Whose Servant are You? The Servant is Not Greater than his Lord

• You Cannot Serve Two Masters - Luke 16:13 lays down an important biblical axiom: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. This verse along with its counterpart in Mat 6:24 highlight the gigantic fact that every human being is in one of two spiritual kingdoms – the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ or the kingdom of Satan. There is no middle ground! Notice the opposites – love and hate. Luke 9:50 adds, “And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us”. And Jam 4:4 fearfully warns: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity [or hatred] with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”. The “world” is well-defined in 1 John 2:15-17: “... the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life ...”. The kingdom that a person is in actually dominates, or drives, his life with unyielding force. It is rooted in his soul and influences his every thought, word, and action, as Pro 23:7 proclaims, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …”. 

1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”

Luke 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh”.

• The Servant of Sin - Every human being begins his life in Satan’s kingdom as one of the Devil’s unwitting dupes. John 8:34 underscores this: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” and is also affirmed in Eph 2:1-6. 2 Pet 2:19 adds, “… they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage”. All sin is 100 percent destructive and results in eternal death – or Hell – as Jam 1:14-15 instructs, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. In the incisive passage Rom 8:5-8, God is making the distinction between the two kingdoms we have been discussing. The phrases “after the flesh” and “carnally minded” describe the nature of one who is unsaved and in the kingdom of Satan. On the other hand, the language “after the Spirit” and “spiritually minded” illustrate the nature of a true Christian – one who has become a citizen of God’s kingdom. True believers have been raised from spiritual death to life and have an insatiable desire to be obedient to the Word of God, as John 15:10 expresses:“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love”.

Rom 8:5-8 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Eph 2:1-6 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

• The Servant of Christ - Acts 26:18 pictures the transfer of power and spiritual metamorphosis that occurs when one experiences birth from above to become a servant of Christ: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me”. Col 1:13 adds, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son…”. Rom 6:12-13 becomes part of the new “marching orders” (the whole Bible) the believer now follows: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God”. The words of 2 Cor 5:17-21 depict the wonderful salvation that God has provided by His infinite mercy and grace. A fundamental principle of the Bible is expressed in the words of 1 Cor 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”. The price Christ had to pay was equivalent to eternal damnation in Hell for each of His elect children. In the face of such incomprehensible sacrificial love, the true believer exclaims along with the Psalmist in Psa 116:16, “O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds”. We are reminded of the admonition in Col 3:23-24 that all of us who are true Christians need to heed: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ”.

2 Cor 5:17-20 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

• The Servant is Not Greater than his Lord - The greatest example of a servant is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He stated the very principle He embodied in Mark 9:35, “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all”. It is utterly impossible for us – even if we are saved – to grasp the awesome reality of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible outlines for us the profound truths that Christ, Who is Eternal God, had to empty Himself of His glory to take on human flesh. He had to become sin and then – the greatest mystery of all – He had to suffer the unimaginable agony of everlasting Hell for His elect people to procure their eternal salvation (Php 2:5-7). 2 Cor 4:5-7 affirms: “... ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ... we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”. We know that God’s grace is the sole basis for salvation and the Christian’s life while on this earth. God must indeed receive all the credit, glory, and honor because He is the source of all blessing. 2 Tim 3:12 adds, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. John 15:20 asserts, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also”. Furthermore, Rom 8:17b reminds us: “… if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together”. We read this in 2 Cor 3:5-6 and 12: “... our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers [or servants] of the new testament; … Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech”. The phrase “plainness of speech” is actually one Greek word, and in Eph 6:19 it is rendered as “boldly”: “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel”. In what way are God’s elect “able ministers [or servants] of the new testament… of the spirit: for…the spirit giveth life”? We will be aided in our understanding by recalling that the Bible is a “twoedged sword” (Rev 1:16). As the Sword of the Spirit, the Bible can “cut” to either salvation (Acts 2:5) or damnation (Acts 7:54).

