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Living for Christ And Keeping His Work Introduction
PAUL wrote, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14. In Romans, we are told that “the carnal mind is enmity against God:
for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans
8:7. The natural or carnal mind cannot discern or understand the things
of the Spirit of God. That which is of the Spirit must be spiritually, not carnally, discerned.
Thus, it is extremely important that the reader of God’s Word first
pray for the help and guidance of the Spirit before reading the
Scriptures. He must pray for spiritual discernment. Only then
will the truth be perceived, for it is the Spirit-not man-who guides
one into all truth (Jn. 16:13). May the reader first pray for spiritual
discernment and the guidance of God’s Spirit into all truth before
beginning the study! Not Walking in Darkness
IN the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of John, we
read these enlightening words of Jesus: “Yet a little while is the
light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.”
verse 35. There is a great lesson contained in this verse; a lesson
that will greatly aid the child of God in all matters of his life. But
to properly understand, we must read on, for the key to unlocking its
meaning is found in John chapter 8, verse 12: “Then spake Jesus again
unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” What is that great and important lesson? Simply this: Only by following Jesus does one not walk in darkness.
Too often is the position of leading occupied by the follower of
Christ, when his rightful place is that of following. It is the Savior
who must ever be the One leading, guiding and directing the lives of
His people, and every decision made therein. Darkness is the inevitable
result of light’s absence. Thus, it is only into darkness that man
walks when the guidance of the “true Light, which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world” (Jn. 1:9), is not sought and followed. This truth was long ago recorded by the prophet Jeremiah: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”
Jeremiah 10:23. Solomon also understood this, for he wrote, “Man’s
goings are of the Lord, how can a man then understand his own way?”
Proverbs 20:24. Again he said, “There are many devices in a man’s
heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.”
Proverbs 19:21.
The Work of Christ
IT must be true then, that the work or occupation of
our lives is to be that which Christ and our Father have guided us to,
rather it being something of our own choosing. To this, the Word of God
has much to say. Indeed, the light that guides the feet and illuminates
the path of the child of God (Ps. 119:105) clearly reveals the kind of
work or employment he is to have while living on this earth. Let us
begin our search for these scriptures in the Gospel of John. After
Jesus had spoken with the Samaritan woman at the well, his disciples
came to him and urged Him to eat, for they had gone into the city to
buy bread. He told them, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” John
4:32. The disciples wondered at this reply, thinking that maybe He had
already been given something to eat. But the true meaning of these
words was not discerned, and Christ clarifies Himself in verse 34: “My
meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”
It was by doing the will and work of His Father that the Savior was
spiritually nourished and strengthened. Let us continue: “For I came
down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38. “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.” John 5:36. “I must work the works of him that sent me.” John 9:4. “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4. The message is consistent: Christ was only concerned about the will and work of the Father. This is what He sought to fulfill and finish.
But is this important for the follower of Christ to know? It most
definitely is! Why? Because “he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
1 John 2:6. The only path taken by the child of God should be that
which Christ has trodden. He is to live in a manner that is following
Christ’s steps, not the world’s. “For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.”
1 Peter 2:21. So then, as Christ came into this world only to
accomplish the will and work of the Father, it is to be that which His
followers also seek to accomplish. This should be our only goal; this
should be the work we strive to fulfill, not our own work or the work
of our choosing. Keeping Christ’s Work
WHAT else does Christ say regarding His work? “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end,
to him will I give power over the nations.” Revelation 2:26. According
to Strong’s Concordance, “keepeth” (#5083) means: to guard by keeping
the eye upon; to fulfill a command; maintain; hold fast, etc. The
Savior tells us that we must keep the eye upon, fulfill, maintain and hold fast
the work that He has given to do; and we must keep it “unto the end”!
The same zeal and dedication that Christ had towards the work of His
Father should exist towards fulfilling the work of Christ. This is
because we are to “follow His steps”, and “walk even as He walked”.
Instead of their own work, God’s children should strive to complete the
work Christ gives them to do, just as Christ sought to fulfill not His own work, but the work assigned Him. The World BUT let us consider how our Lord lived fulfilling and accomplishing the will and work of the Father. What was His manner of living while on earth? Was He involved with the affairs of this life? Did He submit to worldly lusts? This is very important for us to know, for we are to “follow his steps”. The reader needs only but a few scriptures for the answer to be undoubtedly clear: “And he [Jesus] said unto them [the Pharisees], Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.” John 8:23. If Christ was not of this world, those who have chosen Him-who are to “follow his steps”-are not to be of it either. And to this our Lord agrees because He says, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14. Speaking to His disciples Christ said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19. Our Lord has “chosen” His followers to be “out of the world”. In the epistle of James, chapter 1, we read that God’s children are to be “unspotted” from the world. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” verse 27. The word “unspotted” means: unblemished (physically or morally), without spot (#784, Strong’s Concordance). This was taken from #4695, which is: to stain or soil (literally or figuratively); defile, spot (Ibid). Why is it important to remain unspotted from the world? So that we may inherit the world to come! “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:13, 14. If God’s children desire to inherit the world to come, they must keep themselves unspotted from the world that is now, and “be diligent” in doing so! The only begotten Son of God left His Father’s side to come and die a terrible death that He might fulfill the will of His Father. What was this divine will? Paul says that it was Christ “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Galatians 1:4. God’s will was to “deliver” mankind “from” the world, and His dear Son was willing to give all to accomplish it. Should Christ’s followers then join themselves to the world? Should they conform themselves to that “evil world” which their Savior suffered so terribly to “deliver” them from? The people of God are not to be conformed to this world (Rom. 12:2). Instead we read, “For whom he [God] did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Romans 8:29. The child of God has been predestined to the conformity of Christ! (See also Jas. 4:4 and 1 Jn. 2:15-17.) The Narrow Way CHRIST instructs to “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14. Being the example, the Savior demonstrated how to tread that narrow way by the life He lived. That life consisted of nothing else but to fulfill the will and work of His Father, while abandoning the world and cares of this life. But living according to the life of the Savior is certainly not popular. Not “many” have chosen to follow His example. Nevertheless, Christ’s followers are not to go the way of “many”. Christ’s followers are not to conform to the practices of the majority or to that which is popular. They must follow the instruction of their Lord, which is “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:24. Christ’s way, therefore, is the narrow way. Obeying His teaching and instruction “leadeth” one “unto life”. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” John 8:51. Anything that is not according to the ways of God and teaching of His Son is the broad way. The broad way is the way of “many”. The way of “many” may seem or appear to be pleasurable; it may seem to be amusing; but it is the way that “leadeth to destruction”; and those who travel it are greatly fooled! Solomon said, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12. Those who consider themselves followers of Christ must follow Christ-not the practices and customs of the majority! The only begotten Son of God “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14. Living For?
“AND that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them,
and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15. When an individual is living his
life “keeping” the work of his Savior, is he living for himself or for
Christ? He that is living to fulfill the work of Christ is living for Christ. Most, however, are living for themselves, and Christ warns about this: “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:39. Again Christ says, “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world
shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:25. Not only does Christ say
that our life will be lost if we live for ourselves, but He also says
that if we are not willing to live for Him, we cannot be His disciple!
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:26. But the child of God is not only to live for their Savior.
He is also to live for the “will of God”. “Forasmuch then as Christ
hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the
same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1, 2. Concerning the will of God has Christ also given a warning; that is, a warning for not doing the Father’s will: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. This is similar to what we read in 1
John 2:17: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
Serving Christ
THE Scriptures direct us to live for the Father and
His Son in yet another way. “For he that is called in the Lord, being a
servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.”
1 Corinthians 7:22. Christ’s followers should be serving Christ, not
self. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God?”
Hebrews 9:14. Christ has redeemed us from sin and given eternal life by
shedding His precious and cleansing blood. What else does that precious
and cleansing blood do? It enables us to serve the Father! Thus, Christ suffered a terrible death so that we might serve the Father! It was John who wrote: “Jesus Christ” “loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5,
6. It was John also who wrote that the four beasts and twenty four
elders, after falling “down before the Lamb, having every one of them
harps”, “sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and
to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to
God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and
nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests:
and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:8-10. What does a priest
do? A priest serves his God! The time is past for us to be serving
ourselves. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in
spirit; serving the Lord.”
Romans 12:10, 11. Just as those who live for Christ will have eternal
life, so also the one who serves God instead of himself will have
everlasting life. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
Romans 6:22. In the previous chapter, we learned that it is not good to
live for self because the result is loss of life. Yet this is the true
result, contrary to what the natural mind expects-for it thinks it
would be better to live for itself than for Christ. It is the same with
serving God. The natural mind thinks it would be better to serve itself
rather than God. But this, again, is contrary to the truth. Listen to
the words of the prophet Samuel: “And Samuel said unto the people, Fear
not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from
following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; and turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain…only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.”
1 Samuel 12:20, 21, 24. Why should we not do anything but that which is
in the service of God? Why should we not serve ourselves? Is it because
we would find some pleasure and great enjoyment, and God desires to
keep it from us? No; quite on the contrary! The only reason is because
our hearts would go after “vain things”, things that “cannot profit” or
“deliver”. And if there is a lack of motivation to serve the Father and
Christ instead of self, let him consider the great and wonderful things
that both have done for him! The Incorruptible Crown
ALL the toil and labor of man is done for one of two
crowns or rewards. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man
that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that
beateth the air.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-26. The “corruptible crown” is
that which most strive to obtain. Christ says, “Lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through nor steal.” Matthew 6:19, 20. Again
He says, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat
which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give
unto you…” John 6:27. And the writer of Ecclesiastes informs us that
all that man may obtain during this lifetime shall in the days to come
be forgotten (Eccl. 2:16). Indeed, man’s goal, prize and treasure for
which he long toils will last no longer than this life which James
calls a “vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away” (Jas. 4:14). (See Eccl. 2:4-11). Striving Lawfully
“NOW he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:8. Christ says, “…I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:23. Again He says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12. We must not be fooled. The reward we receive will be according to the labor and work we perform.
One must not think that he can labor, toil and live for self and be
rewarded as a faithful servant (or follower) of Christ. Paul said, “I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not
to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy
4:7, 8. Paul did not live in any manner or according to self. He lived
for Christ and kept His work (Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 4:11; 1 Cor. 3:6-9;
Phil. 2:25-30). Thus, he was going to receive the “crown of
righteousness”. We, too, must live the way our Savior has shown us to
live, and do what our Savior has told us to do if we are to receive the
crown. Paul wrote regarding a soldier of Christ, “No man that warreth
entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please
him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for
masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”
2 Timothy 2:4, 5. As in any kind of race, game etc., the contestants
must follow the established rules; they cannot decide and follow rules
of their own and still be eligible for the prize. The follower and
soldier of Christ, too, must “strive lawfully” if he is to receive the
“crown”. He must follow and obey whatever Christ has set forth; and by
His teachings and manner of life on earth, the “rules” for the “crown
of glory” have certainly been made known!
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