WORK OR WORKS

WORK OR WORKS

 

We find this word "work" quite often in the Bible, sometimes in the singular and often in the plural form. It can be used both in a positive or a negative sense, like a lot of other words. We want to look at a few samples of both. First we will look at (Heb 6:1) where we see the phrase "repentance from dead works and faith toward God". Today we hear a lot about the word "faith", but very little about "repentance", and I think this could open the door to a lot of wrong doctrine to come into certain parts of the "church". It would appear that these words repentance and faith should always go together. In (2 Peter 3:9) we read that God "is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance". On the Day of Pentecost this same Peter said "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". (Acts 2:38). Many other scriptures mention "dead works", and our need to repent from them, for example in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, we see John used it in his letters to most of the churches that Jesus told him to write to.

 

But this word is used in lots of time in a positive way, for example in

(Gen 2:2) we read "And on the seventh day God ended the work which He had done". And in (Ps 102:25) "The heavens are the work of Your hands".

Then in (John 17:4) where we read the real Lord's prayer to His Father just before going to the cross, "I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work which You have given Me to do". And of course from the cross Jesus cried out with His last breath "It is finished", referring to the work of redemption which only He could do for us! Then in various scripture passages we read about the work He expects us as His followers today, to complete for Him. For example in (Matt 28:18-20) "And Jesus came to them and said all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Sprit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen". This last commandment given to His original followers, would naturally apply to those of us today over 20 centuries later who claim to be followers of Jesus! Are we doing it? And if so, where and how are we doing it, is my parting question!!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                             16/05/12                                                          

THE CATCHER

THE CATCHER

 

This was the title of an article in Our Daily Bread this morning by Joe Stowell, one of my favorite authors, He tells of hearing a pastor at a funeral who had told about a trapeze artist who told about always having another person prepared to grab him from another trapeze bar in case he should miss his grip, and start to fall, this teammate could grab him and prevent him from falling to his death. They referred to this man as "The Catcher", and the pastor compared this man to the role of Jesus, and used the common scripture of (John 14:1-3) as his text. This scripture is often used at funerals to bring comfort to the family members. The Greek word that is sometimes translated as "mansions" in verse 2 is translated as "abode" or sometimes as "home" in verse 23 of the same chapter. Paul,  "the apostle to the Gentiles", when he wrote his letter to the church he had started in Ephesus, used this very same Greek word in (Eph 2:22), where it is translated as "dwelling" in the NLT version, or "abode" or "home" in others. Paul here is clearly referring to the "Church" that Jesus has been in the process of building for the past 2000 years.

 

This confusion that was caused by using "mansion" in this one instance has caused most people to believe Jesus is up in heaven building their idea of a personal luxury home for every "Christian". When it is very clear that this word refers to "His Church" that He is building, with the help of the Holy Spirit here on earth, that will be transported from heaven to earth someday. (Rev 21:1-3) The Holy Spirit was sent to earth to replace Jesus when He returned to the Father, after He had completed the work of "redemption". Now He is awaiting the Father's permission to return to earth at the proper time to receive His "Church/Bride", that is being prepared here on earth now. This true Church is composed of all "born again" sinners from every tribe, nation, and race, who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and been "adopted" by the Father into His Forever Family! So this title used by Joe in this short article, can indeed be used for Jesus in His role of "Savior", or as "The Catcher" to save His people from their sin. That makes me think of an old hymn called "He Hideth My Soul", and the first verse states "A Wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, a wonderful Savior to me". I remember one time in the hospital a few years ago when I was waiting for a transfusion after losing a lot of blood, early in the morning about 3:00 AM, and the enemy thought he had me, those words revived me!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                                 14/03/12