johnp. said:
You are right, that makes no sense and I did not say that. I said this: JN 6:29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
I have not said the faith of God at all. The work of God is what? To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and that is a work. If you have trouble with that you are having trouble with scripture not me.
john.
Here is a word for word literal translation of the verse: "Answered Jesus and said to them: This is the work of the of God, that you believe in whom sent that one."
The Jews ask the question, "What may we do to do the work of God?"
I believe in the normal literal way of understanding language. This is my approach to Scripture. To take the position that this dialogue with the Jews is a proof text to force the definition on the word faith that "faith" theologically means working for one's salvation is just simply not (1) factual and (2) a violation of common sense understanding when reading the context and background of the passage.
In these verses the word work is better to be synonymously used in place of the word plan. What is the work of God? What is the plan of God? God's plan is his work and God's work is his plan?
God is the creator. He can create and operate his plan as He decides and He has. So His plan is His work. This is the work of God. What is? That you believe.
The structure of the language in no way makes faith a work. Jesus tells the Jews that the work of God is for them to believe. He knows their heart. Jesus goes on to say in the preceding verses His purpose.
The Jews still did not understand. Notice that the Jews come back with the off base statement that they want to see a miracle to prove that Jesus is from God. God's will is God's work. God's will in God's plan. God's plan is God's work - His doing. Not man's.
To me it is another classical error that is made in forcing meaning onto a word that is not there.
Notice that the Jews asking Jesus these question still don't get it. Their mind set is on works and their heart is set in that direction. The idea of surrender of their will to God's will is not present in their desires. To rely on God's work and forsake their work by believing does not meet their understanding and motives.
Their motives are not pure or correct. They have as their fixed understanding that to do the work of God they have to do something of themselves but Jesus re-directs their thing and points them to "faith" or "believing". God's plan, method, work, way etc.
Notice verse 40 in the continuing discourse with these who just don’t get it. Also notice that the term "will" has not take the place of the work "work". What is the will of God or What is the work of God, or we could say what is the plan of God. The plan is that the ones beholding or believing are the ones that God has given to Jesus. All who believe are the ones God gives to Jesus and Jesus will not lose any of them.
Salvation is God's work. Jesus/God did the dying for our sin and we can not work for it we must simply believe or have faith in the work of God or the plan of God or the will of God which is for us to believe.
When we believe we have done the work of God, not our work. Faith is not work but believing is the plan/work/will by which we are saved. It is God's method.
It is as simple as saying or stating it this way:
How do I get to God? My way or work or God's way or work. The Jews asking the question saw getting to God was by the means of what they did but Jesus clearly tells them it is not their plan but God's - you must believe. Do it God's way or the highway so to speak.
Faith in Jesus by us is the work of God but faith is not works, or working for salvation. There is a big difference. You want to be saved do the work of God - how trust in Him don't try to enter any other way because that is your way, your plan, your doing, your work. You can not get in by your method - only mine - and that is "faith".
God says to everyone, my work for you is that you trust, believe, have faith.