"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has assigned" (Romans 12:3, ESV).
"... [Measuring] yourselves by the faith God has given you..." (Rom. 12:3, NLT, italics mine).
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him ... by faith Abraham obeyed..." (Hebrews 11:6, 8, ESV).
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race [course], I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7, NKJV, italics mine).
"... I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3, ESV).
"[F]or we walk by faith, and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7, ESV).
You've probably heard of the cliche that you don't have a leg to stand on; faith is like that as a contrast, it has legs to stand on! We have sound reasons to believe and haven't kissed our brains goodbye or committed intellectual suicide to become Christians! Having legs implies you intend to go somewhere and are equipped for it, and even ready. You are either going forward, backward or standing still! In the walk of faith, you are supposed to be going forward, and not standing or going backward.
Faith is an abstract concept and must be seen to be understood. It's something you do--, not something you have. By faith the heroes did this and that in the hall of faith chapter of Hebrews. Faith is not static or inert, but active, living, growing and involved--bearing fruit. Everyone has some kind of faith in something because we are hard-wired that way. Secularists have faith in science or man's ability to solve his dilemmas and issues. But it's not the amount of faith that's the vital link, but the object. Small but sincere faith in the right thing will bring results, but even much faith misdirected will be vain and fruitless. The Israelites had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (cf. Rom. 10:2). People in the North know there are two kinds of ice, and you can have a lot of faith crossing thin ice and you'll still fall through, but small faith in thick ice will get you from point A to point B.
The whole point of the Christian life is that you must grow in your relationship and mature in Christ, in other words, that you are going somewhere! A walk with Christ implies you cannot tread water or stand in one place. Ever heard of the "Nowhere Man" song of The Beatles? He doesn't know where he's going to and doesn't have a point of view! We are not to wander aimlessly through the Christian life without purpose and meaning, because Christ gives us a reason to live and for our existence to find fulfillment--a more abundant life--some Christians never achieve this because of the so-called rat-race they get tied up with and are never set free spiritually to live victorious Christian lives in the power of the Spirit, not the energy of the flesh.
Faith must be illustrated to be conceived: suppose I reach into my pocket and pull out something and ask you to tell me what's in my hand. If you can't guess, let's say for the sake of argument, that I give you a hint that I had coins in my pocket. Now you say that you believe I have a coin in my hand--that's faith, if I tell you that you're right, you take my word for it and have greater faith, but it's still faith! Now, let me destroy your faith! I'll open my hand and show you the coin. Now you don't have faith anymore, but knowledge--see the difference--faith isn't absolute but has room for doubt and cannot be perfect, but God requires sincere, unfeigned faith, not perfect faith--it's evidence of the unseen (cf. Heb. 11:1)!
Now another illustration: we must act on, or out, our faith. If a tightrope walker tells you he can carry you across the rope and you tell him you believe him, that 's not faith unless you are willing to be carried across--you can say you believe, but your decisions may belie your so-called profession; there's a profession of faith or bogus faith, and a reality of faith or saving faith.
We are not rewarded according to our faith (cf. Rom. 2:6)! We are rewarded according to our deeds and the good works we accomplished through God's Spirit with the faith given by God (cf. Romans 12:3 above). Note that faith is a gift: "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake" (Phil. 1:29, ESV); Peter writes: "... [To] those who have obtained a faith of equal standing..." (2 Pet. 1:1, ESV). We cannot boast of what God accomplishes through us (cf. Rom. 15:18; Isaiah 26:12). God is simply using us as "vessels of honor" to accomplish His divine will and to bring glory to Him (cf. Isaiah 43:7).
Living faith grows and goes somewhere! If your faith hasn't improved or accomplished something you can doubt it's being genuine and saving faith. It must be validated by good works. We aren't saved by good works, neither are we saved without them, but saved unto them (cf. Eph. 2:10). Paul would say, "I'll show you my good deeds by my faith!' James would counter a complimentary statement: "I'll show you my faith by my good deeds!" These two can be distinguished, but not separated. We are not saved by faith that stands alone. We are saved by faith alone, but not be a faith that is alone, according to the Reformers' formula!