Isa 42:1-4 “Behold my servant [Lord Jesus], whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”

Php 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

2 Cor 4:5-7 “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”

2 Cor 3:5-6 and 12: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers [or servants] of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life… Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech”

• If Any Man Serve Me, Let Him Follow Me, Him Will My Father Honour - In our lesson today we want to focus on John 12:26, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour”. Mat 20:28 lays down a crucial axiom: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”. Psa 49:7-9 sadly declares: “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption”. The mission of the Lord Jesus Christ was not only to preach the Gospel but to be the Gospel. Jesus said in John 13:15-17: “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them”. Mat 16:24 says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” From this penetrating verse one learns that in order to follow Him we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross, as Rom 6:11 exhorts, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord”. John 8:12 assures the Christian that his path will be well lit: “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”. Psa 119:105 adds: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. Let us look at John 12:26 again, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour”. The only way one can be “honoured” by the Father is to first be saved by God’s marvelous grace, as God so clearly sets forth in Neh 1:10: “Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.”

Php 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”

Except the LORD Build the House, They Labour in Vain that Build it

• When Human Diligence and Vigilance are Useless - Psalm 127, Verse 1 is a clear reminder that all human effort apart from God’s intervention is “in vain”, or futile. The desires and pursuits of unsaved man are typified by man’s construction of the tower of Babel in order to make a “name” for themselves, as Gen 11:4-9 describes. We learn from these passages that unsaved man in his pride wants to be just like God, and he wants to get the glory that belongs only to God Himself. This same sinful attitude is eminiscent of Satan, who is the spiritual father of all who are unsaved, as Isa 14:12-13 underscores. Those who are lost are unable to recognize the truth of Psa 108:12: “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man” and Pro 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”. Man’s pride and arrogance are not confined to the unsaved heathens of the world, but are also characteristics of those in the institutional churches and denominations, as typified by religious Israel in the Old Testament, as declared in Oba 1:3. In God’s earthly, institutional churches, the proliferation of today’s worldly false gospels tends to increase the percentage of false brethren, or nominal Christians, within the various congregations. This expands the worldly influence in the churches and accelerates the worldwide “falling away” from the True Gospel, or apostasy, that is so much in evidence at the present time (2 The 2:3). The popularity of most false gospels can generally be attributed to their appeals to man’s pride and basic sensual desires for political freedom, economic security and good health. God describes this natural, materialistic focus as man’s love of the world in 1 John 2:15-17. Psa 127:1 is a magnificent tribute to God’s constant faithfulness, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain”.

Gen 11:4-9 “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

Luke 1:51 “He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”

Isa 14:12-13 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:”

Oba 1:3 “The pride of thine [institutional churches and denominations, as typified by religious Israel in OT] heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock [naming the name of Christ], whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?”

Psalm 127:1-2 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”

• The Futility of Human Effort - The real desire of natural or unsaved man is to achieve the maximum level of economic prosperity, physical well-being, and political freedom in order to satisfy “the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life…” according to 1 John 2:16, which is “not of the Father, but is of the world”. Notice also the warning in verse 17: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”. The book of Ecclesiastes has much to say about this striving after “wind”, or vanity (Ecc 5:16). Consider the admonition of Ecc 2:11, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun”.  Those who put their trust in material goods –in the things of this world – are guaranteed to reap what they have sown, as Jam 5:1-5 sets forth. In our previous passages we looked at the pride of man to make a “name” for himself at the Tower of Babel and gain access into Heaven through his own presumptuous efforts. Man’s works are at best “filthy rags”, according to Isa 64:6. Ecc 2:22-23 is a vivid picture of the fallen human condition. Ecc 6:7 makes this point: “All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled”.  Perhaps this is related to John 6:27, where we learn: “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: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

Jam 5:1-3 “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.”

Ecc 2:22-23 “For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.”

Isa 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Psa 33:16-17 “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.”

