FAITH is defined as knowing that God means every Word He had recorded and preserved for those who choose to be His servants.  LIGHT is His Word/Truth that His servants manifest in their daily lives–lives that are different from the lives lived by those of the world who choose to serve Satan.  WORKS refers to the saint’s obedient acts, thoughts and words in concert with God’s Word/light.  This posting will conclude the WORKS segment of the series.  I emphasize the importance of works because without obedience to God’s Word, great faith and great knowledge of His light are useless.

Biblically, to “WORK,” to “KEEP” and to “DO” all mean the same thing–to “OBEY” the Words of the Lord Jesus, which He calls His “commandments.”  His Very Elect obey them as proof of their love for Him, which is commanded by Him in John 12:15,23.  Note carefully the exact wording of His statements: “IF you LOVE ME you will KEEP (OBEY/WORK/DO) MY COMMANDMENTS” (vs 15).  “IF a man LOVES ME, he will KEEP MY WORDS” (vs 23).  Note that “commandments” and “Words” are one in the same.  Note also that IF one obeys His COMMANDMENTS/WORDS, THEN God and Christ will make their abode within him (in the form of Their Holy Spirit).   To KEEP His Words/commandments means to OBEY them.  With this in mind, let us turn to John 8:31 where Jesus provides some vital “fine print” relative to the obedience/keeping/working/doing issue.  This all-important passage asks and answers the all-important question each of us must ask himself: WHO IS MY GOD?

In verses 31 and 32 Jesus is speaking to a group of Jews who, after listening to Him speak, “believed in Him” (vs 30)–they wanted to be His disciples (followers).  “IF you CONTINUE IN (obey/work/do/keep) My Word, THEN (and only then) you are My disciples INDEED.”  Note that simply believing was not enough for them to become His disciples indeed.  They had to “continue in” His Word to prove that they were INDEED (for sure) His disciples, THEN they would KNOW THE TRUTH (God’s Word–Jn. 17:17) and be free from Satan’s lies.  See the Introduction to this website for a short list of some of Satan’s lies that the church has embraced.  Jesus called Satan “the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44).

In verse 34 and 35 Jesus speaks about being a servant (disciple) to one’s God, saying: “… whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.”  God defines sin in 1 John 3:4 thusly: “To transgress (break) the Law (commandments/Word/gospel/Truth/light) is sin; for sin is the transgression of the Law.”  In James 1:22 we are told that we must be DOERS OF THE LAW, and not merely hearers of it, thereby “deceiving ourselves.”  Once justified (have all PAST sins forgiven) we must obey the Law in order to remain justified (Rom. 2:13) and receive salvation upon the return of Christ.  Read Hope and Salvation.  Key word–Hope.  If we continue to break the Law following justification, we accumulate (“treasure up”) our sins until the day of God’s wrath (judgment)–Rom. 2:5.

In verses 37, 39 the Jews who “believed in Him” point out to Jesus that they are the biological descendants of Abraham, calling him their “father.”  Jesus refutes their statement, pointing out that they did not do the “WORKS of Abraham”–obedience to God’s commands.  Then in verse 37,38,41,44,47 He hits them hard with the Truth: “You DO THE DEEDS of your (spiritual) FATHER ….  Your father is THE DEVIL ….  He that is of God hears (believes and does) God’s Words.  You do not hear them because YOU ARE NOT OF GOD.” He told them that His Words HAD NO PLACE IN THEM.  But didn’t they BELIEVED IN HIM (30,31)?  Was not faith in Jesus enough to make then His disciples?  How could this be?

These people believed that He was sent by God and spoke His Truth as Nicodemus, speaking for the Pharisees, proclaimed in John 3:1,2: “Rabbi, we (Pharisees) KNOW that You are a teacher sent by God, for no man can do these miracles that You do except God sent him.”  The Jews talking with Jesus in chapter 8 also believed in Him, meaning that they believed that He was a TEACHER SENT BY GOD TO TEACH THEM HIS TRUTH.  However, they would later have Him killed.  Why?  BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LIKE THE TRUTH HE TAUGHT THEM.  Nothing has changed.

Today billions of people “believe in Jesus,” believe in who He is, what He did, etc.  These people have “accepted Him as their Savior,” talk about Him, quote Him, preach about Him, read His Words, etc.  But like their ancient counterparts, they reject His message, specifically the “fine print.”  These are “headline” hunters who readily embrace Truths such as “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ….,” and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved,” but refuse to believe His instructions relative to receiving salvation–the “fine print.”  Only those who believe and obey His Words are His disciples INDEED.  These are they who DO (KEEP) His WORDS/COMMANDMENTS BY OBEYING THEM.  A “great gulf” separates the “believers” from the “doers.”  Only the “doers” will sit with Jesus on His throne in the Kingdom of God” (Rev. 3:21).

The message, straight from the lips of Jesus Christ, is that Satan is the spiritual father of anyone who refuses to believe and obey God’s Word.  This ministry is dedicated to revealing that Scripturally-proven fact to those who call themselves “Christians” but refuse to obey Christ.  As Paul tells us in Romans 2:5, such religionists are storing up their sins until the “day of God’s wrath” when His wrath will fall upon them.  As to the question: WHO IS MY GOD?  There are only two choices: the God of the Holy Scriptures or the god of this world.  One’s choice is determined by whom whom one obeys/serves.  In Romans 6:16 Paul makes this abundantly clear: “Do you not know that the one you yield to and obey is the one you serve.”  Paul went on to say that we EITHER obey one (God) unto righteousness (and life) OR obey the other (Satan) unto sin (and death).  As Jesus told the Laodiceans (ancient spiritual ancestors of the modern day church), one cannot be hot and cold (a “saved sinner”).  If one tries to straddle that spiritual fence one will be rejected by God (Rev. 3:14-22).  Amazingly, these will come before Him on Judgment Day believing that they are on their way to heaven.  Jesus warns them in Matthew 7:21-23 that they will call Him their Lord and remind Him of all the wonderful works they had done in His name.  He will say to them, “I never knew you, depart from Me you who work (do/commit) iniquity”–Lawlessness.”  They will have memorized the “headlines” but rejected the “fine print.”  L.J.