THE WORK OF GOD IS FAITH

TODAY’S PASSAGE: 

John 6:28-34 (NLT) – 28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” 29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” 30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

• The Jews were thinking about “how to perform “ the miracles they just witnessed from Jesus. They thought that by performing more good deeds or works that they could earn favor from God to do these miracles.

• They asked about WORKS(Plural)

• Jesus Responded with one WORK (Singular) (verse 28)

• It wasn’t about performing Many Works but focusing on One Simple Work: To Believe in Jesus! (Verse 29)

• Jesus commanded them NOT TO DO, BUT TO TRUST

• Definition of Believe: trust, faith and surrender

• Believing in God leads to trusting in God, trusting in God leads to surrendering to God, when we surrender to God, our actions are now led by God

• This One act of Belief Produces a Life accompanied by Good Works.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

• The people wanted to see another miracle and they wanted to be fed, they completely overlooked the most important thing: SALVATION (Verse 30-31)

• Signs are acts of God that, like a signpost, guide men toward God.

• The Signs were meant to get their attention, but their hearts were simply not in the right place. They wanted more Signs; Jesus wanted their Surrender.

• They placed a higher value on what they could receive on earth instead of what they could receive in the afterlife.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

• The people accredited Moses for the supply of bread to their ancestors. However, it was God meeting their natural needs then, and God meeting their spiritual needs now. (Verse 31)

• The people wanted physical bred that would meet their physical needs, but Jesus was offering Himself to them – as the “True Bred from Heaven” (Verse 32)

• They wanted food to feed their body, but Jesus wanted to feed their soul.

“Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NLT

• “Bread” symbolizes the nourishment and sustenance that Jesus provides to those who believe in him.

• Receiving the bread of life means accepting Jesus as the one sent from God the Father. Jesus says that those who believe in him will have eternal life.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NL