World Scripture - GOOD DEEDS

[Damian J. Anderson]

http://www.unification.net/ws/theme146.htm

World Scripture

GOOD DEEDS

Good deeds are the manifestation of a healthy spiritual life. Good
deeds create merit, improve one's relationship with God, and are
the best way to annul the effects of past evil deeds.

Heaven is not attained without good deeds.

1.Sikhism. Adi Granth, Ramkali-ki-Var, M.1, p. 952

Many garlands can be made from a heap of flowers. Many good deeds
should be done by one born a mortal.

2.Buddhism. Dhammapada 53

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

3.Christianity. Ephesians 2.10

No one who does good deeds will ever come to a bad end, either here
or in the world to come. When such people die, they go to other
realms where the righteous live.

4.Hinduism. Bhagavad Gita 6.40-41

Be mindful of your duty [to God], and do good works; and again, be
mindful of your duty, and believe; and once again: be mindful of
your duty, and do right. God loves the doers of good.

5.Islam. Qur'an 5.93

Love covers a multitude of sins.

6.Christianity. 1 Peter 4.8

Good deeds annul evil deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful.

7.Islam. Qur'an 11.114

Whoever, by a good deed, covers the evil done, such a one illumines
this world like the moon freed from clouds.

8.Buddhism. Dhammapada 173
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Ephesians 2.10: Cf. James 1.25, p. 147. 1 Peter 4.8: Cf. Luke
19.2-9, p. 780; Ezekiel 33.14-16, p. 780; Isaiah 1.16-20, p. 629.
Qur'an 11.114: Cf. Qur'an 25:71, p. 780; Visparad 15.1, p. 844.
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I call heaven and earth to witness: whether Jew or Gentile, whether
man or woman, whether servant or freeman, they are all equal in
this: that the Holy Spirit rests upon them in accordance with their
deeds!

9.Judaism. Midrash, Seder Eliyyahu Rabbah 10

Anything evil refrain from doing; all good deeds do! So will you be
released forever from the influence of evil stars, and always be
encompassed by good guardian angels.

10.Taoism. Tract of the Quiet Way

He who carries out one good deed acquires for himself one advocate
in his own behalf, and he who commits one transgression acquires
one accuser against himself. Repentance and good works are like a
shield against calamity.

11.Judaism. Mishnah, Abot 4.13 When the earth is shaken with her
earthquake
And the earth yields up her burdens,
And man says, "What ails her?"
That day she will relate her chronicles
Because your Lord inspires her.
That day mankind will issue forth in scattered groups to be shown
their deeds.
And whoever has done good, an atom's weight will see it then,
And whoever has done ill, an atom's weight will see it then.

12.Islam. Qur'an 99

Realization of Truth is higher than all else; Higher still is truthful
living.

13.Sikhism. Adi Granth, Sri Ashtpadi, M.1, p. 62

What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has
not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill- clad
and in lack of 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 does it profit? So faith by itself, without works, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your
faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and
shudder. Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart
from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was
active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, and the
scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was
reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of
God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith
alone.... For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith
apart from works is dead. 14Christianity. James 2.14-26
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Tract of the Quiet Way: Cf. Treatise on Response and Retribution
1-2, p. 173; 5, p. 781; Abot 4.13, pp. 293f. James 2.14-26: This
argument for good deeds to demonstrate faith relies on the example
of Abraham, for it comes as a counterpoint to Galatians 3.1-11, p.
656. Paul's argument in Galatians, that man is saved through faith
and not by deeds according to the law, had been misinterpreted by
some Christians as advocating antinomianism, the license to do most
anything as long as it is not harmful, under the cover of faith.
James corrects this misconception by asserting that faith, if it is
true, will be substantiated and confirmed by good works.
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--
Damian J. Anderson <dam...@unification.net> http://www.unification.net