“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Equating faith with evidence is not an oxymoron Our Western culture has divorced faith from reality: truth, it says, is what we can discern with our five senses, while faith is just […]
Herb Reese
683 posts
Toward a Practical Theology of Good Works Table of Contents Introduction Part 1: God and His Good Works, and How We Participate with Him in Them God and His Good Works in Creation God and His Good Works in Relation to the Fall God and His Good Works in Old […]
Toward a Practical Theology of Good Works Table of Contents Introduction Part 1: God and His Good Works, and How We Participate with Him in Them God and His Good Works in Creation God and His Good Works in Relation to the Fall God and His Good Works in Old […]
Summary Reese begins with Paul’s final words in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, arguing that one of Scripture’s major purposes is to equip believers for “every good work.” To understand what Paul meant, Reese spent two years examining all of Scripture. His study shows that good works are a major biblical theme […]
Summary Reese explores what the Book of Revelation teaches about good (and bad works), showing that although Revelation discusses them briefly, its statements are profound and consistent with two major biblical themes: God knows our works intimately and God will judge every person according to their works. Reese emphasizes that […]
Summary Reese surveys the theme of communal good works in Hebrews, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, and Jude , distinguishing between individual good works (unique callings at specific times and places) and communal good works (ongoing acts of love and service expected of all believers). Hebrews emphasizes that good works flow […]
Summary Reese argues that communal good works are central to Paul’s theology and practice, running through every one of his epistles as both a command and a lived example. While salvation comes only by grace through faith in Christ, good works flow necessarily from that salvation, serving as the fruit […]
Summary Reese argues that the Book of James is essential for understanding the role of communal good works in the early church and in the Christian life today. While it may seem odd to transition from the Book of Acts to James, Reese shows this is logical because James, Jesus’ […]
Summary Reese argues that the early church’s practice of communal good works, especially toward widows, was not only a central feature of Christian life but a normative, God-ordained model for all believers. Drawing from several passages in Acts (2, 4, 6, 10, 11, and 20), the author shows how these […]
Summary Reese argues that the communal good works described in Acts 2:42–47 and Acts 4:31–37 are not only descriptive of early Christian life but prescriptive for all Christians today. These passages reveal a deeply unified and sacrificial early church community where believers voluntarily shared their resources to meet the urgent […]