Can I Do the Works of Christ?

Class Outline:

Wednesday May 14, 2025

Introduction: Jesus’ view is eschatological, meaning He always has a destination in mind.

 

The scene on the sea (MAT 14:22-33) is in two acts - salvation and destination.

 

In our passage today, He will say: “I go to prepare a place for you… receive you to myself.” 

 

Text: JOH 14:6-16 (expansion on theme of doing the works of Christ, Peter walking on water from MAT 14:22-33). 

 

Main idea: Jesus declares that if His saints know and see Him, they will know His way and do His works while keeping His commandments in love for Him.

 

JOH 14:12

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”

 

How is this going to happen? Jesus explains the how, why, where, and when. 

 

JOH 14:6-8

One of the purposes of the believer is to come to know Christ. 

 

Knowing a person is more than academic. More than reading a bio (PHI 3:10; JER 9:23-24; JOH 17:3; fulfillment of the New Covenant, JER 31:34). 

 

Knowing Christ demands that you know His deity and humanity. 

 

Deity: the Father is in Me and I in the Father (JOH 14:10-12). 

 

Humanity: The Father abides in Me and does His works (JOH 14:10). 

 

Application: PHI 2:12-13 (read context: after “every knee will bow”) 

 

If you are struggling with your faith, believe in the works themselves (JOH 14:11). 

 

Application: Sometimes the Person of Christ seems far removed, and in those times you can remember the works of the Lord (Psa 78; 105). 

 

Peter fails in faith, getting his eyes off the Savior. We all do it. 

 

The believer is made to do the works of the Lord (and greater) (JOH 14:12). 

 

The believer can do the works of Christ because of the gift of the Holy Spirit (JOH 14:12; JOH 14:16). 

 

To do the works of Christ, the believer must see and know the Holy Spirit (JOH 14:17). 

 

If you see Jesus you see the Holy Spirit (JOH 14:17). 

 

The works will always be doable because the Holy Spirit abides with you and in you (JOH 14:17). 

 

Application: due to the invisible and unfelt ministry of the Holy Spirit, many ways or procedures have been devised to make the Spirit’s empowering or filling more concrete. If we ritualize reality then we lower the Lord’s standard. No ritual is given for the power of the Holy Spirit. Only trust and obedience. Jesus tells them to know Him and obey Him and He says the Holy Spirit will do His will. It is a life. 

 

The believer will keep the commandments because he loves the Lord (JOH 14:15, JOH 14:23). 

 

The believer will love Him because He sees and knows Him (JOH 14:19-21). 

 

Knowing the Lord is a personal relationship because it is based on love (JOH 14:15, JOH 14:23). 

 

The one who loves the Lord will be loved by the Father and the Son (JOH 14:21). 

 

The Father and Son will make their home (same word as in JOH 14:2) with the one who loves them (JOH 14:23). 

 

Those who do not love Him do not see Him or know Him (JOH 14:24).

 

Closing Application: Abiding with the Father and Son now. 

 

If He is the way, truth, and life then He is in all goodness, all relationships of love, all purity, all righteousness, all works of righteousness, all virtues. 

 

Whenever you do divine things, thoughts, words, actions; you are seeing Him and knowing Him. 

 

The gift of the Holy Spirit makes the future heaven a reality now in our experience.

 

Love and obedience come from knowing and seeing Christ - seek Christ in everything you do. 

 

As Peter walked on the water, he showed JOH 14:12.

 

It was done by faith. Do the works of the Lord by faith (unless you don’t want to).  

 

Don’t stop seeking Him. By faith and obedience the believer can see Him every day.