This is the work of God

 

John 6:20  But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

21  Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

22   The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

23  (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24  When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping,

25  And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

28   Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

 

 

 

Introduction:

Joh 20:31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

I Thess 2:13   For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

 

Believing that God can save you without a single bit of your goodness is hard to believe.

 

But what is harder to believe is that God can save others you may know without a single bit of their goodness.

 

And harder still to believe is that God can keep you save without your goodness and others as well.

Jude 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

I.  Salvation depends on who you believe

Ro 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

II.  Your Faith, God’s Grace

Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

III. Believing that God can do his miraculous work in and through you

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

IV.  Believing and depending on the work of God in our lives gives us assurance of our salvation

Ro 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

V.  Believing that there is a Heaven awaiting us gives us a peace and joy

John 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

VI.  Believing there is a hell gives us a warning and conviction to seek the salvation of the lost.

Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Conclusion: Our greatest work is believing in God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible. And our greatest defeat is unbelief.

Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief