Some earnest believers urge men to "keep the faith," while this may seem like a reasonable exhortation, it's meaningless. The motto of the sovereign of the UK is "F.D." or Fidei Defensor, meaning that be the "defender of the faith," while crown prince Charles wants to change it to simply "defender of faith." To him, it matters not what your faith is as long as you defend it. The Bible also speaks of contending for the faith, not just faith per se, and refers also to our Christian credo or constitution. All in all, it's not how big our faith, but how big our God and through our repentance. There's no saving faith without genuine heartfelt repentance (cf. Acts 26:20). We have penitent faith or believing repentance. We don't have faith in faith! Faith is only as valid as the object it's placed in. We don't need perfect faith--just sincere, unfeigned faith!
As you may recall, Paul urged Timothy to keep the faith and many in the latter days would abandon the faith or bail out theologically as it were. Paul boasted in his swan song (2 Tim. 4:7, NIV) that he had "fought the good fight, [he] finished the race, [he] kept the faith" (emphasis mine)" This is all that's required of the believer! Note that Paul wasn't resting on his laurels! We don't have to win the race--Christ won for us! We must finish the course tailored for us! We are only His ambassadors in this world. And we persevere in the faith only because He preserves us to the end.
As you may recall, Paul urged Timothy to keep the faith and many in the latter days would abandon the faith or bail out theologically as it were. Paul boasted in his swan song (2 Tim. 4:7, NIV) that he had "fought the good fight, [he] finished the race, [he] kept the faith" (emphasis mine)" This is all that's required of the believer! Note that Paul wasn't resting on his laurels! We don't have to win the race--Christ won for us! We must finish the course tailored for us! We are only His ambassadors in this world. And we persevere in the faith only because He preserves us to the end.
The angelic war or conflict with Satan comes with the territory and we sign up for this at salvation as our battle just begins as we get on Satan's hit list and become his spiritual enemy--but remember: the battle is the Lord's! We live in enemy-occupied turf! But we are our own worst enemy! The key is to know the threefold enemy: the world, the flesh, the devil. In affliction, the same sun melts the butter, hardens the clay! Becoming bitter or better. Our faith must be tested as if by fire! "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold," (Job 23:10, NIV). WE MUST NEVER DIVORCE FAITH FROM FAITHFULNESS!
Now how exactly did Paul maintain his faith in such an inhospitable, unwelcome environment as Rome? The way we do: we keep our faith by giving it away! The measure of our faith is the works it produces as fruit. Without works our faith is suspect! Good soil produces a good crop, not foliage. Paul would say that faith must be proved by works, and James would say works must spring from faith! Reiterating: Paul teaches that works must bloom from the faith; James teaches faith must be demonstrated and validated by works! Don't divorce them! They go hand in hand and cannot be separated, only distinguished. We must realize that the faith we have is the faith we show! If our faith has no works, it's dead (cf. James 2:17) and that kind of faith cannot save. We must bear in mind the formula of the Reformers: "We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone."
God will certainly reward us for our work done in His name (2 Chron. 15:7) and we are rewarded according to our works, not our faith--so we must turn our faith and creed into deeds! We must be sold out for Christ and serve Him with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength and in the Spirit. God is not against good works, just those done in the flesh. "...' You reward everyone according to what they have done'" (Psalm 62:12, NIV). "God 'will repay each person according to what they have done'" (Rom. 2:6, NIV). True faith expresses itself! Some people will suffer loss and be saved as if by fire because their works were nothing but wood, hay, and stubble and burned up at God's fire of judgment (cf. 1 Cor. 3:15).
According to Isaiah, we must be firm in the faith to withstand the trials and afflictions coming our way as we signed up for. "... If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all," (Isa. 7:9, NIV). We are culpable for any lapses in our faith and must not grow lax in the faith due to carnality or lack of spiritual discipline. For those without discipline do not belong to Him and are illegitimate children. We all have a cross to bear--no cross, no crown! We must not be ignorant of Satan's schemes! "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Cf. Rom. 8:31, NIV).
