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God’s renovation of the chaotic earth was only the beginning of His plan to vindicate His nature and repopulate His kingdom. The redemptive plan of God was intended to extend throughout the ages until the end of time.
The vindication of the divine nature and the repopulation of the divine kingdom remained unfinished by the advent of the Church Age. Nevertheless, the works of the New Testament church would profoundly contribute to the cause. The works of the New Testament church were designed to advance the vindication of the nature of God and the repopulation of His kingdom. Consequently, they were far too important to be left to the will and work of finite human beings. The works of the church are divine rather than human, eternal rather than temporal, and living (zoe) rather than dead. Mankind is privileged to cooperate in their fulfillment by grace through faith alone. Divine rather than Human The works of the New Testament church did not originate from the purpose and plans of finite man. The infinite God established them before the foundation of the world. He prepared works beforehand that He would accomplish through the church in the fullness of time. (Ephesians 1:4; 2:10; Hebrews 4: 3b) Thus, the works of the New Testament church are divine rather than human in origin. Eternal rather than Temporal Prepared beforehand in eternity, the distinct works of the New Testament church are eternal. Their influence and reward are “perpetual; without beginning or end.” They never cease. |
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Living rather than Dead
The divinely originated, eternal works of the New Testament church are living (zoe) rather than dead. Thus, they cannot be fulfilled by the dead, religious effort of mankind but only by the living (zoe), indwelling God in cooperation with the faithfulness of redeemed mankind. The author of Hebrews clarifies that human beings can perform “dead works.” He twice refers to the dead works of man, indicating that they are something from which the guilty should seek repentance. (Hebrews 6:1; 9:14) Unsolicited by God, dead works are performed by man for God through means of human will and effort. Thus, union of life with God and cooperative faith are unnecessary for their fulfillment. Although not often recognized, the underlying motive for the performance of dead works is the belief that man can earn divine favor through self-effort. Nevertheless, the Bible is replete with evidence that man is utterly corrupt before God and does not possess the capacity to earn divine favor through self-effort. (Genesis 4:1-8; Hebrews 11:4) It is the very reason the Bible distinguishes between dead works and living works. In contrast to dead works, living (zoe) works originate from God. Eternally significant, they constitute the ministry of His indwelling life (zoe) on earth. Concordant with divine grace, the church is privileged to cooperate by faith alone. Living (zoe) works can be contrasted with dead works as follows: |
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Perfect Example
The incarnate Christ provided the perfect example of living (zoe) works. Through faith alone, He lived in absolute dependence on the indwelling life (zoe) of the Father. (John 5:26-27) The heavenly life (zoe) of the Father was manifested through Him on earth by living (zoe) works. The faithful, dependent cooperation of the incarnate Christ was evidenced by His practice of intimate, prayerful fellowship with His indwelling Father. (Matthew 14:23; Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:28; John 17:1-26) It was frequent and intentional. Their prayerful fellowship was the means by which the Son learned the will of the Father and demonstrated submission to His authority on earth. (John 5:30; 6:38; 7:16; 12:49; 14:10-11; 24) New Testament Church Works During this present age, the New Testament church was predetermined to cooperate with God in the manner demonstrated by its incarnate head, Jesus Christ. Cooperating by faith alone, the church serves as the instrument through which divine life (zoe) flows to earth like “rivers of living water.” (John 7:38-39) The outcome is the divine fulfillment of eternal, living (zoe) works on earth. |
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Shared Life Fellowship
The New Testament church cooperates with God through the faithful practice of shared life fellowship. The New Testament church cooperates with God through the faithful practice of shared life fellowship. The Apostle John explained, “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life — and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us — what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” (1 John 1:1-4) In Romans 12:1, the Apostle Paul exhorted the ecclesia to “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God.” The Greek word translated “present” is paristemi (par-is'-tay-mee). It means to “make available.”[1] The specific manner in which Paul uses the word is indicative of a recurrent presentation, not only of the body (soma (so'-mah)) but the whole person. It is inclusive of the totality of life and activity. Despite its technical language, Romans 12:1 is first an exhortation for the church to practice fellowship with God. The resultant fruit is the glorious experience of eternal life (zoe), abundant and overflowing (Romans 12:2-21). While the benefit of intimate fellowship with God is immeasurable, the Apostle Paul provided some examples of its gracious outcome. He clarified that it is designed to lead to the renewal of the mind, illumination regarding the will of God, and awareness of spiritual giftedness. (Romans 12:2-8) The fruit of shared life fellowship with the living (zoe) God is the overflowing ministry of eternal life (zoe) both within the ecclesia (Romans 12:9-13) and the outside community (Romans 12:14-21).
