John 6:28-29 Then said they to him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?… It is a very common charge against Christianity that "it puts creed above conduct." Whether there is any truth in that charge depends upon what is understood by the term "creed." When Jesus was asked directly concerning right conduct, he answered that a right belief is the basis of right conduct. If that be giving a first place to "creed," let it be borne in mind that it is Jesus Christ Himself who makes the assignment. A popular saying nowadays is that "it doesn't make any difference what a man believes if he only acts right"; but a Boston clergyman once improved on that saying by the simple change, "It doesn't make any difference what a man believes if he doesn't act right." If a man is a persistent evil-doer, the soundness of his theological convictions will not compensate for his wrong conduct. But when God has sent His Son to be a Saviour and a Guide, it makes all the difference in the world whether a sinner accepts or refuses to believe on the One who is the only Mediator between God and man. So far, a correct belief is all-essential as a basis of right conduct and of safe conduct. That is the truth as Jesus puts it. (H. C. Trumbull, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?WEB: They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?" |
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