We erred by allowing the teaching of God's grace to overwhelm and obliterate the truth given us by James that "faith without works is dead."
"For by grace you were saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast."
Ephesians 2:8, 9
And the verse that follows has for the most part been left out or ignored.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:10
And the fatal result -- we decided how to serve Him, we decided what "work" to do for Him.
"What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? ...Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself... Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac, his son, on the altar. You see that faith was working with his works. And by the deeds, faith was perfected (or completed) and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called a friend of God.' You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone... For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
James 2:14-26
Jesus had work to do, assigned to Him by His Father.
"I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do."
John 17:4
"Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.'"
John 4:34
"The witness which I have is greater than that of John for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me."
John 5:36
"For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and greater works that these will He show Him, that you may marvel."
John 5:20
Jesus said His followers also have work to do:
"Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father."
John 14:12
Again:
"For we are God's handiwork recreated in Christ Jesus that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us, (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:10
Jesus gave Himself for us...
"...that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."
Titus 2:14
I understand now that the deeds I performed (described in The Martha Syndrome) were not just useless in serving God, they were lawless!
In the Revelation to John and to the seven churches, it is clear that the churches were given deeds to accomplish. Jesus commends the church in Thyatira:
"I know your deeds... your last deeds are greater than the first."
Revelation 2:19
And the church in Philadelphia:
"I know your deeds. Behold I have put before you an open door which no one can shut because you have a little power and have kept My word, and have not denied My name."
Revelation 3:8
The seven churches were also measured by their deeds:
"I am the one who searches the mind and the hearts; and I will give to each one according to your deeds."
Revelation 2:23
To the church in Sardis:
"I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God."
Revelation 3:1, 2
"And he who overcomes and he who keeps My deeds to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations and he shall rule (or shepherd) them with a rod of iron... as also I have received authority from My Father, and I will give him the morning star."
Revelation 2:26
And to Laodicea:
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold I will vomit you out of My mouth..."
Revelation 3:15
Wake up! There is still work to be done. How do I know for sure? The Revelation in Handbook 2: "He is reviving His work in the midst of the years; In the midst of the years He is making Himself known."
Jesus accomplished the work God gave Him to do!
Did Paul? In his own words:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith..."
2 Timothy 4:7
Will I?
"Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father."
John 14:12
"For we are God's handiwork recreated in Christ Jesus that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us, (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:10
Remember the man in the parable of the wedding feast, the man who came without the proper wedding garment?
"Let us rejoice... for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the holy ones... 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'"
Revelation 19:5-9
"The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father and will recompense every man according to His deeds."
Matthew 16:27