… created in Christ Jesus to do good works …
Summary: Today’s passage is an opportunity to explain why I write about God’s Word here at ThreeMinuteBible.com and explore what Paul means by doing “good works” for Jesus.
Have you ever wondered why I write this blog? How I came to write it is a long story, but why I continue to write it is not. I write to explore God’s Word through a child’s eyes.
Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Sadly, people either fail to listen to what Jesus says or don’t understand what he is telling us. As Peter explains in his first letter, Jesus is “The stone the builders rejected,” and “A stone that causes people to stumble.” (1 Peter 2: 7, 8)
Early in my life, I stumbled over this “stone” called Jesus. Then I started seeking answers about the “rock” (Psalm 18:2) I kept tripping over. What I discovered is that a lot of other people had stumbled over this rock, too. In their efforts to explain what the “rock” means, they caused me to stumble some more.
Anytime someone “adds” to God’s Word, I am suspicious. Over the centuries since Jesus walked the earth, many smart people have stumbled over the stumbling stone and tried to remake the Scriptures in their own image. So I write, and as I write, I try very hard to come to God’s Word with a fresh perspective. Hopefully, I come with the eyes of a child.
Take today’s passage for example. Hundreds, if not thousands of books have been written over the centuries to explain what “good works” are or are not. Perhaps you have something in mind when you hear these two words. In Martin Luther’s day, the Catholic Church stumbled and was selling God’s Grace in exchange for money1. This eventually led Luther to state his thesis on faith and works2.
Luther was struggling to understand the stumbling stone. He was trying to wrestle his mind free of the common thinking of his day. Everything he had been taught about God argued against salvation by faith alone, but Romans 1:17 stared at him in the face and argued the opposite. The problem with arguing about God’s Word is that we each have our personal perspective. So the reason I blog on the Bible is to try and explore it without looking through someone else’s worldview. Instead, I ask, “What does the Bible say about itself?”
What does the Bible say about us? First, mankind was created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). We were created to be in a relationship with God. Then Adam and Eve rebelled, condemning us all to be born in sin, meaning spiritually separated from God our Father. Then Jesus came along and explained that we need to be “born again.” (John 3:3-7) This is the part I think Paul is talking about when he says we are “created in Christ Jesus.”
And what are the “good works” Paul mentions?
Three things come to mind:
First is the Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22: 37). Jesus explains we are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Secondly, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22: 39). (The meaning of this is a life-long study in itself!)
Third, as an outgrowth of our love for the Father and our love for our neighbors, we are to share the good news about life in Christ with others (Matthew 28: 16-20). Paul calls this work our mission to “advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12). This work is not measured by how many people believe the Word of God but by how many people have heard the Word of God.
Application: Do the work God has put before you.
Food for Thought: What happens when we measure our works for God by how many people believe in God rather than how many people have heard the Good News?
1 https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/luther_martin/theses/95theses.cfm
2 https://lutherantheology.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/a-brief-introduction-to-faith-works/
To answer the question, I believe we lose sight of Christ working through us.
After reading todays devotion I visualized in my mind two hands, one holding an abacas, the other sliding stones over. In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus said “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
God works through Christ, and Christ works through us. He sends His Holy Spirit to guide us. His work is not accomplished because of us.
Jesus also told us in John 4:36-38 “Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
In our daily interactions, if we live a life in Christ that is something different and righteous beyond what is seen in the world, share our testimony of how God has redeemed our life and His Good News, we still may not be the one leads our brothers and sisters to Christ. We give what he have: the Word and the Word in action. God chooses the time and place for the harvest. Both the faithful sower and faithful harvester will receive the reward for their obedience.
Chris,
I like your train of thought. Who is doing the counting? Is it us, or is that God’s job? And if that is not our job, what is it? To do God’s will — Love God above all else and our neighbor as ourselves. Along the way God uses us to sow seed, water, and reap. The garden is so large that we may never see the same place twice, but we do not work alone.
“My comments line up with what has been said by both you and Chris. ”
04-10-2023, What happens when we measure our works for God by how many people believe in God rather than how many people have heard the Good News?
Does a saw count the number of boards being cut or a hammer the number of nails in a board? No, a tool is not equipped to count. A tool serves the purpose it is designed to when it is empowered by the strength and skill or the one using it.
Christians around the world are in fact, the body of Christ. Each of us has repented, turned from our sins and are seeking LIFE in submission to our Gods will over our own. We are to spend our lives being given specific gifts, from the Holy Spirit as we are shaped, equipped specifically as tools for the task(s) our creator has predetermined for each.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.
Colossians 3:15, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Also See: 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, Ephesians 4:15-16
Our works are the works of Christ in each of us as we submit to Gods will and allow Him to speak, act through us in the power of the Holy Spirit. In His foreknowledge, He already knows the number and name of each!
Thanks Ron!
I wish I could say I “saw” your illustration coming. That said, I think you “nailed” it.
🙂
I think this is a great time to appreciate pastors because they not only tell the good news but also help new believers in the hard work of mentoring. Then caring for ever wandering sheep, old and young, encouraging, teaching, praying the list goes on ! There is so much they do to keep the flock healthy. To leave 99 sheep behind to go after one has to be a fearful task. When Moses left the Israelites for a short while on the mountain to meet with God to write the Ten Commandments , look at what happened! Hurray to all pastors and the support team. Jesus saves but that is just the beginning of a lifelong process .
Thank you, TJR!
You make a great point. Pastors are called to an amazing work.