You cannot have saving faith and keep it to yourself as if you're in God's secret service. Romans 10:9 says we must confess Jesus as Lord. James says in James 2:20 that faith without works is dead--dead faith cannot save (likewise, works without faith or done in the flesh cannot save per Isaiah 64:6). Bona fide faith expresses itself in the real world of one's circle of influence. Furthermore, you cannot have saving faith without genuine obedience as Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in his dictum: "Only he who believes is obedient, only he who is obedient believes." As "a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith," (cf. Acts 6:7, ESV) so must we. You can distinguish them, but not separate them, because they go hand in hand and cooperate with each other.
The faith you have is the faith you show, because actions can, and usually, do, speak louder than words. It has been said that faith isn't something you have, but something you do! Faith has legs and is an action-implying word. Because it is an abstract idea it needs to be illustrated and the whole chapter of Hebrews 11 is devoted to this to give us the idea, to follow in the steps of the heroes of the faith--like Abraham who ventured out in faith, not knowing where he was going. He validated his faith and transformed it into a testimony and example for all of us as the father of all who has faith. Faith and action are interrelated and go hand in hand.
The measure of one's spirituality is not his emotions, ecstasies, experiences, or achievements, but his obedience. However, we are not made right with God or saved by what we do, but by what we believe in the heart. We are not saved by works, in other words, but unto works. We are not saved by works, and not without them either, as the formula of the Reformers says: "We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone."
The faith you have is the faith you show, because actions can, and usually, do, speak louder than words. It has been said that faith isn't something you have, but something you do! Faith has legs and is an action-implying word. Because it is an abstract idea it needs to be illustrated and the whole chapter of Hebrews 11 is devoted to this to give us the idea, to follow in the steps of the heroes of the faith--like Abraham who ventured out in faith, not knowing where he was going. He validated his faith and transformed it into a testimony and example for all of us as the father of all who has faith. Faith and action are interrelated and go hand in hand.
The measure of one's spirituality is not his emotions, ecstasies, experiences, or achievements, but his obedience. However, we are not made right with God or saved by what we do, but by what we believe in the heart. We are not saved by works, in other words, but unto works. We are not saved by works, and not without them either, as the formula of the Reformers says: "We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone."
Works are no substitute for faith, but only evidence of it. Paul and James complimented each other in their viewpoints and outlook: Paul would say, "I'll show you my works by my faith;" and James would say, "I'll show you my faith by my works." We must translate our creeds into deeds. Galatians 5:6 (NIV) says that "the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love"--we're judged by our works, not our faith. Judge yourself by the amount of faith God has allotted you (Rom. 12:3).
The only true standard to measure faith by is obedience. Faith inevitably and invariably expresses itself. Samuel said to Saul that "to obey is better than sacrifice [going through the motions of ritual]." Jesus became the "source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (cf. Hebrews 5:9, ESV). Lordship salvation connotes obedience and aligning your ways with God's will and getting with the program.
Faith starts with comprehension and understanding, moves on to acceptance, and progresses to trust. It involves knowledge of right doctrine (i.e., not heresy, but orthodox teaching), assent and agreement to it, and trust and devotion to it in faithfulness (faith and faithfulness are interrelated too). We must believe with our whole being: Our hearts, minds, and wills, which implies submission to His will and loving Jesus with our heart and knowing Him with our minds. It isn't the amount of faith that saves, but the object of it--faith doesn't save, Christ does!
Faith is not being credulous or lending credence to something for no reason--faith doesn't believe despite the evidence but in spite of the consequences. We have sound reasons to believe; we can even put our doubts aside and believe anyway because we don't need all the answers to take the leap of faith. We can pray, "Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief!" (Cf. Mark 9:24). Faith is simple, not simplistic, childlike, not childish, they say, Saving faith involves sincerity, loyalty, love, worship, faithfulness, and repentance.
The only true standard to measure faith by is obedience. Faith inevitably and invariably expresses itself. Samuel said to Saul that "to obey is better than sacrifice [going through the motions of ritual]." Jesus became the "source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (cf. Hebrews 5:9, ESV). Lordship salvation connotes obedience and aligning your ways with God's will and getting with the program.
Faith starts with comprehension and understanding, moves on to acceptance, and progresses to trust. It involves knowledge of right doctrine (i.e., not heresy, but orthodox teaching), assent and agreement to it, and trust and devotion to it in faithfulness (faith and faithfulness are interrelated too). We must believe with our whole being: Our hearts, minds, and wills, which implies submission to His will and loving Jesus with our heart and knowing Him with our minds. It isn't the amount of faith that saves, but the object of it--faith doesn't save, Christ does!
Faith is not being credulous or lending credence to something for no reason--faith doesn't believe despite the evidence but in spite of the consequences. We have sound reasons to believe; we can even put our doubts aside and believe anyway because we don't need all the answers to take the leap of faith. We can pray, "Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief!" (Cf. Mark 9:24). Faith is simple, not simplistic, childlike, not childish, they say, Saving faith involves sincerity, loyalty, love, worship, faithfulness, and repentance.
God doesn't ask us to believe for no sound reason or against the evidence. It is based on historical, verifiable fact and compelling circumstantial evidence, not myth, hearsay, or fable. God gives us a preponderance of the evidence which dictates faith. Faith is not blind but the cure for it! People of faith have not kissed their brains goodbye, but their faith is defensible on the open marketplace of ideas.
Faith is the instrument means of salvation, it is not salvation--we don't put faith in faith and think that just having faith is the key, regardless of content, object, or sincerity. We believe in our hearts because Jesus said they were "slow of heart to believe." It is not head belief, in other words, but the heart of the matter is that it's a matter of the heart. Faith is trust in the abstract and invisible, not tangible and visible.
Faith is the instrument means of salvation, it is not salvation--we don't put faith in faith and think that just having faith is the key, regardless of content, object, or sincerity. We believe in our hearts because Jesus said they were "slow of heart to believe." It is not head belief, in other words, but the heart of the matter is that it's a matter of the heart. Faith is trust in the abstract and invisible, not tangible and visible.
Faith without works is dead faith, and that kind of faith does not lead to salvation according to James. Even the demons believe in God, so there is a difference between believing in God and believing God. The Reformed formula of salvation is thus: Saved by grace alone [no merit], by faith alone [not works], in Christ alone [not self-effort]. We rely on the Scripture alone as our authority in this and this all means that all the glory goes to God.
The flip side of faith is repentance (they go hand in hand and can be distinguished, but not separated, which means you cannot have saving faith if you don't repent and vice versa--repentance is also by the grace of God (cf. Acts 5:31; 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25). There is no impenitent faith or genuine repentance without saving faith--they go hand in hand and can be distinguished, but not separated.
The flip side of faith is repentance (they go hand in hand and can be distinguished, but not separated, which means you cannot have saving faith if you don't repent and vice versa--repentance is also by the grace of God (cf. Acts 5:31; 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25). There is no impenitent faith or genuine repentance without saving faith--they go hand in hand and can be distinguished, but not separated.
What is a penitent heart but a turnaround from the inside out, an about-face, a U-turn, a 180-degree turn, coming clean, and owning up to your sin by turning from it towards God in faith; note that repentance is progressive and on-going just like our faith is, as we progress from faith to faith. Soli Deo Gloria!
No comments:
Post a Comment