This quiz is especially designed for evangelical readers (though anyone can take it) because it’s a good reminder of something evangelical Christians tend to forget. Most of the questions are based on verses you probably memorized in Sunday School, but for the less familiar ones, the answers are only a click away. It’s not cheating to look up the linked answer!
And now, without further ado, let’s play
What Does the Bible Say About Good Works?
Directions: fill in the blanks. (Below the quiz is a brief summary.)
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your _____ _____ and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 25:31-40 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory… he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you _____ _____ _____, I was thirsty and you _____ _____ _____… Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?… And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Mark 12:28-30 And one of the scribes… asked [Jesus], “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall _____ _____ _____ as yourself.’”
Luke 10:25-28 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” [Jesus] said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your _____ as yourself.” And [Jesus] said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
John 3:21 “[W]hoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his _____ have been carried out in God.”
John 5:28-29 “[A]n hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done _____ to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears _____ _____, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Romans 2:6-10 [God] will render to each one according to his _____: to those who by patience in _____ – _____ seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has _____ in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every _____ _____.
Galatians 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall _____ _____ _____ as yourself.”
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of _____ _____, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for _____ _____, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, … _____ _____ your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to _____ for his good pleasure.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 As for the rich in this present age… They are to do good, to be rich in _____ _____, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
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2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every _____ _____.
2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be competent, equipped for every _____ _____.
Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their _____. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any _____ _____.
Titus 2:7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of _____ _____, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for _____ _____.
Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every _____ _____.
Titus 3:8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to _____ _____. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Titus 3:14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to _____ _____, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your _____ and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and _____ _____.
Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do _____ and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have _____, is dead.
James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by _____ and not by faith alone.
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his _____ in the meekness of wisdom.
James 4:17 So whoever knows the right _____ _____ _____ and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
1 Peter 3:13-17 always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you… For it is better to suffer for _____ _____, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
Revelation 20:11-12 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it… And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened… And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had _____.
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do _____; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
Psalm 37:3-4 Trust in the Lord, and do _____; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his _____.”
End of quiz. Put your pencil down.
So, how did you do? Did you notice a theme? You couldn’t miss it: contrary to popular (read: evangelical) belief, God cares very much about good works.
This is not just a phenomenon of the book of James. It’s prevalent in the words of Jesus – so prevalent that he teaches it as the key to the kingdom in Matthew 25:31-40 (parable of the Sheep and Goats). Jesus repeats the same idea in Luke 10:25-28 (Greatest Commandments – followed by the parable of the Good Samaritan in v.29-37). Verses in John suggest that good works are “of God,” and part and parcel of “abiding” in Jesus.
In Romans 2:6-10, 2 Corinthians 5:10, and other passages, Paul indicates that God will consider our good works on Judgment Day – which resembles Jesus’ own message. Other verses in the epistles remind us that it is for good works that we were created, that we should always be ready to do good works, and that we should stir one another up to do good works more and more.
Of course, Paul is the one who also told us that we are saved by grace.
And Jesus, who said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven,” also said in Matthew 6:3, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
These are not examples of the Bible contradicting itself, but of multiple themes. God cares about our faith and about our works – so much so that he describes both, in different places, as being essential.
So let’s find someone needy today, put on a mask, and help them out. That’s not a quiz – that’s the Test.
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OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
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Jesus and the great mask debate – worst meme, best advice
The “Narrow Gate” isn’t what they said it was
“Evangelicavision”: the ability to see in Scripture what’s not actually there
The salvation “formula” doesn’t work in the real world
FEATURED IMAGE: “DAY 18 — Old School” by Mary-Kay G is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
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