Christian works are the acts of Jesus dwelling in us.

• John 5:36; Hebrews 13:8
  John 5:36 "But I have greater witness than that of John, for the works which the Father has given me to finish, those same works that I do, these bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me."
  Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and for ever."
  (I have selected these two verses to begin this subject in order to show that a reason for the works done by Jesus Christ is to be a witness to the observer that he is sent by the Father; that is, he is the Messiah, and his works prove it.
  Also, Jesus Christ is the same today as he was then, and will remain the same forever. He still does works today, and the works are for the same reason. The works show the seeker that Jesus is the Messiah, sent for his salvation. The works show where Jesus is, and who his people are. That is because he now works in an through his present day flesh and blood, his church.)
• John 6:28-29 "Then they said to him, 'What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?' [29] Jesus answered and told them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent.'"
  (This is a conversation between Jesus and some people that he had miraculously fed the previous day. He had caused a few loaves of bread and a few fish to feed about 5000 people, with more left over than they had started with. They had seen God do a work of power, and wondered how they could become empowered to do the same kind of miracles. Jesus told them that the work of God is for a purpose. That purpose is to allow them to believe on the doer of the work. Where the works of God are done, Jesus is always present. )
• John 9:1-41 "And as Jesus passed by he saw a man who was blind from his birth, [2] and his disciples asked him, 'Master, who sinned, this man or his parents, that caused him to be born blind?' [3] Jesus answered, 'Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents. This is so that the works of God should be made manifest in him. [4] I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day. The night comes when no man can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.'"
  (Note: Jesus is preparing here to teach his disciples an object lesson in using the works of God as a witness.)
  [6] "And when he had said this, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, [7] and he said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, "Sent.") He went his way, and washed, and came away seeing."
  (Jesus does the work of power, and now the work will have its results and bear fruit.)
  [8] "The neighbors, and others that had seen him before and knew that he was blind, said, 'Isn't this the same one that sat and begged?' [9] Some said, 'This is him.' Others said, 'He just looks like him.' But he said, 'I am he.' [10] So they asked him, 'How were your eyes opened?' [11] He answered them and said, 'A man that is called "Jesus" made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight.' [12] Then they said to him, 'Where is he?' And he replied, 'I don't know.' [13] They took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. [14] And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes."
  (By making clay and healing a man, Jesus had broken the law against doing work on the Sabbath, as far as the Pharisees were concerned. Jesus was setting up a confrontation with the Pharisees.)
  [15] "Then the Pharisees asked him again how he had received his sight. He told them, 'He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I do see.' [16] Therefore some of the Pharisees said, 'This man is not of God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath day.' Others said, 'How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles?' And there was division among them."
  (Jesus had forced the issue by doing the miracle. The Pharisees would now have to accept the hard facts, or reject them. This is a choice all people must make when confronted by Christ's works.)
  [17] "They said to the blind man again, 'What do you say of him that opened your eyes?' He replied, 'He is a prophet.' [18] But the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and that he had received sight, until they call in his parents.
  (The Pharisees are now being backed into a corner, and must consider the evidence that God has indeed worked a miracle through Jesus. Still incredulous, they now know their only way out is to show that the healing was a fraud.)
  [19] And they asked them, 'Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see? [20] His parents answered them, 'We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind, [21] but by what means he now sees, we don't know, nor do we know who has opened his eyes. He is of age, ask him. He shall speak for himself.' [22] His parents spoke these words because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had decided already that if anyone should confess that he was Christ, they would be put out of the synagogue. [23] It was for this reason his parents said, 'He is of age, ask him.' [24] They called again the man that had been blind, and said to him, 'Give God the praise, we know that this man is a sinner.' [25] He answered and said, 'Whether he is a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.' [26] Then they asked him again, 'What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?' [27] He answered them, 'I've told you already, and you did not hear. Why do you want to hear it again? Will you also become his disciples?'"
  (At this point, God is still offering an opportunity to the Pharisees to respond to the proof of his Messiahship. This time the challenge is direct and to the point.)
  [28] "Then they reviled him, and said, 'You are his disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. [29] We know that God spoke to Moses, we don't know where this person has come from.' [30] The man answered and said to them, 'Why, here is a marvelous thing, that you don't know where he is from, and yet he has opened my eyes! [31] Now we know that God doesn't hear sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God, and does his will, him he hears. [32] Since the world began it has not been heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. [33] If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.'"
  (The Pharisees were well aware of these things already. They had no need to be told them. They were very knowledgeable of the scriptures, and proud of their zealousness for the law. To be told these basic things by a common man was undoubtedly a terrible blow to their egos. They were "playing dumb" concerning Jesus, and it was obvious. )
  [34] "They replied to him, 'You were born completely in sins - do you teach us?' And they cast him out."
  (Their posturing was irrational and unreasonable, and they had been exposed. All they could do to attempt to save face was to point out who was supposed to be the spiritual leader and teacher, and who was supposed to be the one doing the listening. Their sin of unbelief had been laid bare. At this point, they could have repented and accepted Christ as the Messiah, but they chose to attempt to preserve their leadership positions rather than submit to Jesus as their Lord.)
  [35] Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when he found him he asked him, 'Do you believe on the Son of God?' [36] He answered and said, 'Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?'"
  (Up until now, the man could only be sure that Jesus was from God, so he assumed him to be a prophet. He was still not aware of the full impact of what had just occurred.)
  [37] Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him, and it is he that talks with you.' [38] And he said, 'Lord, I believe!' And he worshipped him.
  (The work has now born its result: Jesus is revealed as Messiah to all by the work of power that he performed, and some choose to remain in unbelief, while others believe. This is the way Jesus still works, and it will always be the way he works.)
  [39] And Jesus said, 'For judgment I am come into this world, so that they who don't see might see, and that they which see might be made blind.' [40] And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and asked him, 'Are we blind, also?' [41] Jesus replied, 'If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you say, "We see." Therefore, your sin remains.'"
  (This is an example of how it works. Jesus often gives the choice to people as to whether or not they will believe on him. As in this example, belief becomes a choice when someone sees Jesus doing the works of God. The church today is his body, and Jesus has always intended to do the works of God through the Spirit empowered church.)
• John 10:24-26; 37-38 "Then came the Jews around him, and said to him, 'How long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.' [25] Jesus answered, 'I told you, and you did not believe. The works that I do in my father's name, they bear witness of me. [26] But you don't believe, because you are not of my sheep, like I told you....[37] If I don't do the works of my Father, then don't believe me, [38] but if I do, even though you don't believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him.'"
  (Anyone can claim to be anything . They asked Jesus to declare, in so many words, that he was the Messiah, the Christ. This could have been used as a charge of blasphemy against him, so he avoided declaring his Messiahship. He instead showed people who he was, rather than telling them. The witness of the works could not be denied. He told them that even if they could not accept a thing he said, then they were to consider the works that he did, and know that they bore witness of his Messiahship.
  The church must do more than just preach by words alone. We should be asking why we cannot do these works, and even greater ones. Is it because that, even though Christ in Spirit is one, his present flesh and blood, his physical body, the church, is wounded and torn?)
• John 14:6-20 "Jesus said to them (his disciples), 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. [7] I you had known me, you should have known my Father also. And from now on you know him, and have seen him.' [8] Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it will be sufficient for us.' [9] Jeus said to him, 'Have I been such a long time with you, and you have not know me, Philip? He that has seen me has seen the Father, so why do you say, "Show us the Father"? [10] Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works. [11] Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake. [12] Very truly I tell you, He that believes on me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these he shall do, because I go to my Father.'"
  (Jesus was preparing his disciples for the receiving of power. Jesus would leave, physically, but return in the full power of God through the Holy Spirit to the church, which he was in the process of founding.)
  [13] "'And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.'"
  (Every miracle that is performed in his name by his people points to the Father being glorified in the Son. It is the identifying proof to the unbeliever that the Son, Jesus, has the power of God the Father at his disposal, and will use it when and wherever he wills, to do the work of the one and only true God. It is the witness that Jesus, the Son, is the Messiah, sent from God.)
  [15] "'If you love me, keep my commandments (Jesus had just given them his "new" commandment: Love one another. This is recorded in John 13:34, a few verses previous to this account.), [16] and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever, [17] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him, neither does it know him, but you know him, for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. [18] I will not leave you orphaned ("orphaned" is the word in the original language, rather than "comfortless" as in the KJV). I will come to you. [19] Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more, but you see me. Because I live, you shall live also. [20] In that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. [21] He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me. And he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.'"
  (Jesus promised that he would return to us, and be in us, and do the works of the Father in us and through us, even greater works than he had done before . He said that if we will kept his commandments of love, he will love us and manifest himself to us. He did return to the disciples, who became his apostles, and also to the ancient church, to teach them and work miracles through them. The promise still stands.
  Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow, just like Paul wrote in Hebrews 13:8, (quoted above.) If there is a lack of these things in the church today, then it is not because God has forgotten what he said, it is because we have.)
• John 15:7-8 "'If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. [8] In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit. So shall you be my disciples.'"
  (We are to glorify the Father by Christ dwelling in us, and his words abiding in us, and bearing much fruit. We are to ask what we will, and it shall be done for us. That is how we are to be his disciples.
  I would like to clarify a point here, also. Manifestations of God's presence through visible and mutually tangible miracles are not the only witness that God gives of his presence. There are miracles within each of us that continually assure us of his presence in us. Our changed lives and the working of his love in and through us serve as a powerful witness to others that we are his children.
  But there has been a dearth of the evidence that challenges the unbeliever, the kind of unrebuttable evidence that Jesus gave mankind when he first worked in the hearts and through the hands of the early church. I believe that this openly and magnificently manifested kind of work is still not only possible, but certain to come, if we will allow him to heal our great spiritual wounds, and make us whole again. )
• Colossians 1:29 "...I also labor, striving according to his (Christ's) mighty working, which works in me mightily."
  (The apostle Paul attributed his spiritual accomplishments to Christ working mightily in him.)
• Galatians 2:8 "For he that worked effectually in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcision (the Jews), the same was mighty in me (i.e., Paul) toward the Gentiles."
  (Christ doing the work through Peter and Paul.)
• 1 Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God, if any man minister, as of the ability which God gives, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
  (Peter understood that we serve God and glorify him through Jesus Christ who dwells in us, and by his power alone can we do the works of God.)
• Ephesians 5:30,32 "For we are members of his (Christ's) body, of his flesh, and of his bones... [32] This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
  (We are the actual flesh and bones of his body in this present age. God works through his church...or, at least, he intends to do so if we will truly unite as members of one body that can be lived in and worked through. Please read and study these passages yourself in their context from verse 22 through verse 33. It is speaking of the church as both the bride and the body of Christ, using marriage as a physical example. It is not just, as some would maintain, the great biblical model for marriage, using Christ and the church as an example. In fact, it is quite the other way around. If you begin at verse 21 rather than verse 22, you will be especially enlightened concerning the marriage angle, but even so, marriage is the secondary subject here, thus explaining the way verse 33 is stated. )
• Acts 5:1-16 (Miracles take many forms, including the cleansing of the church. Many people avoid unity because they are afraid that the church will somehow become "contaminated" with false believers. Consequently, God has allowed us to try it "our way." Some are "divided for conscience sake." Can a reunited church be kept "clean"? Can God cleanse it according to his purpose? Read on.)
  "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, [2] and kept back some of the price, with his wife's full understanding, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet."
  (The Christians in the young church were selling their houses and land and giving the proceeds to the apostles to be shared with those that had need. Many people that had been in Jerusalem for the celebration of Pentecost and that had repented, been baptized, and received the Holy Spirit, were remaining there, far from home, and in need. Therefore, many Christians were selling their own possessions to provide for everyone.
  Ananias and Sapphira conspired together to enter the church by fraud and deception. Perhaps they hoped that, by appearing to give over all they owned to the church, they would be rewarded with position and power.
  The miracles that God was working through the first Christians were known by all, and this power was undoubtedly greatly desired by many non-believers.
  In Acts 8: 9-24 (which read), yet another example is given of a man named Simon, who performed miracles by Satanic influence. This Simon tried to purchase with money the ability to perform miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Because Simon was so ignorant of what was happening, and didn't fully understand that repentance and the acceptance of Christ as savior was involved in the receiving of the Holy Spirit, he was merely rebuked and sent away to repent and pray. This is evident by Simon's naive offer to somehow "buy" the power of the Holy Spirit.
  Ananias and Sapphira were not ignorant of the truth, as Simon was. These examples are recorded here as a warning to all who would knowingly attempt to infiltrate the church without repentance, for personal gain.)
  [3] "But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? [4] While you possessed it, wasn't it your own? And after it was sold, wasn't it in your own power" Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but unto God."
  (This was a direct affront to God, and it was not done in ignorance, but deliberately. God knows our hearts, and can reveal what he knows about us when he chooses to do so. We can determine this by looking to the word of God. In Acts 3:17, Peter tells the very people who had been a party to Jesus' crucifixion that he knew that they had done this great transgression against the Son of God in ignorance, and in Acts 3:19-20 he tells these co-conspirators in Christ's murder that they can repent, and be converted, and Jesus Christ will come to them. He told these same people, in verse 26, that they were the very first people that God would bless, by sending Jesus to them and turning them from their iniquities. Peter also warned them. He said that those that would not hear Christ's words to them would be destroyed from among the people. They would no longer be able to claim ignorance.
  It is highly probable, considering the circumstances, that Ananias and Sapphira acted in full knowledge of these things, turning their back on the blessing of forgiveness and refusing to repent, and taking the foolish chance that they could somehow confront God and live.
  In Romans 5:13 there is a brief statement of fact concerning the nature of sin. It states that "until [the time of] the law [of God], sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. " In other words, if you violate a law of God, but do not know the law, and (this is important!) your conscience does not convict you , then sin is not imputed to the one who sins. Sin has been commited, but it does not have the same consequences as if it were done with full knowledge of the law.
  However, even if we are not aware of an explicit law, our conscience itself, in most cases, bears witness against us that we have not done right. This is enough to brand us as sinners, and place us in need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ (Read Romans 2:13-16 about our conscience bearing witness of right and wrong in our hearts).
  The point: Ananias and Sapphira would have been offered the opportunity to repent from this thing if it had been done in ignorance, or if they had a desire to repent . Peter had preached repentance to the crowd the day before, even though they had Christ's blood on their hands. God is just towards all, Ananias and Sapphira included. Perhaps they had stood in that same crowd and heard the very message that Peter had preached. Now they stood before him and attempted to commit fraud against God himself.
  When Peter said that they had "lied to God," he meant exactly that. Had they thought that they were only attempting to lie to a group of men, it would have been a sin of ignorance, and would have been dealt with accordingly.
  I am appalled by those who have no knowledge of God who would pretend to assume that they know God to be a cruel and violent God, pointing to this example of Ananias and Sapphira. They do not know Ananias and Sapphira, or what evil was in their hearts . . . however, God did.)
  [5] "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and breathed his last. And great fear came on all them that heard these things."
  (The heavy price that Ananias paid for his sin made clear to all, believers as well as onlookers, that there is a grave responsibility given to all who hear the message of salvation, and who recognize it to be truth. Also, one cannot enter the Kingdom of God by fraud and deception, but only through the blood of Christ.)
  [6] "And the young men arose, wrapped him and carried him out, and buried him. [7] After about three hours, when his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in, [8] Peter said to her, 'Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?' And she replied, 'Yes, for so much.' [9] Then Peter said to her, 'How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those that buried your husband are at the door, and shall carry you out.' [10] Then she immediately fell down and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband."
  (Again, this illustrates the magnitude of the sin. Let's examine what has been said about this. God has inspired Peter with insight concerning the sin. First, he states that Satan has filled Ananias' heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. Ananias allowed himself to do the bidding of the evil Adversary himself. Next, Peter identifies Sapphira as guilty of the same sin. Then, Peter says that they have conspired together to test the Spirit of the Lord. The word here that is translated "tempt" in the KJV, and "try," or "put to the test," in some other translations, is the Greek word, "peirasai" and it means to "try ," "tempt," or "prove," To "peirasai" the Holy Spirit is to challenge God to his face.
  The same word is used in Matthew 4:7, where Christ told Satan in the wilderness, 'It is written, "You shall not tempt (challenge or test, 'peirasai') the Lord your God."' This was said by Christ in response to Satan challenging Jesus to jump off a pinnacle of the temple. In this account, Satan is once again challenging God, with the full cooperation of Ananias and Sapphira. The result would be inevitable, swift, just, and necessary.)
  [11] "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."
  (This word "fear" is from the Greek "phobos." Like many English words, it can have more than one meaning. It can mean dread, or terror. It can mean reverential fear.
  God does indeed judge. In the book of 1 Peter , Peter writes, "Since he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in all manner of conduct. Because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.' And if you call on the Father, who judges without respect of persons, according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear" (1 Peter 1:15-17).
  This reverence serves to keep us careful in dealing with others. The goal is to love one another, and our holy conduct is worthless unless motivated by love (Read 1 Corinthians 13). But if we are having difficulty loving, then we are not excused. Our conduct must still be holy, and will be if we have reverence toward God.
  Eventually, we should grow to always be motivated by love, rather than fear..."There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love" (1John 4:18).
  [12] "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. [13] And of the rest, no man dared to join himself to them, but the people magnified him. [14] And more believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women), [15] to the extent that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. [16] There also came a multitude out of the cities around them to Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those that were afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were healed, every one."
  (When God works in and through his people, there is no uncertainty as to where he resides. His power is evident wherever he chooses to make it evident, and it is evident to whomever he reveals his presence. After the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, those who were "of the rest" dared not join themselves fraudulently to the true believers, but everyone magnified him, or held him in greater regard (verse 13). As a result, more believers were added to the Lord. The people learned that Jesus is the Lord, the Messiah sent from God!
  This is the way he works, for Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Don't let anyone tell you that he doesn't do things the same today as he did yesterday, that he has a new "modus operandi," or method of operation. This "hands off" theory is not substantiated by his own holy word, the Bible. It is merely a conclusion that is reached by looking at the evidence. We see no great works of power, so we then absolve ourselves of all fault by conjecturing that it must be God's will that things are the way we are.
  We must believe the word of God. The word of God decides the issue. God has withdrawn his hand in the doing of miracles such as these throughout the church because we are in sin.
  God will not bear false witness against himself by working great miracles by the hand of a fragmented and argumentive and contentious church. To do so would be a lying witness, for the risen and glorified Christ is not divided.
  Our flesh and bone, which is his own flesh and bone, is divided one from another.
  If we would only believe that we are members of his body, of his flesh and his bones, one flesh with him, then we would be one (Ephesians 5:30,32). We are to be one flesh ,together as a physical church, as well as one in the Spirit. This doesn't mean that we must all meet under one roof, but it does mean that we must all be willing to meet under one roof without qualms if and when an opportunity arises. The result is effective evangelism, and a witness to all, in and out of the church, as to where the Messiah dwells and in whom he dwells, how he works , and who he is. )

(Please click on any of the highlighted boxes ( ) below to go to the in-depth study of each statement.)

Jesus lives in the members of the church, and the church is his body in this age.
Everyone sins and breaks the spiritual law, even Christians.
To love God and to love our neighbor is the fulfillment of all spiritual law.
God's forgiveness is ongoing and limitless, and available to all who truly accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.
God will never leave us, nor forsake us.

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