DOCTRINE OF DIVINE GOOD

PRODUCTION

  1. Introduction:

    1. This doctrine addresses the issue of what is the will of God for the believer after salvation.

    2. Many distortions exist, from the extreme that the believer is not expected to do anything beyond the learning of the Word of God to the other extreme that the believer is to just stay busy.

    3. The truth lies in between the two extremes, taking into consideration the passages that stress the intake of Bible doctrine as well as the passages that urge believers to engage in works. Col.1:9-10

    4. The will of God for the believer in time to produce works is not to be confused with the issue of Ph1 salvation which does not admit human works, effort or achievement. Tit.3:5

II. Greek vocabulary:

    1. avgaqoj e;rgon (agathos ergon); 14X; good work, good deed. This good denotes the overt character of Divine good.

    2. kalo,j e;rgon (kalos ergon); 16X; good work, good deed. This good denotes the intrinsic/inward quality of Divine good and therefore the motivation/essence behind the act.

    3. karpo,j (karpos); 66X; fruit, crops, harvest; metaphorically, that which comes from something, an effect, a result.

    4. avgaph, (agape); love. This word is a synonym for divine good production or application since these acts are the evidence of love.

    5. It should be noted that the words above do not always refer to divine good in every context. Ex. Rom.13:3; There the context is law-abiding behavior, which any establishment type can generate, believer or unbeliever.

III. Definition and description:

    1. Divine good production is defined as the application of BD in the soul by the believer that is in fellowship.

    2. Furthermore, such application must proceed from the correct internal motivation, untainted by STA concerns. Mat.6:1-8

    3. By definition, the unbeliever cannot produce divine good, since he/she is unable to learn BD, unable to secure and maintain the F/HS and truly unable to please God. Rom.8:8

    4. This explains why the unbeliever is unable to do anything to contribute to, or provide for, his own salvation. Tit.3:5

    5. Each believer must understand that God does not sanction, nor does He approve or reward, that which does not fall under the umbrella of divine good.

 

 

IV. Necessary prerequisites for Divine good production:

    1. First and foremost, one must be a believer in Jesus Christ to be qualified positionally to produce divine good. Joh.15:1-3; Eph.2:10

    2. The believer must then have a frame of reference to know what constitutes divine good.

    1. This involves the GAP system, all that is necessary for the believer to assimilate BD.

    2. In the current dispensation it requires:

    1. A local church. 1Tim.3:15

    2. A pastor-teacher. 1Tim.5:17

    3. F/HS and the Word of God. Joh.4:23-24

    4. Assembly. Heb.10:25

    5. Intake via study. 2Tim.2:15

    6. Faith. Gal.3:5; Heb.4:2

    1. The teaching of BD by the pastor-teacher provides the particulars for each believer so that they can identify and exploit opportunities for divine good production in their niche. 2Tim.3:16-17

    1. The believer must be in fellowship to produce divine good. Joh.15:4-7; Gal.5:22

    2. Rebound is obviously critical to securing the filling of the Holy Spirit. Joh.15:2 cf. Joh.13:5-11; 1Joh.1:9

    3. This cleansing must deal with the internal, as well as the external, issues. Mat.23:25-26 (This is denoted in the differing uses of the word "good/agathos and kalos")

    4. Via the GAP system, the believer is able to identify various opportunities by having the divine viewpoint in the soul. Joh.15:4,7

    5. In the parable of the soils the following are necessary to production and the ultimate goal of maturity. Luk.8:15

    1. Hearing.

    2. Intellectual honesty.

    3. Positive volition.

    4. Tenacity.

    5. Patience.

    1. Interestingly enough, the doctrine of separation is also a key to effective Divine good production. 2Tim.2:19-21

    2. Via grace, God has and will continue to supply us with all that we need to exploit every area of divine good production. 2Cor.9:8

V. The necessity of Divine good for Ph2:

    1. Divine good production is a part of the Divine decrees from eternity past, and constitutes a very important part of the POG. Eph.2:10

    2. Divine good production is not optional, but is commanded of each and every believer. 1Tim.2:10; Tit.3:1,8,14

    3. Our Divine good production is a necessary ingredient in our witness to those on the outside. Mat.5:16; 1Pet.2:12

    4. Apart from Divine good production the MAJG is impossible. Luk.8:15; Col.1:9-10

    5. Jesus taught that believers are to focus in on every opportunity to produce Divine good during the limited time given us, for when we are dead and gone, no more opportunity will exist. Joh.9:4

    6. It is interesting to note that the reason for the temporary setting aside of Israel and the current dispensation, the CA, relates to the issue of Dvgd production. Mat.21:33-43; Luk.13:6ff

VI. Hindrances to Divine good production:

    1. In the Angelic conflict it should be evident that Satan is opposed to activities which bring glory to God, and therefore resists our application. Eph.6:12ff

    2. The STA, which generally takes the path of least resistance, is not going to enjoy the suffering and sacrifice associated with the application of doctrine.

