Tag: Redemption

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The “Greater Works” We Do

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”1—Jesus, to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion

Let’s call out the metaphoric elephant in the room, shall we? How does Jesus’ promise to His followers, “greater works than these will he do,” resonate with us? We read these words and nod in acceptance because Jesus spoke them, but doesn’t doing “greater things” than Jesus seem more aspirational than accessible? He’s the one who taught the truth, confounded the cunning, healed the sick, and raised the dead. And we will do greater things?

When we think of “greater works than these,” miracles first come to mind, of course. It is true, God still works miracles and wonders in, through, and around us. Were we to ask 20 randomly selected people how God has shown Himself to them in miraculous ways, I firmly believe we would be absolutely astounded at their stories (and perhaps rightfully convicted of our doubt).

But let’s also consider this one truly “greater work” God does through us, His people in Christ. Two thousand years after Jesus’ incarnation, death and resurrection, how big has His church become? (Remember to include “the church triumphant,” all who have gone on before us.) Billions! And still growing, still spreading! How, we ask? Through people! God continually redeems fallen people through people once fallen and now redeemed. Paul says as much: “[God] reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”2 Thus it has gone for two millennia and continues still: God reconciles fallen people to Himself, then sends them out as reconciled people to those still fallen. In the grace of God, we who rebelled against Him have the humbling honor of directing people back to Him. And the body of Christ relentlessly expands, spreading like wildfire yet today. And Heaven grows. That God would fix the world through us who broke it—what wisdom, what privilege; such love, such grace.

Paul continues, “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”3 So stand strong in your reconciliation to God through the atoning work of Jesus. For He has prepared works for you to do4—“greater works,” we might humbly say, the greater works of reconciliation and its fruit of growth.

Father, your wisdom, love and grace are beyond our comprehension. Thank you for making us your ambassadors and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. May you find us faithful to this call. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 1 John 14:12 ESV
2 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV
3 2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV
4 Ephesians 2:10

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The Great Cost of Free Grace

Author Dan Kennedy tells the story about Fred Herman, broadly known in his day for his unmatched sales skills. Catching the attention of “The Tonight Show,” Fred was invited to appear as Johnny Carson’s guest. Johnny welcomed the renowned salesman to the show, and soon thereafter challenged Fred to sell him something on the spot. Kennedy’s account: “Carson said ‘OK, since you’re the greatest salesman, sell me this ashtray.’ Fred picked it up, examined it, and asked, ‘If you were going to buy this ashtray, what would you expect to pay for it?’ Carson named a price. Fred said, ‘Sold!’”1

Over the past four weeks, we have been talking about God’s grace, both His nature of grace and His outpouring of “grace in its various forms”2 to us through acts of love. From His own lovingkindness, God lavishes the riches of His favor upon us,3 not as our due, but as His gift. But while grace is free to us, God has extended it at great cost to Himself. Paul explains, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.”4 Moreover, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”5 And Jesus “suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”6 Again, grace is free to us, yet quite costly to God. Paul reminds us, “You were bought at a price,”7 indeed it is the price of justice, for we are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”8

Then what does this tell us about our worth to God? What must we conclude about His regard for us—both as individuals and collectively as the people of His redemption? John tells us plainly, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”9 Our life, to Him, is worth His life for us. Then let no one, especially you, convince you otherwise. And in this glorious truth may we give ourselves entirely to Him who gave Himself entirely for us, for “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness”10 —the great cost of free grace.

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. —Revelation 5:9

1 Dan Kennedy, No B.S. Sales Success: The Ultimate No Holds Barred, Kick Butt, Take No Prisoners & Make Tons of Money Guide, (Entrepreneur Press), 63.
2 1 Peter 4:10
3 Ephesians 1:7-8
4 Romans 3:25
5 Galatians 3:13
6 Hebrews 2:9
7 1 Corinthians 6:20
8 Romans 3:24
9 1 John 4:10
10 1 Peter 2:24

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What Did You Get for Christmas?

“What did you get for Christmas?” It was the very first question we as children asked our friends upon returning to school in January. We couldn’t wait to tell others what we received, and we listened intently as they recalled their Yuletide treasure. Now that we are adults, our question is a bit more grown up—“What did you do for Christmas?” we ask. Some gather here and some travel there. Some meet with friends, while others relax alone. Some are ready to get back to work; others perhaps not so much. But Christmas still stirs its curiosities: What did you get? and What did you do?

We celebrate Christmas as a promised fulfilled: Jesus, our Immanuel—our “God with us”1—has come, just as God through Isaiah foretold.2 Paul tells us Jesus “is the image of the invisible God”3; He is not a man who became God, but God taking on human flesh for a time and for a purpose. Then we might ask, what did Jesus do here? And Paul would answer that, through the obedience of Christ, God has “rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption the forgiveness of sins.”4 “He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”5 What did Jesus do here? He took away our sin at great cost to Himself.

Then what did Jesus get here? In a word, us. He redeemed—purchased back for Himself—that which had been lost, that which was “created through him and for him.”6 We were created for Him and now He has redeemed us to be His very own. Just think how important we must be to Him. Imagine how He must love us. You. Me. Us. What, then, is left for us to do but to thank Him, praise Him, and worship Him through our redeemed lives. For He made us for Himself, He redeemed us for Himself, and now we are His.

“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”—Romans 11:36

Father, thank You for redeeming us through Your Son and making us Your own. May we never lose sight of our worth to You or Your love for us. In the name of Christ our Savior we pray. Amen.

1 Matthew 1:23
2 Isaiah 7:14
3 Colossians 1:15
4 Colossians 1:13-14
5 Colossians 2:13-14
6 Colossians 1:16