Each member of the New Testament church on earth is privileged to serve as the means through which the treasured eternal life (zoe) of God overflows for the blessing and benefit of others. (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:7) Congruent with the divine ministry of overflowing life (zoe), the ecclesia is the instrument during this present age for the proclamation of the Gospel, the release of captives, the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, lepers being cleansed, the deaf hearing, the oppressed being set free, and the dead raised. (cf. Matthew 11:5; Luke 4:18)
By the Spirit Originating from the heavenly Father, living (zoe) works were demonstrated on earth through the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son. Manifested on earth in human flesh, He did not fulfill the ministry of living (zoe) works on earth by effort of His humanity but by faithful dependence on the indwelling Spirit of God. (Matthew 3:16; 4:1; 12:28; Luke 4:14; Acts 1:2; 10:38) The living (zoe) works of the New Testament church are satisfied in the same manner. Rather than accomplished by human effort, they are fulfilled by the Spirit of God indwelling the church. (cf. Luke 4:1; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:16; 25; Ephesians 5:18) Cooperating by grace through faith alone, the ecclesia is commanded to “walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16) The Greek word translated “walk” is peripateo. It literally means to “walk-around.” However, context of usage reveals that it is sometimes used in the New Testament in reference to a “walk of life” or a particular disposition or inclination of life. (cf. Romans 6:4; 8:4; 1 Corinthians 3:3; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 2:2; 10; Philippians 3:17-18; Colossians 3:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 John 1:6-7; 2:11; 2 John 6; Revelation 21:24) Made alive to God, the believer’s “walk of life” is characterized by a disposition or inclination that the apostle refers to as “according to the Spirit” or “in the Spirit.” (Romans 6:1-11; 8:4-9) Thus, the Apostle Paul’s command to “walk by the Spirit” is indicative of a choice of faith to consistently “follow” or keep “in step” with the life (zoe) of God manifested by His indwelling Spirit. Keeping “in step” with the indwelling Spirit of Christ is facilitated by walking in the fullness of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul commanded the ecclesia in ancient Ephesus to “be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16; cf. Luke 1:15) The verb pleeroústhe (be filled) is used in the present imperative and, therefore, means to be constantly filled to the point of overflowing with the fullness of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Walking in the fullness of the Spirit is evidenced by the manifestation and overflowing fruit of the Spirit. The manifestation of the Spirit is recognized by spiritually gifted ministry, spiritual fellowship, participatory worship in song, abundant thanksgiving, and mutual submission. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 5:19-21; cf. 2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1) In contrast, “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Overflow In the Gospel of John, “living water” is analogous to eternal life (zoe). (John 4:10, 14; 7:38-39) Jesus said, “…whoever drinks of the [living (zoe)] water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life (zoe).” (John 4:14) Jesus further stated, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38) The Apostle John clarified, “… this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:39) During this present age, the New Testament church was designed to serve as the instrument through which the “living water,” the eternal life (zoe) of God, flows to earth. Filled with the Spirit, the progression of divine life (zoe) from God through the church is like a “well of water springing up to eternal life (zoe).” By the Spirit, it was designed to flow from the “innermost being” of the redeemed like “rivers of living (zoe) water.” By His presence in the New Testament church, God exists on the fallen earth. Cooperating by grace through faith alone, the church allows for the movement and overflow of divine life (zoe) within a fallen, hostile environment. Flesh or Spirit Rather than fleshly effort, the divine, eternal, living (zoe) works of the New Testament church are satisfied “by the Spirit.” They are the fruitful overflow of His indwelling presence:
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Eternal Purpose
The divine, eternal, living (zoe) works of the New Testament church were predetermined before the foundation of the world to fulfill an eternal purpose. They contribute to the repopulation of the kingdom of God and the vindication of His nature. The New Testament church is privileged to cooperate by grace through faith alone. © 2023 James Hiatt |
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