The Work of God is Faith in Christ

By Scott Mitchell

In a world where religious systems demand endless effort and ritual, the Scriptures present a strikingly different truth: God does not call us to earn salvation through deeds, but to believe in the One He has sent—Jesus Christ. This is not a new message. It was spoken by the Lord Himself and echoed throughout the apostolic writings. Yet many still stumble over its simplicity.

John 6:28-29 records the crowd asking Jesus, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” His response is neither complex nor ambiguous: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” The singular requirement is faith.

Naaman’s Misconception: Expecting the Spectacular

The story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 illustrates the human tendency to seek dramatic or ceremonial displays of God’s power. Naaman, a Syrian general afflicted with leprosy, expected a healing ritual of grandeur. Instead, Elisha, the prophet of God, instructs him to simply dip seven times in the Jordan River. Offended by the simplicity, Naaman initially refuses. It is only when he humbles himself and obeys this act of faith that he is healed (2 Kings 5:14).

Naaman’s error mirrors that of many today who seek to “earn” salvation through performance, payment, or piety. God, however, does not bargain. He gives freely to those who trust Him.

Salvation Comes Through Belief, Not Behavior

The apostle Paul consistently affirmed that salvation is not a product of works, but a gift accessed through belief. In Romans 4:5, he writes: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Likewise, Titus 3:5-7 clarifies: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”

The Gospel is not a contract—it is a proclamation. It declares that Jesus Christ has completed the work, and we are called to believe and receive it.

The Bread That Endures: Jesus, the True Sustenance

In John 6, Jesus confronts a crowd that had followed Him after the miraculous feeding of thousands. They sought more bread, more signs—yet missed the point. Christ admonishes them not to labor “for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life” (John 6:27). He identifies Himself as that eternal Bread of Life, offered not through effort, but through belief (John 6:35).

The Simplicity of the Gospel: Preaching That Confounds the Wise

To the natural mind, the message of faith alone seems foolish. Paul acknowledged this in 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness…” Yet God, in His wisdom, chose this very method—preaching the Gospel—to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:21). Salvation is not discovered in complexity or mysticism, but in the clear, declared truth of Christ crucified and risen.

A Call to Believe: Faith Is the Work

My own early misunderstanding of salvation was mistaking intellectual acknowledgment for true belief. Many are caught in this same confusion. But Scripture is plain: the only acceptable “work” before God is to believe in His Son. No ritual, no heritage, no personal effort can substitute for faith. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39-40)

As Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

Closing Thoughts

Faith in Jesus Christ is not a step among many; it is the step. The simplicity of this truth often offends, yet it stands as the unchanging foundation of the Gospel. If you have not placed your full trust in Jesus for salvation, now is the time. Not tomorrow. Not after more signs. Believe today—and receive the peace and assurance only He can give.

The Work of God Is Faith: Understanding John 6:29 – now streaming on Rumble!

All Scripture quotations are from the King James Bible.