    3. Therefore, STA activity, which destroys fellowship with God, neutralizes the believer in terms of divine good production. Joh.15:1ff

    4. Lack of the proper frame of reference limits the ability of the believer to know the correct application. 2Tim.3:17

    5. Pursuit of the cosmos, which is associated with the pursuit of the details of life, short circuits production. Luk.8:14

VII. The promises for those that fulfill their mandate to produce Divine good:

    1. As previously stated, God, via grace, supplies everything that is necessary for each and every believer to excel in the areas of Divine good production. 2Cor.9:8-10

    2. Our Divine good production is the basis for our judgment before Jesus Christ at the Bema seat. 2Cor.5:10 cf. 1Cor.3:12-15

    3. Divine good, as defined above, will be rewarded with an appropriate increment of SG3, based on the nature, difficulty and sacrifice associated with that application. Mat.5:12; 10:41-42; 1Cor.3:8; Col.3:24

    4. Human good, as defined below, will be burned and the believer will suffer the loss of the reward, which would have come to him/her for application. 1Cor.3:14-15

    5. Principle: The more divine good production, the more reward.

    6. Those who persevere in Divine good production, have temporal and eternal blessings promised.

    1. Temporal blessings. Psa.19:11; 58:11; 127:3; Pro.22:4; 25:22; Joh.15:7

    2. Eternal blessings. Luk.6:23; 2Joh.1:8

VIII. Human good:

    1. Human good is activity that is any activity not clearly mandated by the Word of God and/or compromises any other principle of BD.

    2. Beyond that, human good is activity the believer does out of fellowship, with the wrong motives, or is not based on doctrine in the soul.

    3. Satan sponsors human good as part of his activity to deceive the human race. 2Cor.11:13-15

    4. At the Bema seat, human good will be destroyed, and is characterized by the adjective worthless. 2Cor.5:10 cf. 1Cor.3:15

    5. Therefore, all believers must use their time wisely, avoiding that which is not of eternal value.

  1. Concluding observations:

    1. All believers have many opportunities for producing Divine good, as seen in the exhortations to:

    1. Ladies. 1Tim.2:10; 5:10; Tit.2:3-5

    2. The well off. 1Tim.6:18

    3. Young people. Col.3:20; Tit.2:6

    4. Employers. Col.4:1

    5. Employees. Col.3:22ff

    6. Even those under their STA’s. Eph.4:28

B. The pastor-teacher plays an important role in the lives of believers in this matter.

    1. He is to instruct them as to the applications. Eph.4:12

    2. He is to exhort that believers follow through. Tit.3:8

    3. He is to set an example by persevering in his niche. Tit.2:7

    4. He is to pray for his RC to excel in this. Col.1:10; 2The.2:17

C. Divine good as it relates to God.

    1. He is keenly aware of our niche and our applications. Rev.2:2,19; 3:15

    2. He cannot forget Divine good production. Heb.6:10

    3. He is a fair Judge of our production. 1Pet.1:17

    4. Divine good glorifies Him. Mat.5:16; Joh.15:8

    5. He will appropriately reward all Divine good. 1Cor.15:58; Rev.22:12

    1. The correct attitude of the believer toward Divine good production is seen in Tit.2:14.

    2. Believers are to spend some time considering how they can encourage others to excel in application. Heb.10:24

    3. In fact, despite all suggestions to the contrary, Divine good is an infallible standard by which we can correctly evaluate anyone that claims +V.

    1. The example of the tree. Luk.6:43-45

    2. Many claim positive volition, but their works, or lack thereof, betray them. Tit.1:16

    3. James declares that your Divine good production is an acid test of your doctrine. Jam.3:13,17

    1. We are exhorted not to become weary of divine good, no matter what others may do. Gal.6:9

    2. Failure to produce Divine good destines the believer for DD and eventually the SUD. Joh.15:2,6

    3. Other believers in the Royal Family and the local church should receive first priority in our applications of Divine good. Gal.6:10

 

"...he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit;

for apart from Me you can do nothing."Joh.15:5