God gives to each of us a measure of faith (cf. Rom. 12:3) and what we do with this faith gift is our gift to God. He gives us faith, but we must exercise it! Paul would say, "I'll show you my good deeds by my faith," while James would counter, "I'll show you my faith by my good deeds" (Js. 2:18)." Israel was known for the sin of backsliding and Hosea is a book of promise to heal the backslider at heart: "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them," (Hos. 14:4, NIV). We must remember that affliction and trial belong to Reality 101 in our Christian walk, but for the backslider at heart, he can only blame himself: "..your sins have been your downfall!" (Hos. 14:1, NIV).
We are to abide in Christ and He will abide in us (John 15:4) for it's possible to walk with the Lord for one's entire life if one is obedient as Enoch, for that is the only true measure of faith--not ecstasies nor experiences! God is not looking for our achievements, but our obedience--He wants us! We must be cognizant that we can do nothing without Christ's power (cf. Jn. 15:5); i.e., of our own strength. Our righteousness is God's gift to us (cf. Isa. 45:24) but what we do with it is our gift to God. Faith is given, not achieved!
Now how exactly did Paul maintain his faith in such an inhospitable, unwelcome environment as Rome? The way we do: we keep our faith by giving it away! The measure of our faith is the works it produces as fruit. Without works our faith is suspect! Good soil produces a good crop, not foliage. Paul would say that faith must be proved by works, and James would say works must spring from faith! Reiterating: Paul teaches that works must bloom from the faith; James teaches faith must be demonstrated and validated by works! Don't divorce them! They go hand in hand and cannot be separated, only distinguished. We must realize that the faith we have is the faith we show! If our faith has no works, it's dead (cf. James 2:17) and that kind of faith cannot save. We must bear in mind the formula of the Reformers: "We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone."
God will certainly reward us for our work done in His name (2 Chron. 15:7) and we are rewarded according to our works, not our faith--so we must turn our faith and creed into deeds! We must be sold out for Christ and serve Him with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength and in the Spirit. God is not against good works, just those done in the flesh. "...' You reward everyone according to what they have done'" (Psalm 62:12, NIV). "God 'will repay each person according to what they have done'" (Rom. 2:6, NIV). True faith expresses itself! Some people will suffer loss and be saved as if by fire because their works were nothing but wood, hay, and stubble and burned up at God's fire of judgment (cf. 1 Cor. 3:15).
According to Isaiah, we must be firm in the faith to withstand the trials and afflictions coming our way as we signed up for. "... If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all," (Isa. 7:9, NIV). We are culpable for any lapses in our faith and must not grow lax in the faith due to carnality or lack of spiritual discipline. For those without discipline do not belong to Him and are illegitimate children. We all have a cross to bear--no cross, no crown! We must not be ignorant of Satan's schemes! "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Cf. Rom. 8:31, NIV).
God gives to each of us a measure of faith (cf. Rom. 12:3) and what we do with this faith gift is our gift to God. He gives us faith, but we must exercise it! Paul would say, "I'll show you my good deeds by my faith," while James would counter, "I'll show you my faith by my good deeds" (Js. 2:18)." Israel was known for the sin of backsliding and Hosea is a book of promise to heal the backslider at heart: "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them," (Hos. 14:4, NIV). We must remember that affliction and trial belong to Reality 101 in our Christian walk, but for the backslider at heart, he can only blame himself: "..your sins have been your downfall!" (Hos. 14:1, NIV).
We are to abide in Christ and He will abide in us (John 15:4) for it's possible to walk with the Lord for one's entire life if one is obedient as Enoch, for that is the only true measure of faith--not ecstasies nor experiences! God is not looking for our achievements, but our obedience--He wants us! We must be cognizant that we can do nothing without Christ's power (cf. Jn. 15:5); i.e., of our own strength. Our righteousness is God's gift to us (cf. Isa. 45:24) but what we do with it is our gift to God. Faith is given, not achieved!
NB: Jesus said in John 15:5 that apart from Him we can do nothing (even believe!). In sum, "... make every effort to confirm your calling and election. ... you will never stumble" (2 Pet. 1:10, NIV). Soli Deo Gloria!
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