I've been trying to get an answer to John 6:28-29 from Catholics as to whether it means EXACTLY what it says or not.
To be fair I've had plenty of christians who are not RCs give me a blank look over the same verse.
I think we are supposed to do the "work of God" because it will lead us into His rest...."For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:10)
People seem not to grasp that believing is actual work,hard work,work that will churn you up inside and make you run to Jesus Christ,in fear of God and our own dark selves! It seems to pit the heart against the mind.It's what we believe deep in our spirit that counts..."For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness..." (Romans 10:10) The deep belief that determines largely how we think.
Since..."The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)... it stands to reason that the heart would rather bend the mind to think on it's own terms than let a two edged sword come hacking and slashing it's way through the wickedness and deceit.So the heart will cloak itself with all sorts of goodliness to assuage the mind and let itself remain in place.It does not want to decrease.
The payoff is that we do not "cease from our own works" because that same heart is still there using the mind to justify itself and in the end all we'll get out of that is fear and death.That's why it's work,you are fighting that which is within you....that's why Paul says... "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (...lest any fall because they are not doing the work of God?)
and Peter... Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall" (2 Peter 1:10)So there in black and white God is giving a guarantee that "if you do these things" you will never fall.The "work of God" is obviously important to say the least and it's a wonder it's not shouted from the rooftops.
God works on us from the inside out.Deep inside,deeper than we can know,beneath the baggage in our hearts and the clutter in our minds and let's us know from the start..."These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13) and knowing that will give your heart and mind the end-game around which the accuser has no 'way'.1 John 5:13 is like a bomb going off in the human heart and the accuser will do anything to try and smother it and that anything will most certainly involve our own carnal thinking led by that same deceitful heart.It's not presuming it's the ONLY WAY.
What else can we do but stand empty handed and say "Lord I believe,help thou my unbelief"
Anyhoo that's some of my thoughts on John 6:29 had many a night whilst my "sleep departed from me"
Grace and peace to you all.