Work the Works of God

Background Scripture: John 9:1-41; 10:31-38
Lesson Scripture: John 9:1-7

Introduction

There are two kingdoms: the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of this world. God, who is sovereign, is ruler of the kingdom of heaven and is able to do anything. He is without equal. He created the earth, the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars. His majesty is without comparison, and He is from everlasting to everlasting. Among his greatest works was the creation of man, made in his image. However, an even greater work of God was sending his Son in the form of human flesh to die for us—the Creator dying for the created.

Satan is ruler of the kingdom of this world. He is also powerful, although only as powerful as God allows. He also does many works, but his works are only evil in nature. We will do the works of one or the other. No man can serve two masters. We will deny self and serve the God of heaven, or we will live for self and serve the god of this world.

Key Verse

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

This lesson scripture details an inspirational miracle that took place in the historical city of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. The pool of Siloam was apparently located on the southern slope of this city. The man in this account was born blind and was “of age.” Just how old he was is unclear. A boy was “of age” at thirteen years and would usually be wed by the time he was eighteen to twenty. The mature age among the Jews was fixed at age thirty,1 this likely being the age when they could participate in matters of the synagogue.

Jesus made special note that this man was born blind for a specific purpose: the works of God would be declared in him. It is also noteworthy that there is no record that this man asked for healing. The works of God were made manifest in him through the healing that Jesus performed on him. He was just a vessel prepared of God for this manifestation of God’s great love and power. Every person, regardless of physical condition, carries within them the potential to display the works of God.

This unnamed man came into the presence of the Divine Healer, Jesus. He needed someone to heal him because of himself he could do nothing. Jesus did his part—He anointed the man’s eyes—but there was something left for the blind man to do. Had he not done his part in being obedient, it is doubtful that the works of God would have been made manifest.

Practical Truths for Today

As we study this lesson, let us take special notice of faith and its connection with works. A deceptive doctrine being taught is that we are saved by faith alone, and works have no part in the plan of salvation. Faith has no saving power in itself or by itself. If faith, which is given as a measure to every man (Rom. 12:3), was able to save us, then all would be saved. Works have no saving quality of themselves. If it was so, then with enough works a man could work, labor, and toil his way into heaven.

Doctrinally speaking, faith and works are to be an integral part of each other. Works do not precede faith, nor do they follow faith, but they go hand in hand. “Works are the fuel of faith. Without works faith is immobile and stagnant. Faith is fueled by the works of repentance, confession, and restitution; by the works of temperance and simplicity; by the works of worship and obedience; by the works of generosity and kindness. Godly faith and godly works do not conspire to convince God of any human goodness. Rather, both come forth from a sense of deep unworthiness and the total inability to wrest from God any right to His grace and mercy.” 2 If we try to put works before or behind faith, deception is at the door. Occasionally the Scriptures refer to works following, such as in Revelation 14:13, but it is in the context of a record or witness, as in after death.

We are justified by faith in the atoning blood shed on Calvary. There is no other plan whereby humans can be saved. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). However, justifying faith produces the work of godly sorrow for sin, the work of repentance, and the work of surrendering completely and entirely to the sovereign God.

Within the realm of Christianity, too often a disconnect can develop between testimony and discipleship. This divide has a tendency to creep into the hearts of sincere men and women. Good intentions are only as good as the follow-through. If there is no obedience, our intentions lose their validity before God. In James 2:17 we read, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Our spiritual forefathers viewed faith in Calvary and cross bearing as one and the same.

Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Because it lacks the true essence of faith, there is a real danger in living a life of mere compliance. A believer living such a life can appear to have everything in order, but a motivating factor can be a proud heart. On the other hand, a believer who has searched the Word of God and found direction for Spirit-filled living has a heart of conviction. Gauging by the appearance of outward obedience, the lives of these two examples could appear quite similar, but one is doing the works of self, and the other is doing the works of God.

Every new-birth experience embodies a desire for obedience to Christ. Also included in every new birth is a desire to find others of like precious experience and faith. Those who have been newly born again rejoice in the joy of the burden of sin being gone. The heart is light and happy, but soon the tests of obedience will come. When these tests are met with faithful living, the peace of God remains, and there is strength for continued obedience. Obedience to the still, small Voice is working the works of God. Young men newly converted sometimes find it a challenge to allow their beard to grow. Obedience to God’s order brings a blessing. Disobedience to his order becomes a grace robber. So it is with young ladies who give their hearts to God. Obedience to God’s order on wearing the prayer covering brings a blessing, and they will also find that not wearing it in humility and submission will cause them to lose grace.

Working the works of God comes with a cost to the flesh. Our society is transitioning from God-fearing to a godless, humanistic society. This trend will only increase as time continues and we come closer to the end of time. The possibility of suffering for obedience to God seems more real with time. It will take a genuine commitment to continue steadfast in the apostle’s doctrine and to endure persecution that could come for our godly works.

The world and the prince of this world have only instant, temporal gratification to offer. When humankind does the work of the world, the instant gratification fades and is gone in a moment, and a hollow emptiness remains. Soon greater and bigger thrills are sought.

Jesus, in doing the works of his heavenly Father, suffered greatly. However, he looked beyond the suffering to the great joy of redeeming this fallen race from the clutches of Satan (Heb. 12:2). In Psalm 126:6 the psalmist said, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” In doing the works of Him who redeemed us, we often find ourselves weary and longing for rest. It is far from instant gratification. but there is joy that awaits those who have been faithful. While here on this earth, to help a sinner come to the saving knowledge of the gospel and to peace with God is already a real blessing. We look forward by faith to the words of our eternal Redeemer: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Illustration

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Heb. 11:7). Noah was warned of God, moved to obedience through godly fear and conviction, and spent one hundred twenty years building an ark by which he and his family were saved.

In the book of Luke the words of Jesus are recorded where He states, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Lot was warned by the heavenly visitors to flee the city of Sodom and, in fleeing, to not look back. Lot hesitated and bided for time. He was not easily persuaded, but finally as they lingered, the Lord was merciful to them and took them by the hand and led them out of the city, with instructions to not look back.

In these two illustrations we see a clear picture of working the works of God and the works of self. Noah and his family were saved from the flood as they endeavored to understand the voice and will of God. Noah had an abiding faith in God. He heard the voice of God, moved with fear and conviction, and he and his family were saved. Lot’s wife, on the other hand, was shallow and without real conviction. She did flee the city upon the insistence of the heavenly visitors but without real faith and conviction; it was merely complying and hardly that. Upon looking back, she was turned into a pillar of salt.

Questions

1. Is there a trend among us that is leading to a disconnect between testimony and discipleship?
2. Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me” (John 9:4). How do we find the same conviction that we must be about the Father’s business?
3. Does God bear with our lethargy? How long can we be lethargic and remain a child of God?
4. 1 Adam Clarke’s Bible Commentary
5. 2 Wilbur Koehn, 102 Devotional Sermonettes, pp. 208-209
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).