Written by Dave Coffield
It is obvious as you follow my letters that I am focused on the relationship we have with God by grace as opposed to a focus on works or fruit. However, I suspect that works will continue to be a strong emphasis of the body of Christ from what I have experienced.
My philosophy of ministry is found in John 14:12. Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to the Father.”
The word for “believes” could easily be translated “the one believing”. It is speaking of a connected, abiding, ongoing relationship. It is impossible not to do the works of Jesus if you have a believing, connected, abiding, and ongoing relationship with Jesus.
There is some debate about the works of Jesus. Simply, He did what the Father gave Him to do. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” The good works are a consequence or the fruit of our relationship with Jesus. God gets to determine what they look like, when they are produced.
My first concern with my own life and with any believer’s life is whether they have a connected, believing, growing, abiding relationship with Jesus.
You can be involved in activities without bearing fruit. Jesus continues with this theme in John 14. “He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” It concerns me when our focus is on Christians “bearing” fruit, doing good works, and not on abiding.
Every day when I drive onto Ft. Liberty I ask the Lord that He would lead me in the good works which He has prepared beforehand for me to walk in. But He gets to determine what those good works look like, when they are produced. I suspect that much of what God does through us He does in a way that isn’t obvious to us so that we won’t become proud and take the credit.
May God give us the grace to abide in Him and believe in Him.
Your brother,
David
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