Working The Works of God
There is often a great deal of confusion about the relationship between faith and works. Some people contend that a person must perform enough good works to outweigh the evil that they have done. Others, in reaction to this, will contend that no works at all are necessary for salvation, but all that is required to to believe in Jesus.
What does the Bible say? What does Jesus say? In John 6, Jesus is asked a great question,” What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (v. 28). Rather than trying to explain why works weren’t required, there was a desire to do the works that would please God. Shouldn’t this be our attitude today?
The answer that Jesus gives is quite telling. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (v. 29). To say that faith and works are different things directly contradicts Jesus’ words here. Faith is a work, and it is the work that we must do to please God.
Naturally, if we truly believe in Jesus, and believe what He has spoken, then we will obey His commands. If we don’t obey, then either we don’t truly believe, or we simply don’t care. Faith is where our obedience must begin.