Works

If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." (John 10: 37-39)

It is interesting to note that Jesus doesn't qualify His works as good or evil, except when He refers to His miracles. Elsewhere He relates to His works as done in God. In Thayer we find that the word ἔργον - ergon, which is translated as works has a connotation which means that there are different qualities of works. When Jesus says look at my works, he could just as well have said, look at my life. His genuine, transparent life!

I am afraid we again have to return to Eden to understand this. The serpent is very subtle when he tempts Adam and Eve, Jesus and us. We are tempted in the same manner as they were. The serpent's principle objective is not to tempt us to do evil, but to do good. This is the basic religious idea; contrasting good and evil, and thus entice people to do good. The law is a perfect example of good, and it efficiently discloses our attempts to be like God in our own powers as futile.

The devil and our flesh, which are in opposition to God, want to be independent sources of life, that is, perpetuate the lie that we live separated from God. In the religious mind this is made conspicuous by the notion that I have to get out the way so God can live through me. The problem with this idea is that it contradicts Jesus' promise that we will find our true life when we believe in Him. In a true life there is room for me. There it is a full functional I, but at the same time this I is God perfectly manifested in our mortal bodies. In this standing there exist no good or evil, just life which appears in many forms, but where the foundation wall is love.

Until we accept Christ there is no foundation wall. Until we experience and get a more profound understanding of God's love our attempts to love are deemed to fail. We might call it love, but there is always a hidden agenda behind what we do. We love because He loved us first, and when we feel safe and sound in his love we enter His love, and we become love. In His love we can accept ourselves and love ourselves and by that fulfill Jesus command that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. Every command Jesus issued He fulfills in us as us by us abiding in Him.

The idea that Christ lives as us might easily be turned around, and we can say that I live as Christ (Matt 16:16). An evident paradox which we accept by faith, and which can only be revealed by the father. It is here that we can experience life in its various mode of expressions without condemnation. We can accept our joy and our anger. In this position we can even understand the Old Testament scriptures which portray God's anger as a part of life. However, God is love and His anger is devoured by His love, just as our anger isn't a perpetual state of mind. We occasionally get angry, but we now that that is just an expression of life. It is the religious idea about good and evil which kindles condemnation.

I do not imply that we are God, but we are gods (John 10:35). Only God is God. He is our source, our life and the one in full control, the omniscient one we can trust whatever circumstance we face. How do you react when a human likens itself to God? Do you scream "blasphemy", such as the pharisees? Perhaps you need to ponder it a bit? That is perfectly alright. The Holy Spirit is your teacher and the one who convinces you about the truth.

Works spring forth from rest. Adam and Eve's condition before the fall is a type of this life which is pure and simply life where there is no focus on what we do, but who we are in Him. Here there is room to be ourselves, to accept ourselves just as we are accepted by God. When Jesus was baptized and begun His public service God declared over Him; "This is my son in whom I am well pleased" before Jesus had done a single recorded work.

When the disciples asked Jesus what works they must do to be doing the works of God Jesus simply stated: Believe in me! This was evidently the nucleus in Jesus' works as well; believing in His father. That's the simplicity of the new life! This is grace; the return to Eden where we are, in the same manner as He is (I AM)!