Psalm 14:1: Atheists can never do good works?

[HeatherEljohari]

I was doing my regular bible study before going to bed and I came across this statement in Psalms.

"Only fools say in their hearts,

there is no God.

They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;

not one of them does good." Psalm 14:1 NLT

In this particular bible I have commentary and it states:

"the true atheist is either foolish or wicked- foolish because he ignores the evidence that God exsists or wicked because he refuses to live by Gods truths."

So with these verses, we see that regardless of the good works a atheist completes it is of little use because it isnt supported by Gods presence. I guess I answered my own question- but I would appreciate any furthur imput.

Heatherxoxoxo

[Guest Greg Davies]

I was doing my regular bible study before going to bed and I came across this statement in Psalms.

"Only fools say in their hearts,

there is no God.

They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;

not one of them does good." Psalm 14:1 NLT

In this particular bible I have commentary and it states:

"the true atheist is either foolish or wicked- foolish because he ignores the evidence that God exsists or wicked because he refuses to live by Gods truths."

So with these verses, we see that regardless of the good works a atheist completes it is of little use because it isnt supported by Gods presence. I guess I answered my own question- but I would appreciate any furthur imput.

Heatherxoxoxo

I agree with your conclusion. I beleive that anything someone does before salvation is a dead work. Scriptual "good works" can only be done based on faith toward God (Heb 6:1).

Greg.

[EricH]

It depends on how you define "good". If by "good" you mean nothing we do can earn our salvation, then I agree. But unsaved people are capable of doing "good" things. They can love their children, find cures for diseases etc. These are all good in the relative sense.

[matthew4:4]

It depends on how you define "good". If by "good" you mean nothing we do can earn our salvation, then I agree. But unsaved people are capable of doing "good" things. They can love their children, find cures for diseases etc. These are all good in the relative sense.

True, but withought the love of God I don't believe they are actually good works in God's eyes. People of the world do these things to feel good about themselves but Christians do it out of their love for Christ and others.

[EricH]

It depends on how you define "good". If by "good" you mean nothing we do can earn our salvation, then I agree. But unsaved people are capable of doing "good" things. They can love their children, find cures for diseases etc. These are all good in the relative sense.

True, but withought the love of God I don't believe they are actually good works in God's eyes. People of the world do these things to feel good about themselves but Christians do it out of their love for Christ and others.

They will not earn God's favor. That much is true

[HeatherEljohari]

Thats true. If we dont recognize God and his control over everything- we are doing the "good work" for our own glory. Which is against God, therefore is a sin.

Heatherxoxoxo

[Hypathia]

My son is an atheist and he's one of the kindest people I've ever known. His teachers (who are unaware that he's an atheist) have told us at parent teacher conferences that he's one of the kindest kids they've ever come across not to mention the fact that he is exceptionally intelligent (we're talking genius I.Q.). He's far more thoughful than the little religious zealots he goes to school with (which I think has has a bearing on his non-belief). He'd told me years ago that the most religious in his class were the absolute meanest toward other kids and the faculty too....and the biggest bully of them all said out loud in class one day, "people hate me because they hate Jesus". The kid is too dumb to figure out that it has nothing to do with Jesus, it has to do with how he bullies the other children and the teachers. Dumb, mean people often flock to and flaunt "Jesus" to stroke their egos.

I truely hate to say this because like most of you I've been a christian all my life and it's hard to fact the facts. But it's also getting harder, as I grow older and wiser, to ignore the facts....the "awful truth" if you will.

I've known a few other atheists in my lifetime (much to my horror at the time) that I can now look back and see how honest they were, how nice, how thoughtful, how considerate they truly were of other people.... while the biggest ******and crooks have been among those who've been the biggest bible-thumpers in our community. I see now why my son never believed (even when he attended an evangelical christian school) and why my husband deconverted after an entire lifetime of "bible-thumping" and christian evagelical zealotry..............it just ain't true and there's really is no such thing as the "holy spirit". That's just the way it is and we'd all be better off if we just faced that FACT.

[Hypathia]

At this point Psalms 14:1 tells me this loud and clear. Even way back then people were starting to question the legitimacy of the clergy and what they were "selling" and this response is just a way of trying to villify those who were brave enough to say "the emperor has no clothes".

[Guest Greg Davies]

At this point Psalms 14:1 tells me this loud and clear. Even way back then people were starting to question the legitimacy of the clergy and what they were "selling" and this response is just a way of trying to villify those who were brave enough to say "the emperor has no clothes".

As long as we look on the outward appearence, we are missing it. That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination to God (Luke 16:15).

Here's the bottom line: Titus 3:5, "Not be works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit."

Greg.

[Guest]

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

"I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live."

"For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself." John 5:24-26

Psalms 14

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

I see now why my son never believed (even when he attended an Evangelical Christian school) and why my husband deconverted after an entire lifetime of "Bible-thumping" and Christian Evangelical zealotry..............it just ain't true and there's really is no such thing as the "Holy Spirit". That's just the way it is and we'd all be better off if we just faced that FACT.

I Am So Sorry!

As A Loving Christian Mother Your Heart Must Just Break Over Your Unbelieving Son.

"Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence." Matthew 19:13-15

And As A Loving Wife And Bible Believer You Must Be In Anguish Over Your Husband's Rejection Of God's Gift Of Eternal Life.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:16-18

As A True Believer You Know The Holy Spirit Of The Living God Intimately

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" Romans 8:16

And As A Christian You Are Proud Of The Words Of Your LORD

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38

Because You Have Confessed Your Belief

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9

And You Are Born Again

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1 Peter 1:23

Or Are You?

What Say Ye Christ?

See Jesus, Believe And Be Blessed Beloved

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27

Love, Joe