Tag: Works

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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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A Different Kind of Clutter

My wife, Peggy, gave me a wonderful present two months ago. It had been on my mind for a while, so when she asked what I wanted for Christmas, I was ready. “I’d like to go through the house together, room by room, and throw away the stuff we no longer want or will never use again,” I said. We are not packrats by any means, and our house is kept tidy. But when a family lives in the same space for 25 years and goes through several life stages in the process, stuff accumulates. In part, yesterday’s desire has become today’s clutter, so we have begun to toss it aside. And. It. Feels. So. Good.

To believers in Corinth, Paul exposed a different kind of clutter— so called “good works” originating from our own will and pursued in our own power. “No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” he wrote, “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”1 Through metaphor and contrast, the nurturing apostle exposed a dichotomy of deeds: the throw-away kind (wood, hay, and straw) originating from our own flesh; and the firmly established type (gold, silver, and precious stones) grounded in obedience to the Spirit’s call. This is not to suggest our eternal salvation is based on the origin of our works, for Jesus himself is the unassailable foundation of all who trust in Him. Paul continues: “If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives [i.e., gold, silver, and precious stones], he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up [i.e., wood, hay, and straw], he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”2 What authority! And such grace!

We are “[God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” for a certain kind of works— the “good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”3 Long before we were even conceived, God prepared meaningful tasks for us to do. Jesus said to His disciples, “You are my friends if you do what I command,”4 and “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”5 These are the works of the “gold, silver, and precious stones” variety, those of deepest meaning and lasting impact. So, watch for them and listen; ready yourself in prayer and the Word to be used for eternal purposes. For when we walk in obedience and faith . . . It. Feels. So. Good.

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”—Isaiah 6:8 ESV

Yes, Lord, today send me. Amen.

1 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 ESV
2 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 ESV
3 Ephesians 2:10 ESV
4 John 15:14 NIV
5 John 15:16 NIV

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Grace Works

An international student friend was trying to comprehend a relationship with God based on His love and grace instead of earning His approval through good deeds. Peggy asked her, “When you first arrived from your country and we picked you up at the airport, what if we had told you that we did it only because we were being paid to?” “I still would have appreciated the ride,” our friend replied, “but it wouldn’t have been the same.” Truth is, even believers in Christ wrestle with grace and works at times: we know we cannot earn salvation (so as to obligate God to pay us our due), but that we are freed from the penalty of our sins only in entrusting ourselves entirely to Jesus’ willing sacrifice for us. Yet Jesus himself said, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”1 This may sound as though we must earn God’s love, so how do we reconcile grace and works?

We gain life not by trusting in ourselves, but by entrusting ourselves to Jesus. “A person is not justified by the works of the law,” wrote Paul, “but by faith in Jesus Christ.”2 As we believe, “the Spirit gives birth to [our] spirit.”3 Exclaimed Jesus to the crowd, “Whoever believes in me . . . rivers of living water will flow from within them.”4 “By this,” explained John, “he meant the Spirit . . .”5 For God had foretold through the prophet Ezekiel, “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”6 Indeed, the Spirit’s presence in our life produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”7 The Spirit will never lead us in the ways of the world, but always in the good and right ways of God. We keep God’s commandments of love not to earn our way into His presence, but because He has graciously established His presence in us.

Which brings us to works. Paul wrote that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,”8 which is to say our birth in Christ is not the end in itself, rather the beginning of a new, purposeful life. For God’s love is proactive love: He has warm, tender feelings of love, certainly, but God’s love acts and speaks. In Him there is no gap between loving feelings and loving deeds; there is no feeling without doing. “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds,” argued James.9

What then do we do? Draw close to God, conversing with Him in prayer and receiving from Him through His Word. Listen to the voice of the Spirit, which speaks to our heart. Watch for God working in people around us, and accept His invitation to join Him. Act and speak. For grace works.

Father, thank You for saving me in Your grace. Lead me to the works You have prepared for me, and strengthen me in Your Spirit to do them. Be glorified through this life. In Christ I pray. Amen.

1 John 15:10
2 Galatians 2:16
3 John 3:6
4 John 7:38
5 John 7:40
6 Ezekiel 36:27
7 Galatians 5:22-23
8 Ephesians 2:10
9 James 2:18