• The Necessity for God’s Intervention - Psa 147:10 declares “He [God] delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man” and in Zec 4:6 “...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”. Deu 6:10 explains that the land Israel inherited (that ultimately points to the kingdom of God) was a gift for which they did not work: “And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not”. This concept is also evident in the construction of the Temple, according to 1 Kin 6:7: “And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building”. Notice what God looks for and what He, in turn, has initiated in Psa 33:18: “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;” and Eph 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”. The reason God has to take the initiative by His redemption is because man by nature is spiritually dead, and spurns God and the Bible, as Jer 6:16 indicates. Of course, God’s greatest gift to man is salvation, or eternal life, as Eph 2:8-9 insists. Not only has God done all the work of salvation, but He reminds us of His faithful and constant love for His people throughout the pages of Scripture.

Jos 24:17 “For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:”

Psa 37:28 “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints [born-again believers]; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”

Psa 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

Jer 6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

Psa 44:3-7 “For they got not the land [points to the kingdom of God] in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.”

• Resting in God - Psa 121 is a marvelous portrait of God’s providential care for His beloved children. The language that God neither slumbers nor sleeps illustrates His eternal vigilance over the sheep of His pasture. A comforting verse for the believer is also found in Deu 31:6, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”. This verse is a beautiful declaration of God’s sovereign faithfulness and perfect integrity in not only guiding the child of God through this life but all the way to glory. This same idea of God’s providential care is also expressed in the New Testament in Php 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”. Isn’t it amazing how God has obligated Himself to finish what He has begun by His eternal grace and love? Psa 127:2, highlights physical sleep, which symbolizes the spiritual rest that is the result of salvation, according to Mat 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Pro 3:21-26 also states: “... thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet... the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken”. Let me hasten to add that this only applies to his beloved sleep -- the believer in Jesus Christ, as 1 Pet 1:3-5 and  Jude 1:24-25 affirms. Rom 8:38-39 assures the true child of God that absolutely nothing can separate him from His faithful Savior: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Psa 66:8-9  declares, “O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.”

Psa 121:3-5 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel [God's Elect] shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”

Psa 127:1-2 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”

Pro 3:21-26 “My son, let not them [God’s commands in the Bible] depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

Eze 34:23-26 “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David [typifying Christ] a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing [spiritual blessing].”

Matt 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

1 Pet 1:3-5  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Jude 1:24-25 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

• Your Labour is NOT in Vain in the Lord - 1 Cor 15:58 admonishes believers, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”. The “labour” in this verse is pointing to the utmost importance of the task of spreading the Gospel and spiritual growth in God’s grace by labouring in His Word. 2 Cor 5:8-9 declares: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him”. And who is this “workman” or “laborer” these verses speak about? Luke 10:2 asserts, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest”. In actuality, the “laborers” are the ones whom God has redeemed and set apart to be His ambassadors, according to 2 Cor 5:17-20. Sadly, there have always been those who masquerade as God’s servants. This phenomenon is even more pernicious in these last days. 2 Cor 11:13-15 warns, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ”. With respect to genuine believers 2 Cor 4:2 maintains, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”. We must bear in mind that both the motivation as well as the performance can only be attributed to the marvelous intervention of God Himself, as 1 Cor 15:10 reveals: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”. Php 2:13 also verifies this, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”.

2 Cor 5:17-20 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
1 Tim 5:17 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

2 Tim 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Ecc 5:12 “The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”

1 The 2:4-11 “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.”

We are Laborers Together with God

• Labor is Required in Every Human Enterprise - God gave mankind the duty of working to live, as a result of Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, as we read in Gen 3. All who are physically and mentally capable of doing so are responsible to God and to the society into which God has placed them to earn a living by their own labor, as 2 The 3:10 declares. Thus, work is an important aspect in the life of every human being, according to Psa 104:23. Col 3:22-23 make the point that we should say and do everything to the glory of God.

Gen 3:19 “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

2 The 3:10 “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

Psa 104:23 “Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.”

