They are just assuming God requires works. So, their question is what are those works. Jesus starts to move them away from that mindset by phrasing the answer in the way they were used to speaking but telling them the only thing they need to do is believe.
It would be like if I was trying to give someone a free car and they couldn’t accept the idea that someone would just give them a car. “Surely the car costs something. What do I need to pay you?” they may say. I could respond, “The cost of the car is accepting the gift.”
Still Speaking Our Language
The truth is a lot of us still think like the Jews, maybe all of us. So, this passage is still very helpful for us, today.
When you start wondering what you need to do to be saved or if you’ve done what you need to do or if you’ve done enough, etc…When you question whether salvation can really just be a gift, remember this passage. The work God requires is to believe in Jesus. That’s it. Salvation really is a gift.
So, get to work. 😉
Dear Jesus,
So often I fall back into the belief that I must earn my salvation somehow. This always ends up with me discouraged or prideful. Help me to remember salvation is a gift. You have already done the work. Help me to rest in that gift.
Amen.