Monday, June 8, 2009

Ergon....Works

I am going to piggy back of my last post on Thursday. We talked about John 14:12 where it says; "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works that these he will do, because I got to My Father."

This translation for works in Greek text is Ergon and is referenced three times in the New Testament. Let's find them today, Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." We find it also in James 2:14, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?"

I want to convince you of a few things today. You need to know that you have a purpose in your life. You have been shaped for something and Jesus said you would do greater works that he did. You are going to do greater things that Jesus did if you can only believe and get into His will.

WOW!!!

Come on people that should excite you and motivate you to start using your gifts and get into the fullness that God has for you.

I want to challenge you today to step and do something you would not normally do, reach out to someone you have not in the past, purchase the persons lunch behind you in the drive through lane, but do something different.

5 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles.

The Glovers said...

"You are going to do greater things that Jesus did if you can only believe and get into His will."

Can you elaborate? How can we do greater things than Jesus? Can you define "works" in this context. What works of Jesus do you think Jesus had in mind when he said this and how does the phrase "because I got to my Father" play into the explanation?

Lastly, what relationship do the very useful and practical things you mentioned in your last paragraph have to this statement? They do not seem to be reflective of anything greater than the works of Jesus as recorded in the Scriptures.

Not trying to be pesky, just looking for abit more meat behind this one. It peaked my interest. Hope my challenges will be useful in sharpening your views. I look forward to a future reply.

Brad said...

Thanks for the challenge Jason.

These works depended on Jesus going to the Father, because they are works done in the strength of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus would send from the Father(vs 16-17, and 15:26).

Works defined in this text are by implication an act, deed, doing, labor.

Lastly in the last paragraph, I always want to challenge the readers with something that God has been putting on my heart and ususally try to share at the end.

The Glovers said...

Thanks.

I only pushed the subject because I have heard some heretical statements on this verse in the past which argue that "latter day apostles and prophets" will do greater signs and miracles than Jesus ever did (see raising the dead, healing the sick, and feeding the masses). They go on to say that this "new age of miracles" will transform the world and set up a Christian society ready for the King's return.

I didn't get that impression from your post, but it was hard to tell from the brevity. If I understand your follow-up comment correctly, you are saying that the works mentioned are like the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and that Jesus was speaking in the context of the whole chapter here, telling his disciples that when he left this earth, the Spirit would come and enable them to begin being sanctified thru his power...on account of Christ's death, ressurection, and acension.

Is that what you have in mind? That is how I read the passage.

I appreciate the personal and practical closing paragraphs you usually end with. It is always a struggle of my personality to bring the theological concepts of Scripture into daily habits. Thanks.

Brad said...

Definitly the Spirit enabling them to begin being sanctified through His power. Well said my friend. Thanks for the comments!