God's Power or Ours

Anytime we say we have to do something to be saved faith only groups claim we are trusting in ourselves or in our own power.This is really just Satan making a false accusation through them.

There is a story in John's Gospel where Jesus was highlighting God's power while at the same time commanding a blind man to do something. He was commanded to wash. The incident can be found in John 9:1-15.

Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

The purpose of the entire event was God's work vs. man's work, even though the blind man was told to wash.

He was set aside from birth (Predestined)

Jesus anointed his eyes  (Sort of like Jesus opening our understanding, anointed with the word)

The man obeyed by washing  (The obedience of faith)

The Father or the Holy Spirit healed his eyes  (God's power healed his sight)

It is an example where the obedience of man does not minimize the work and power of God. God's power finished the healing and not man's work. It is similar to salvation where we wash in baptism but God's power forgives. Our obedience does not minimize God's work.

Thus Ephesians 2:8 isn't saying we don't have to obey, only that God set us aside to be saved before our birth through his work and power. The blind man was set aside before his birth, he was given Christ's word and obeyed, he was healed by God's power to finish the work.

Our generation as a group has been set aside to hear the gospel, those who obey can be healed of sin.

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

Joh 9:1  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 

Joh 9:2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 

Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

Joh 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 

Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 

Joh 9:6  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 

Joh 9:7  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 

Joh 9:8  The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 

Joh 9:9  Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 

Joh 9:10  Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 

Joh 9:11  He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. 

Joh 9:12  Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. 

Joh 9:13  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 

Joh 9:14  And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 

Joh 9:15  Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 

The blind man was born to be a part of God's work and by obedience he entered into it.

The church is God's work.