We'll observe the Lord's table
together tonight. I've entitled this message, The
Works of a Believer. Verse 12, verily, verily, this is John
14, verse 12. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
he that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do
also. And greater works than these
shall he do, because I go unto my Father. The works of a believer. Every believer,
I have no doubt about this, every believer without exception desires
to have a life rich in good works for the glory of God. I'm sure of that. If you're a
believer, that is your desire. Now, no doubt you feel all kinds
of conflict about how so much of you is a contradiction of
that. I have no doubt about that. I feel the same way about myself.
But that is the desire of every believer to have a life that
is motivated by love to Christ and all that is entailed in that. That's your desire. Is that what the Lord's talking
about in verse 12? Let's read it again. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall
he do also. The works that I do, he shall
do. I want you to think just for
a moment about the works of Christ. Let me say two things about the
works of Christ. Number one, the power of them. He rose the dead. He created matter. He healed the sick. He controlled
the weather. Do you have any works similar
in power to his works? I don't think so. What about
the purity of his works? He never sins. In thought, in word, in deed,
everything he did was perfect without sin, utterly pleasing
to God. Can you say that about any of
your works? The best thing you and I have
ever done is filled with sin. When I'm trying to preach to
you, I'm aware of my own sinfulness even while I'm trying to preach
to you. There's sin in everything we
do. Can that be said to be something
I do, the works of Christ, I'll do them also? What is the Lord
talking about when he says the works that I do They shall do
also. Now this is in the midst of one
of the most amazing passages in all of the Word of God. This is Philip's response to
hearing the Lord say, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No man comes to the Father, but by me. Philip saith unto him
in verse eight, Lord, show us the Father. and it sufficeth
us. He didn't realize when he said
this, that this was very derogatory to the person of Christ. He's
saying, we need to see more than seeing you. We want to see the
Father. Then we'll be satisfied. Verse nine, Jesus saith, unto
him, and I don't know how to express this properly because
I know the Lord's never exasperated. He's God. But yet you can almost
feel and hear the exasperation in his voice. Now, I've done
my best for that. I don't know what else to say
about it. He says, have I been so long a time with you, Philip,
and yet you've not known me? I've been with you every day
for three and a half years and you say something like that?
Don't you know that he that has seen me has seen the Father? All you're ever going to see
of God is me. If you've seen me, you have seen
God the Father. I and my Father are one. This question Philip asks is
so dull, so obtuse. Really, Philip? Do you really
ask this question? Show us the Father when you're
looking at me? You mean by that I'm in some
way less than the Father or inferior to the Father. That's what you're
saying by that. He that has seen me hath seen
the Father. All you're ever gonna see of
God is me. And that is what he is saying
to Philip. I think of what is said of the
Christ in Hebrews chapter one, God who at sundry times in divers
manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets hath
in these last days spoken to us by his Son. whom he hath appointed
heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds, he's the
creator, who being the brightness of his glory and the express
image of his person, upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself purged our sins, he sat down
at the right hand of God. And you say, show us the father. He said in John 10 30, I and
my father are one. He said in Colossians 1 14 to
be the image of the invisible God. And you say, show us the
father and we'll be satisfied. When he said, I and my father
are one, the scripture says, again, they took up stones to
stone him. You see, he made himself equal
with God when he made that statement. Why does it say, again, they
took up stones? Well, sometime before this, when
he said, before Abraham was, I am, they took up stones to
throw him. They were going to kill him because of this. Philip, how do you say this?
Show us the Father when you're looking at me. In John chapter 14, verse one,
in the chapter we're in, look, verse one. Let not your heart
be troubled. Let me remind you, he had just
said, you're gonna deny that you know me. Let not your heart
be troubled. You believe in God? Believe also,
or even so, believe in me. Now, when the Lord says that,
he's saying, I am the God of the Bible. I am the wonderful
counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince
of Peace. That's who I am. You believe
in God? Do you believe God's all powerful?
