if by works it is no more grace, otherwise work is no more work. …
IV. The Scripture teaches us, that this very particular duty is necessary. Particularly, 1. The Scripture teaches, that God will deal with us as we deal with our fellow-creatures in this particular, and that with what measure we mete to others in this respect, God will measure to us again. This the Scripture asserts both ways; it asserts that if we be of a merciful spirit, God will be merciful to us: Matt. v. 7. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Ps. xviii. 25. “With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful.” On the other hand it tells us, that if we be not merciful, God will not be merciful to us; and that all our pretences to faith and a work of conversion will not avail us, to obtain mercy, unless we be merciful to them that are in want. James ii. 13-16. “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy.—What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food; and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed, and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” 2. This very thing is often mentioned in Scripture, as an essential part of the character of a godly man; Ps. xxxvii. 21. “The righteous showeth mercy, and giveth;” and again, ver. 26. “He is ever merciful, and lendeth.” Psal. cxii. 5. “A good man showeth favour, and lendeth:” and ver. 9. “He hath dispersed, and given to the poor.” So Prov. xiv. 31. “He that honoureth God, hath mercy on the poor.” Again, Prov. xxi. 26. and Isa Lvii. 1. A righteous man and a merciful man are used as synonymous terms: “The righteous perisheth, and merciful men are taken away,” &c. …