Good works.
Taking care of poor people, evangelizing, using our gifts of the Spirit to benefit our siblings in Christ and so on. Why does God require us to do good works? It would be so much quicker, easier and better, if God just did them all by Himself.
God commands us to do good works for at least a couple of reasons.
First, to make His people more and more like Jesus. A lifestyle of good works causes us to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), which is to be like Jesus. For example, it causes us to love others more.
Titus 3:14 KJV
[14] And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Colossians 1:10-11 KJV
[10] That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
[11] Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Philippians 4:16-17 KJV
[16] For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
[17] Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Also, doing good works promotes community. Community with intimate communion. God is a community of three. They work together as one, in perfect harmony and coordination. God and His people also make up a community. God loves it when this community functions as one, as God does. Functioning this way also benefits the members of the community. Much of what God commands His people to do seems designed to accomplish better, closer relationships among His people and among people in general.
John 17:21-23 KJV
[21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
[23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
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