I am omnipotent, the one speaking to you. Do you believe God is
absolutely sovereign, the first cause of all things? I am the
sovereign of the universe. Whatever is taking place is taking
place because I willed it. I am God. Do you believe God
is independent? That He has no needs for something
to happen before He can perform His will? He's utterly independent?
I am He. Whatever you believe with regard
to God, immutable, holy, When the seraphims were crying, holy,
holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts, the whole earth is full
of His glory. They were speaking of me. That's
who Isaiah saw. Whatever you can say with regard
to the living God, His immutability, His whatever it might be, I'm
He. Do you believe God's gracious?
That's me. Do you believe God is absolutely
just? That's me. Now, how is it, Philip,
that you could say something so dull? Well, the Lord's got
dull disciples, doesn't he? All of us. So dull. Have I been so long time with
you, Philip, and yet hast thou not known me? You see, Colossians
chapter two, verse nine, Paul tells us, in him dwelleth all
the fullness of the Godhead in a body. Whatever the substance of God
is, and that's a hard one to define, isn't it? What's God
made of? We can't even, whoever he is, but all the fullness of
God dwells in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn back
to John chapter five for a moment. Verse 16, John chapter five. And therefore did the Jews persecute
Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things
on the Sabbath day. He was working on the Sabbath
day. How be it was giving a man sight from the blind, but they
were going, well, he's working. I love the way the Lord answers.
But Jesus answered them, my father worketh hitherto. And I work. Yes, I'm doing this on the Sabbath
day. It's what my father does. It's what I do. Verse 18, therefore,
the Jews sought the Lord to kill him because not only did he broken
the Sabbath, but said also that God was his father making himself
equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said
unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing
of himself, but what he seeth the Father do. For what things
soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father
loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth.
And he will show him greater works than these that you may
marvel. For as the Father raises up the dead and quickens them,
Even so, the Son quickens whom he will. For the Father judges
no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son, that all
men should honor the Son. Even as they honor the Father,
he that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which
hath sent him." Now, Philip didn't realize that he was failing to
do this. Show us the Father. You know,
in reality, that is as dumb a question as Peter saying, let's make three
tabernacles. One for thee, one for Moses and
one for Elijah. He was not honoring the son when
he said, show us the father and we'll be satisfied. All you'll
ever see of the father is the son. God. Now back to our text
in John chapter 14, verse 10. Believest thou not, again, he's
answering Philip's dull question. Believest thou not that I am
in the father and the father in me? The words that I speak
unto you, I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwelleth
in me. He doeth the works. Now, I think this is glorious.
My words are the works of the Father. That's how supreme my
words are. They're the very works of the
Father. He dwells in me. My words are
His words. His works are my words. It was the Son who said, let
there be light and there was light. My words are the very
works of the Father, I dwell in Him, He dwells in me for unto
us a child is born, unto us a son is given, the government should
be upon His shoulders, He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. My words and the works of God
cannot be separated. Now look in verse 11. Believe
me. What a gracious command. And
this command is to me and you right now. Believe me. The ability comes with the command. If he says to you, believe me,
guess what? You're going to believe him.
Believe me. Oh Lord, may I be the one you're
saying that to? Because I know I won't believe
unless you give this commandment. Oh, what a commandment. Believe
me. This is his commandment to you. Quit thinking about yourself.
Quit thinking about what you need to do or what you don't
need to do. Here's God's command to you. Believe me, what a gracious
command. Believe me that I am in the father
and the father in me. I'm in the father. What a majestic, glorious statement. I'm in the father and the father's
in me. He whom the heavens cannot contain
is in my body. He's in me. I'm equal to him. I'm not like him. There's not a likeness between
the Father and the Son. He's God, as God is God. I'm in the Father, and the Father
is in me. Philip, how do you ask such a
question? Show us the Father. I am in the
Father, and the Father is in me. Verse 11, believe me that
I'm in the father and the father in me, or else believe me for
the very work's sake. His works, he did only what God
can do. Now in the book of John, there
are seven miracles that the whole book is kind of centered around.
