ERGON (Work)

WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ

What is the Word?

The Christian community is obsessive about making a distinction between faith and works – often making it clear that we are saved solely by grace, apart from the works of the law. Yet, as James teaches us, faith without works is dead. Thus, there is certainly a prominent place for our actions in the life of the Christian. As such, we can expect to see this topic come up often in the scriptures. Most often this is expressed using the word ergon.

How does the Bible use this word?

While we often use “work” as a verb, it is a noun in the Greek. It can mean a work, deed, task, or even employment. As such, it has a wide application to our lives. It can refer to the work that God does on our behalf in Christ, or it can refer to the work which we do with God in his kingdom. It can also refer to those deeds which we do with the help of the Holy Spirit, those deeds that flow out of us as the fruit of the spirit. 

Where in the Bible?

From the time he is very young, Jesus is looking ahead to his mission. His entire ministry is predicated upon a climax – his moment where he will be crucified for the sins of the world. He notes in his high-priestly prayer:

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work (ἔργον) that you gave me to do.

John 17:4

Jesus came to Earth with a very specific mission, to gather the lost and preach the good news of the kingdom that has been inaugurated at his birth. Here he is acknowledging that this mission has been fulfilled in his ministry, and he is anticipating his final work – his impending death. 

Paul echoes Jesus and notes that we, too, are participants in Jesus’ mission of expanding the kingdom:

And whatever you do, in word or deed (ἔργῳ), do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

In all of our doings each and every day, Paul teaches us that all of these activities are to be consecrated to God. In this way, our life itself becomes an act of worship as we become a living sacrifice poured out as an offering of thanksgiving to God through Jesus Christ. 

Faith on Display

Although our good works do not earn our salvation, they are a necessary aspect of the life of faith. Just as a good tree produces good fruit, so also do good works flow from a heart transformed by the Gospel. Good works cannot be separated from faith anymore that wetness can be separated from water. Yet, we must remain true to the scriptures’ teaching that all of our good works flow from God himself. It is God who transforms us and sends us out to expand his kingdom and proclaim his reign.