The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 6:28-29,
"Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'"
There are so many religious people who determine to order their lives by doing good works they think will earn them God's acceptance, his favor-- those good works that God requires. This is the very issue asked about in verse 28.
Some people think if they do enough good works, it just may tip the balance sheet in their direction with God. Knowing of their sinful condition, sins committed in the past, they sort of want to roll those back by doing good things. Some people feel an inadequacy and seek to overcome it by doing good works. I call them do-gooders. They expect much of themselves, and of course, many expect even more from the rest of us. I think you see what I'm getting at.
I love Jesus' answer here. When asked what the works were that God requires, Jesus responded with a whole different paradigm: believe! The work of God is to believe! Believe in the one God has sent, his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus answered the real question they were seeking an answer to - how to become acceptable with God. How to gain a righteous standing before him.
Belief is not a work. Faith is something that is cast as other than doing good works. "... to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness." Romans 4:5. Note the big "but" right in the middle of that verse. When answering, Jesus turned their assumption back on itself. While unspoken, he changed "works God requires" into what it is that God requires period. He requires faith!
"Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'"
There are so many religious people who determine to order their lives by doing good works they think will earn them God's acceptance, his favor-- those good works that God requires. This is the very issue asked about in verse 28.
Some people think if they do enough good works, it just may tip the balance sheet in their direction with God. Knowing of their sinful condition, sins committed in the past, they sort of want to roll those back by doing good things. Some people feel an inadequacy and seek to overcome it by doing good works. I call them do-gooders. They expect much of themselves, and of course, many expect even more from the rest of us. I think you see what I'm getting at.
I love Jesus' answer here. When asked what the works were that God requires, Jesus responded with a whole different paradigm: believe! The work of God is to believe! Believe in the one God has sent, his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus answered the real question they were seeking an answer to - how to become acceptable with God. How to gain a righteous standing before him.
Belief is not a work. Faith is something that is cast as other than doing good works. "... to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness." Romans 4:5. Note the big "but" right in the middle of that verse. When answering, Jesus turned their assumption back on itself. While unspoken, he changed "works God requires" into what it is that God requires period. He requires faith!
There will be a big work that God requires, but that was the work that Jesus Christ did by dying on that cross on our behalf. All God now requires is that we believe in him! Jesus did the work, we just need to trust in him. There simply is no way to adorn the cross of Jesus Christ with our good works. The sacrifice he made of himself was perfection and you just can't add to perfection!
Believe in the One God has sent!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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