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The Series - Jesus, Unique & Unequaled Teacher (33/TBD)

Focus Text: John 6.27-29

Jesus said, “‘Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.’ Then they [the disbelieving multitude] said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” (John 6.27-29).

After telling His hearers that for which they ought not to labor, it was only natural that they should ask for guidance, i.e. “What shall we do that we may work the works of God?” Jesus was all too pleased to answer their question; it was a legitimate question and one around which the entire matter of eternal salvation revolves. Note first of all something that Jesus did not do; He did not rebuke them for asking what they could do to work the works of God. They realized and so did Jesus that there are some “works of God” that only He can perform, i.e. those that require supernatural powers. But, it was also well recognized that man was expected to do some of the “works of God,” i.e. those works which God demands of man in order to be saved. There is an alternative to this line of thinking, but it flies in the face of the entire Bible theme; that alternative is that man does not have to do anything in order to work the works of God! It is absurd on the face and really requires no rebuttal.

Since it is the case that man must do something in order to be saved, it should be noted that there are two great classifications of work that Jesus mentioned in the text; He spoke of works that are intended to satisfy the needs of the flesh and works that are intended to please God. The works that are intended to satisfy the needs of the flesh cannot save and Jesus made that very clear. Rather, only when man determines to “work the works of God” will God be pleased. This is an important distinction and cannot be overemphasized. There are works that man authors and there are works which God authors! These two categories of works are miles and miles apart – no, on second thought - they are an eternity apart! The works of man cannot save, but the works of God do save! When we work the works of God, we are able to please Him; when we work the works of man, it is impossible to please Him (see Hebrews 11.6).

The response of Jesus to their question is one that every human being should know; it is a response which will literally shape our eternal destinies! Here’s what Jesus said: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” The fact that it is God’s work does not mean that God does it; it means that God authors it. God does not believe for me and He does not believe for you. Belief is a responsibility from which I cannot escape. It is the work of God which each man must do if he is to be saved.

Man cannot work his own works to save himself any more than God will do the work which He demands of us in order to be saved. Man quibbles about works and salvation, but there is no room to quibble; man must work for His salvation, but he must work the works of God!

Questions:

1. According to the focus text, what is the “work of God”?

2. According to the focus text, who is responsible to do “the work of God”?

3. Is doing the work of God essential to salvation? Why or why not?

4. Can a man be saved without working the works of God? If he works the works of God and is saved, what does man have about which he can boast? When man is saved by working the works of God, is it not of grace? Why or why not?

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