Dear Lighthouse,

            Jesus says something very interesting in John 6:29.  In the Church at large there is often a debate about what saves the believer- works or faith.  In other words, is it what you do or what you believe that is the most important.  In John, Jesus links the two by saying, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”  There, in a nutshell, Jesus ends the debate by calling belief, or faith if you will, a work.  One could say that it is the disciple’s “job” to believe in the Christ.  But isn’t that sort of absurd unless one first “believes” there is a Christ to follow?  So, you see, faith and works go hand in hand.  You literally cannot have one without the other.  (James 1&2, see below)

            So what does “save” the believer in Christ?  Consider Paul’s statement in Ephesians, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:8-10)

            If we dissect the passage we find the answer to many of these debated issues.  The believer is saved by GRACE.  Now, grace is called grace because it is freely given by one who has the authority (or ownership) to give it.  God gives us a “pass” on the pre-determined punishment for sin.  He remembers our sin no more and does not hold it against us.  He does this because of the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf.  Therefore we can approach God in an intimate, loving relationship – like a father with a child – and be nurtured and supported by Him.

            So what is the role of FAITH?  Let’s look: we are saved through faith.  This implies that we, first of all, believe in Him.  Believe what?  We believe that He has the authority to pardon sin, as well as the position to demand justification for sin in the first place.  In simple terms, He’s God and if He says sin is bad, it’s bad.  This faith also implies that we believe Jesus is the one who is able to take away our sin and that He did just that by His sacrifice on the cross 2000 years ago – once for all.  (Heb.  )

            But remember, FAITH is only half the story.  Even Jesus calls believing in God a work.  Then consider James’ statement in James 2:26, “As a body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”  This is an oft quoted passage, but to get the full context you really need to read the preceding two chapters in full.  Basically, in James’ day, the same argument went on.  Which is more important, faith or works?  James agrees with Jesus in saying they are inseparable.  Faith and works are two sides of the same coin.  If you have one, you must have the other. 

            So, what, then, is the role of WORKS (or deeds in some Bible versions)?  If we are saved by GRACE through FAITH what place do WORKS have in a Christian’s life?  Again, we dissect the last part of Paul’s statement to the church at Ephesus: we are created in Him to do good works.  Once the work of faith has brought us into a saving relationship with God then we become ready for His service.  When we are saved we become tools in God’s mighty hand.  Our mission should be clear – we are to do good works.  One might ask, what is our motivation?  Do we do good works to earn favor with God?  No, we do good works because we have already received the favor of God in the form of the grace given us because we believed (had faith) in Him and trusted Him in our salvation.  Since we have received the gift of grace we should be well motivated to do good works for Him who saved us from ourselves.

            Let me close by pointing to the rest of the chapter that follows Jesus statement in John 6.  What follows is one of the stiffest challenges issued by Christ.  He first says, “I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)  He then tells His Jewish listeners that they must eat from Him – literally He says they must eat His flesh and drink His blood to be saved.  This was a shocking and offensive imagery to the listeners.  They were struggling to understand.  “This is a hard teaching.  Who can accept it?”  (John 6:60)  He later explains that what He had been saying was to be taken in a spiritual sense.  We do not literally feed off of His flesh, but we must feed from the ‘bread of life’, that is Jesus, in order to be in Him and remain in Him.  In this spiritual context (which is graphically represented during communion) we can understand His statement, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”  (John 6:56)

            I think Jesus was trying to make His point without any questions.  We are saved by Him.  To put your faith in Christ requires effort and trust and obedience.  It also requires that you accept Jesus lock, stock, and barrel.  He must become your Lord and your Savior simultaneously. 

For once you accept Jesus you are in Him to remain in Him.  His words are to transform your life inside and out.  You should become a new creature, with new thoughts, and new habits. (II Cor. 5:17)  If you are not different from the world, as a result of Jesus living in you, then you need to re-examine your FAITH, your WORKS, and decide what GRACE means to you.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to god – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  (Rom. 12:1-2)

            I challenge and encourage you this week to read John 6 and James 1-2 and Romans 12.  Meditate on these passages and let them transform your thinking on the Son of the Living God – Jesus.

Serving Him with you,

Evan