Psa 90:10 “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

Col 3:22-23 “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

• Not the Labors of my Hands can Fulfill Thy Law's Demands - Because man is so conditioned to working to satisfy his physical and emotional needs, he naturally believes that he can also obtain spiritual benefits through his own efforts. Therefore, one common aspect of all the pagan religions and false gospels of the world is the notion that man must do something to gain favor with whomever or whatever they worship. However, the Bible says there is no work that we can do to get ourselves saved. We cannot contribute in any way to obtain salvation – no church, no religious ritual, no person, and no human effort can save us. God considers all of “unclean” man's attempts at becoming righteous to be like “filthy rags” in His sight, because they are tainted with sin, according to Isa 64:6. Only the work done by the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross and by the Holy Spirit in our hearts can save us.

Isa 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Jam 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Rom 3:19-20 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Gal 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

• Only Christ’s Labor Fulfilled the Demands of the Law of God - The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is totally by God’s sovereign grace, love and mercy; and those three elements – along with everything else associated with salvation – are unearned gifts from God to His people. Only God can “forgive” sins so they no longer count against a person. However, since God is bound by His Law that requires a payment for sin, His “forgiveness” is not based on a whim but on the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross for His people, the eternal Israel of God. Thus, God Himself, in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, had to make the ultimate payment – the equivalent of eternal punishment in Hell – for the sins of His people to obtain eternal forgiveness. God’s salvation mercy is an infinitely precious gift because Christ had to “give His life”, or soul, as a “ransom” to pay for His people’s sins, as we read in Mark 10:45. It is only because Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man that salvation is possible for mankind, as explained in 2 Tim 1:9. In Acts 13:41 God refers this message from Hab 1:5 to those who refuse to acknowledge that He does ALL the work of salvation.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man [Lord Jesus Christ] came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Acts 13:41 [quoting Hab 1:5] “Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I [God] work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man [Jesus Christ] declare it unto you.”

Isa 53:11-12 “He [God the Father] shall see of the travail [work] of his [Lord Jesus Christ] soul, and shall be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Tit 3:4-5 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

2 Tim 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

• Come unto Me [Jesus Christ], All ye that Labour, I will Give you Rest - Isa 55:1-3 beautifully describes the free gift of “everlasting life” and the “rest” of God’s salvation. The “rest” for our souls is something only God can give to us – we cannot attain it through any of our own efforts, as Heb 4:10-12 clearly states. The Greek word for “labour” in verse 11 means “to be diligent” with reference to feeding on the Word of God as is pointed out in verse 12. It is translated as “study” in 2 Tim 2:15.

Mat 11:28-30 “Come unto me [Jesus Christ], all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Heb 4:10-12 “For he that is entered into his [that is, God’s] rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour [spoudazo:G4704: diligent or study] therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

2 Tim 2:15 “Study [spoudazo:G4704] to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

John 6:27 “Labour not for the meat [material things] which perisheth, but for that meat [Word of God] which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

Isa 55:1-3 “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters [Gospel], and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat [the bread of life]; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good [the bread of life], and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant [or Gospel] with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

• We [believers] are Laborers Together with God - God commands all of His saints to “go ye into all the world” and to “shew mercy” to the lost by being “ambassadors for Christ” and proclaiming the “Gospel of Christ”. God’s “saints” (born-again believers) shall praise and bless the Lord for His grace, love, and mercy upon them and shall tell others about His glorious salvation, as Psa 145:10-12 declares. As believers bring the Gospel they are a “sweet savour of Christ” to the people of the world, as stated in 2 Cor 2:15-16. The Gospel is a two-edged sword that cuts one way to eternal life and the other way to eternal damnation, and God uses it to accomplish His purposes in the lives of those who come in contact with it. In other words, God is the builder of the house, or the eternal church that is the invisible body of true believers. We believers, are co-workers with God in building this house.

2 Cor 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Psa 145:10-12 “All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.”

2 Cor 2:15-16 “For we [believers] are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

1 Cor 3:9-15 “For we [believers] are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Psa 127:1 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”