John 6:29 NKJV
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
Work will be done, the real question is by whom does the work be completed by. For every action has an opposite and equal reaction. If you study the "Laws through Moses" you will find that the flesh was given the responsibility to complete the opposite equal reaction.
Exodus 21:23-25 NKJV
But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
As mankind failed at this requirement God decided that he would complete the opposite equal reaction.
Romans 12:19 NKJV
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Therefore the "Laws given from God"(10 Commandments) are more completely fulfilled when God responds with the vengeance. For if by the requirement of the Laws of Opposite Equal Reaction life must be taken for life, then when God takes the life instead of the flesh, the flesh follows his commandment to not kill. Here is an example of this at work:
Acts 23:2-3 NKJV
And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
See by the "Laws through Moses" Paul would have been required to strike him back with his flesh. Therefore faith requires work, specifically "the decision to not fix the threatening behavior, and believe that God will fulfill the requirements of the law whether it be forgiveness or punishment."
The second part to the works of God are to keep his commandments. These are his Ten Commandments. Although a believer can cultivate an advantage to the Laws of Opposite Equal Reaction. Anyone who breaks a Commandment leans towards death. For if one kills the Opposite Equal Reaction is for the offender to be killed.
Revelation 13:10 NKJV
He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Therefore we must have faith that God will Fulfill the law.
Matthew 5:17 NKJV
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
So the works of faith, is allowing God to do the work like he did with Ananias and Sapphira
Acts 5:5-6 NKJV
Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
Acts 5:9-10 NKJV
Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
And was taught by Jesus.
John 8:7 NKJV
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
He might as well have said “God who is without sin among you, let God throw a stone at her first.”
Is there room for disagreement in this area, or would this be an issue to divide over? Plenty of room for disagreement, the initial break off from the Catholic Church was because of the understanding of faith and the fact that Jesus died. They put their faith in the fact that he died instead of seeing his death as the instruction of how we ourselves are to die. Indeed salvation came to us by his death, for to understand how to allow ourselves to just die was a foreign concept as we forceful pursue life. Sayings like:
Matthew 16:24 NKJV
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Matthew 5:39 NKJV
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
and why?
Romans 12:19 NKJV
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Became overwhelmed with forgiveness and a license to sin, and/or forgiveness is easier then permission. Yet the works of God are to believe in Jesus, but for more clarity the works are also to not decide to fix the threatening behavior. For those that decide to fix the threatening behavior have stolen Gods Vengeance, and that has a penalty attached. The penalty of Death, unless God shows mercy. His mercy abounds! Thank you God!
Galatians 6:7 NKJV
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Yet what did Jesus say about his death! The kingdom of God will be taken from those that trust on his death!
Matthew 21:38-44 NKJV
But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
By your own blood you enter the most holy place, just as he did.
Hebrews 9:12 NKJV
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
So the works is also to be a living sacrifice!
Romans 12:1 NKJV
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
So for more clarity the works are faith by not deciding to fix the threatening behavior through the trusting of God to fulfill the Law of Opposite Equal Reaction by becoming a living sacrifice. For those that do, will be given the reward of everlasting life. Amen in the name of Jesus.