The first is when he made water wine. It became something that
wasn't. as an act of his will. I mean,
there's a glass of water here. All of a sudden, it's not water
anymore, it's wine. What a miracle. He healed the
nobleman's son in John chapter four, simply by willing it. He
was far off somewhere else and he just willed his healing and
he was healed. In John chapter five, he gave
the impotent man strength to stand up and walk. And it happened
just like that. He'd been laying on a bed 38
years and he rose up and walked as an active. The Lord willed
it without the use of means. Then in John chapter six, he
defied the laws of physics and walked on water. Could any other
man do that? Only the God man. In John chapter nine, he gave
sight to a man who was born blind. In John chapter 11, he raised
the dead. Only God can do it. Believe me, for the very work's
sake. He controlled the weather. No one can do that but God. He
could read your thoughts. He's reading them right now. He could tell the future because
he's the one who ordained the future. Believe me for the very
works sake, that I'm in the Father, and the Father in me. Verse 12, verily, verily, I say unto you. This is one of 25 times in the
Gospel of John, he says this, verily, verily, amen, amen, I
say to you, This is not some insignificant me or you. I say unto you, he that believeth
on me, the works that I do, shall he do also. What that's talking
about is justification by faith. The works that I do, He shall
do also. If you believe on Him, the works
that He did, you do. Now, does that mean we will perform
the same works He did in power and purity? You don't see me
going around willing sick people. If I could, folks that are sick,
I'd heal them. I'd heal him, I would. Unless
you cross me some way, and then maybe I wouldn't, you know, but. If I had the power to heal, better be on my side. I didn't think it was, this is
interesting. Lynn said, you're the only one
in the bulletin with your birthday this week. Did you cross out
everybody else so everybody know it's you? No, we're also vain. The point is, the works that
I do, this is him saying this, the works that I do, you shall
do. Justification by faith, by his
works. He worked out a perfect righteousness.
This is not talking about some works we do, doing what he did
by way of power, by way of purity, our works. Would you want the
best thing you've ever done to appear before God in judgment?
Oh, I wouldn't. I know he'd have to send me to
hell for it. But here he says the works that I do shall he
do also this person who believes on me. You know, when the Lord said
to John the Baptist, thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. He didn't say, thus it becomes
to me, becomes me to fulfill all righteousness for you. No,
he said, thus becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. When he obeyed, I obeyed in him. I have the very works of the
Lord Jesus Christ, he that believeth on me. Now notice he doesn't
say he that believeth on the Father. He doesn't say he that
believeth on the Spirit. He says he that believeth on
me. The works that I do shall he
do also. We believe Jesus Christ is God. You believe that? God over all, very God of very
God. We believe that Jesus Christ
is man, bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh. We believe
his life is my righteousness. His works are my works. His obedience
is my obedience. His death is my sin payment.
His resurrection is my justification. Upon what ground do I believe
Him? I'm talking about me personally.
What makes me think that what He did, He did for me? How do
I know? Is it because I know I'm elect?
Is it because I know Christ died for me? Here's the ground I believe
on Him, that what He did, He did for me. 1 Timothy 1 15 says,
Christ Jesus came into the world to save what? Who? Sinners. That is my, I'm one of them. Are you? I'm one of them. That's the ground upon which
I believe that what Christ did, He did for me. Because I am a sinner in the
biblical sense of the word, Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners. That means He came to save me.
And everything He did, I did in Him. The works that I do shall he
do also. John 3.18 says, he that believeth
on him, the son, is not condemned. Why? Because there's nothing
to condemn me for. The works that he did, I've done. Perfection before
God. There's nothing to condemn me
for. How can I possibly be condemned if the work he did I will also
do? I'm not condemned. There is nothing
to condemn me for. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It's
Christ that died, yea, rather that's risen again, who's even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. Now, here's the reality. The works that he did, I did. This reality is perpetual. It's continual. The works that
he did, I did. That's union with Jesus Christ.