Antinomians insist that works don't have to accompany saving faith, or they believe we are saved by faith minus works! No fruit means no faith! Dead faith doesn't save and the only faith that saves is productive faith doing God's will! Dead faith isn't profitable for anything and cannot go anywhere. A person can be sincerely wrong, though sincerity matters, it's not the most vital link to salvation--it's not everything. We are saved by grace through faith, and our faith is solely a gift of God, not something we conjure up or work up in our own efforts of the flesh. God quickens faith within us! "So faith comes from hearing, and through hearing, of the word of Christ," (Romans 10:17, ESV), and God opens the heart (cf. Acts 16:14) to respond positively to the gospel, "who through grace had believed" (cf. Acts 18:27, ESV).
Saving faith is obedient and the only authentic test of faith is its obedience and it's always manifest through it, not by experience or emotions, feelings, or ecstasies. Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said, "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes." Jesus also said that if we love Him we will keep and obey His commands (cf. John 14:21). Faith, it is said, is not believing despite the evidence, but obeying in spite of the consequences! All faith must be tested for obedience, not emotions! Some people are just hard-wired differently and are stoical and not demonstrative, even at concerts and sports events, not just worship!
Note that faith is not an end in itself; faith doesn't save, the object of the faith is what matters--Christ saves! We don't have faith in faith! When you say, "To defend the faith," you must be talking about the orthodox body of dogma of the Christian religion, not just your own personal faith, we are all called to be defenders of the truth and contenders of the faith (cf. Jude 3), and to be able to have an answer for why we believe, not just know what we believe (cf. 1 Pet. 3:15). In the end result, it matters more how big your God is than how big your faith is!
The same word is used for faith and faithfulness in the Old Testament Hebrew (e.g., Hab. 2:4, "The just shall walk by faith [faithfulness]"). We must not divorce these two but realize they are juxtaposed and together like a coin with a flip side--they are complimentary! Good works is no substitute for faith, but proof it exists! True faith always expresses itself! We show our faith by being faithful to whatever gifts, talents, abilities, opportunities, time, resources, money, relationships, and so forth that are bestowed on us by grace!
Remember the words of Heb. 11:6 that faith is what "pleases" God, we can become emotional, wear our religion on our sleeves, or flaunt our religion, but that doesn't please God, if there is no genuine faith and obedience--even if there is no sentiment, for they don't save, but they will come from a life of faith in the order: fact, faith, then feeling--we must not be feeling-driven or emotionally crippled and dependent! Jesus didn't say that if you love Him, you'll be on Cloud Nine, but that you'd obey Him! Faith is a door to eternal life, not the destination: we "believe in order to understand," for "faith precedes reason," according to Saint Augustine.
In the final analysis, the only happy believer is the serving one and a non-serving believer is a contradiction in terms, for we are saved to serve; even Christ came not to be served, but to serve (cf. Mark 10:45). At the final audit of our life at the Bema or tribunal (called the Judgment Seat of Christ by some), we will have to give an account of what we did with the faith God gave us, and each is given a portion of faith (cf. Rom. 12:3).
To whom much is given, much is required (cf. Luke 12:48)! With great faith, comes great responsibility and God will say that His grace is sufficient for us as He did to Paul about His thorn in the flesh (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9). We must sow to reap, and he who sows sparingly will reap likewise! We must sow and leave the results to God and focus on faithfulness, not success!
As Mother Teresa of Calcutta, now canonized and recipient of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, said that God "calls us to faithfulness, not success!" It is said that if you've never made a mistake [failed], you've never made [tried] anything [challenging!]" Failure doesn't always mean lack of faith or faithfulness. We must remain faithful to the calling God gave us. As Peter said, "... [Make] your calling and election sure..." in 2 Pet. 1:10, ESV. Soli Deo Gloria!