The works that he did, I did. It's right now, it's gonna be
that way this time next year. And if God gives me another 20
years, it'll be that way then. And it'll be that way on judgment
day. When I'm judged, here's what's going to be said of me,
the works that Christ did, he did. Perfect obedience. And it'll be that way throughout
eternity. His works are my works eternally. And think of the completeness
of his work. Was there anything, were there
any loose ends? Anything he left undone? In him
dwelleth all the fullness, bodily in the God, in him dwelleth all
the fullness of the Godhead in a body. And you are Complete. Lacking nothing. Perfect in Him. Now this is not a matter of letter,
but a matter of fact. His works are so affectionately
mine that I did them. The works that I do, shall He
do also. Now if this is true, and it is, He said it, That's
what we're basing this on, what he said. If this is true, at
no time has God ever looked upon his children as guilty. He said, I by no means cleared
the guilty. He won't. If you're guilty, it's
over for you. but he has never seen his elect
as guilty. You can never be punished for
your sin because you don't have any. Did he sin? No. Neither did you in him. Your
sin was put away. It was made not to be. It was
canceled. It was disannulled. It was blotted out. Now, we certainly have no room
to boast, do we? Where is boasting then? It's
excluded by what law of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a
man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. The works that I do shall he
do also. The perfect work of Christ, his
works in the gospel are mine. What could be more glorious than
that? If this is true, listen to this. If this is true, we have no ground
for lack of assurance or fears and doubts. If this is true,
if his work is my work too, why would I have any lack of assurance? There's no reason for it. Anytime
I lack assurance, it's because I'm looking to my works. I'm forgetting that his works
are my works. And I have every reason to feel
totally assured that I'm complete in Christ and need nothing else. He that believeth on me, the
works that I do, he shall do the perfect works of Christ are
my works in the gospel. What could possibly be more glorious
than that? The works, now these are the
works that I do. Shall he do also. And look what
he says in verse 12 next. Verily, verily, I say, and he
that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also. And greater works than these
shall he do, because I go unto my Father. Now what's that mean? Greater works? Is there any way I could have
greater works in his works as God, controlling the weather, giving
life, raising the dead? Well, of course not. Of course
not. Does it mean I can have works
greater in purity? Of course not. Of course not. But what the Lord is saying at
this time is he was in his earthly ministry. It was just a few hundred
square miles. And when he died, before in the
upper room, there were only 120 people. That's not that many people.
That's probably about what's here right now. That was all
of his disciples at that time. But notice what he says in verse
12, verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me
the works that I do, shall he do also, and greater works than
these shall he do, because I go unto my father. Now, this was demonstrated on
the day of Pentecost, when Peter preached that one sermon 3,000
people were added to the church and the apostles would go and
spread the gospel all over the world. Now, how was this successful? Turn with me to Mark chapter
16. He said in verse 15 of chapter
16, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. Somebody's thinking, does that
mean you have to be baptized to be saved? No. But it tells who is supposed
to be baptized, believers. He that believeth and is baptized,
the same shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be
damned, and these signs shall follow them that believe in my
name. Shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues,
new languages. They shall speak, take up serpents,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.
They shall lay hands on them. on the sick and they shall recover
them. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was
received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God." I
don't know how to picture that in your mind, but I picture it. Him ascending back into heaven,
sitting down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and
preached everywhere. The Lord working with them. Now that's the greater things
because he goes to the father and he works with him and now
he's got a people out of every kindred, tongue, tribe, and nation
all over this world because he went back to the father. Now there is a man in glory right
now working. And he sat down, his
work is finished, but he's calling out his people. And here's what
they're called upon to believe. And it's what you and I are called
upon to believe. The works that he does, we do
also. Because we're in him and that
is our confidence. The works that he did, we did. He took care of the sin by putting
away on Calvary's tree and we're complete in Him. Let's pray.