"... [Measuring] yourselves by the faith God has given you..." (Rom. 12:3, NLT, italics mine).
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him ... by faith Abraham obeyed..." (Hebrews 11:6, 8, ESV).
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race [course], I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7, NKJV, italics mine).
"... I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3, ESV).
"[F]or we walk by faith, and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7, ESV).
You've probably heard of the cliche that you don't have a leg to stand on; faith is like that as a contrast, it has legs to stand on! We have sound reasons to believe and haven't kissed our brains goodbye or committed intellectual suicide to become Christians! Having legs implies you intend to go somewhere and are equipped for it, and even ready. You are either going forward, backward or standing still! In the walk of faith, you are supposed to be going forward, and not standing or going backward.
Faith is an abstract concept and must be seen to be understood. It's something you do--, not something you have. By faith the heroes did this and that in the hall of faith chapter of Hebrews. Faith is not static or inert, but active, living, growing and involved--bearing fruit. Everyone has some kind of faith in something because we are hard-wired that way. Secularists have faith in science or man's ability to solve his dilemmas and issues. But it's not the amount of faith that's the vital link, but the object. Small but sincere faith in the right thing will bring results, but even much faith misdirected will be vain and fruitless. The Israelites had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (cf. Rom. 10:2). People in the North know there are two kinds of ice, and you can have a lot of faith crossing thin ice and you'll still fall through, but small faith in thick ice will get you from point A to point B.
The whole point of the Christian life is that you must grow in your relationship and mature in Christ, in other words, that you are going somewhere! A walk with Christ implies you cannot tread water or stand in one place. Ever heard of the "Nowhere Man" song of The Beatles? He doesn't know where he's going to and doesn't have a point of view! We are not to wander aimlessly through the Christian life without purpose and meaning, because Christ gives us a reason to live and for our existence to find fulfillment--a more abundant life--some Christians never achieve this because of the so-called rat-race they get tied up with and are never set free spiritually to live victorious Christian lives in the power of the Spirit, not the energy of the flesh.
Faith must be illustrated to be conceived: suppose I reach into my pocket and pull out something and ask you to tell me what's in my hand. If you can't guess, let's say for the sake of argument, that I give you a hint that I had coins in my pocket. Now you say that you believe I have a coin in my hand--that's faith, if I tell you that you're right, you take my word for it and have greater faith, but it's still faith! Now, let me destroy your faith! I'll open my hand and show you the coin. Now you don't have faith anymore, but knowledge--see the difference--faith isn't absolute but has room for doubt and cannot be perfect, but God requires sincere, unfeigned faith, not perfect faith--it's evidence of the unseen (cf. Heb. 11:1)!
Now another illustration: we must act on, or out, our faith. If a tightrope walker tells you he can carry you across the rope and you tell him you believe him, that 's not faith unless you are willing to be carried across--you can say you believe, but your decisions may belie your so-called profession; there's a profession of faith or bogus faith, and a reality of faith or saving faith.
We are not rewarded according to our faith (cf. Rom. 2:6)! We are rewarded according to our deeds and the good works we accomplished through God's Spirit with the faith given by God (cf. Romans 12:3 above). Note that faith is a gift: "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake" (Phil. 1:29, ESV); Peter writes: "... [To] those who have obtained a faith of equal standing..." (2 Pet. 1:1, ESV). We cannot boast of what God accomplishes through us (cf. Rom. 15:18; Isaiah 26:12). God is simply using us as "vessels of honor" to accomplish His divine will and to bring glory to Him (cf. Isaiah 43:7).
Living faith grows and goes somewhere! If your faith hasn't improved or accomplished something you can doubt it's being genuine and saving faith. It must be validated by good works. We aren't saved by good works, neither are we saved without them, but saved unto them (cf. Eph. 2:10). Paul would say, "I'll show you my good deeds by my faith!' James would counter a complimentary statement: "I'll show you my faith by my good deeds!" These two can be distinguished, but not separated. We are not saved by faith that stands alone. We are saved by faith alone, but not be a faith that is alone, according to the Reformers' formula!
Antinomians insist that works don't have to accompany saving faith, or they believe we are saved by faith minus works! No fruit means no faith! Dead faith doesn't save and the only faith that saves is productive faith doing God's will! Dead faith isn't profitable for anything and cannot go anywhere. A person can be sincerely wrong, though sincerity matters, it's not the most vital link to salvation--it's not everything. We are saved by grace through faith, and our faith is solely a gift of God, not something we conjure up or work up in our own efforts of the flesh. God quickens faith within us! "So faith comes from hearing, and through hearing, of the word of Christ," (Romans 10:17, ESV), and God opens the heart (cf. Acts 16:14) to respond positively to the gospel, "who through grace had believed" (cf. Acts 18:27, ESV).
Saving faith is obedient and the only authentic test of faith is its obedience and it's always manifest through it, not by experience or emotions, feelings, or ecstasies. Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said, "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes." Jesus also said that if we love Him we will keep and obey His commands (cf. John 14:21). Faith, it is said, is not believing despite the evidence, but obeying in spite of the consequences! All faith must be tested for obedience, not emotions! Some people are just hard-wired differently and are stoical and not demonstrative, even at concerts and sports events, not just worship!
Note that faith is not an end in itself; faith doesn't save, the object of the faith is what matters--Christ saves! We don't have faith in faith! When you say, "To defend the faith," you must be talking about the orthodox body of dogma of the Christian religion, not just your own personal faith, we are all called to be defenders of the truth and contenders of the faith (cf. Jude 3), and to be able to have an answer for why we believe, not just know what we believe (cf. 1 Pet. 3:15). In the end result, it matters more how big your God is than how big your faith is!
The same word is used for faith and faithfulness in the Old Testament Hebrew (e.g., Hab. 2:4, "The just shall walk by faith [faithfulness]"). We must not divorce these two but realize they are juxtaposed and together like a coin with a flip side--they are complimentary! Good works is no substitute for faith, but proof it exists! True faith always expresses itself! We show our faith by being faithful to whatever gifts, talents, abilities, opportunities, time, resources, money, relationships, and so forth that are bestowed on us by grace!
Remember the words of Heb. 11:6 that faith is what "pleases" God, we can become emotional, wear our religion on our sleeves, or flaunt our religion, but that doesn't please God, if there is no genuine faith and obedience--even if there is no sentiment, for they don't save, but they will come from a life of faith in the order: fact, faith, then feeling--we must not be feeling-driven or emotionally crippled and dependent! Jesus didn't say that if you love Him, you'll be on Cloud Nine, but that you'd obey Him! Faith is a door to eternal life, not the destination: we "believe in order to understand," for "faith precedes reason," according to Saint Augustine.
In the final analysis, the only happy believer is the serving one and a non-serving believer is a contradiction in terms, for we are saved to serve; even Christ came not to be served, but to serve (cf. Mark 10:45). At the final audit of our life at the Bema or tribunal (called the Judgment Seat of Christ by some), we will have to give an account of what we did with the faith God gave us, and each is given a portion of faith (cf. Rom. 12:3).
To whom much is given, much is required (cf. Luke 12:48)! With great faith, comes great responsibility and God will say that His grace is sufficient for us as He did to Paul about His thorn in the flesh (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9). We must sow to reap, and he who sows sparingly will reap likewise! We must sow and leave the results to God and focus on faithfulness, not success!
As Mother Teresa of Calcutta, now canonized and recipient of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, said that God "calls us to faithfulness, not success!" It is said that if you've never made a mistake [failed], you've never made [tried] anything [challenging!]" Failure doesn't always mean lack of faith or faithfulness. We must remain faithful to the calling God gave us. As Peter said, "... [Make] your calling and election sure..." in 2 Pet. 1:10, ESV. Soli Deo Gloria!
No comments:
Post a Comment