Faith and Works

James 2:18-19    But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. NKJV

•      Works without faith = works performed in self effort to numb the conscience and find approval by God.  These type of works are done out of selfishness and desire the things of the world.  They are a sort of insurance just in case God turns out to be real.  The other side of the insurance is: “just in case God is not real, enjoy life to the fullest.”

      These works are performed in case God is real, and at the same time life is enjoyed and lived to the fullest in case God is not real, which leaves a “faith” that is no faith at all. This road is wide and leads to destruction.

•  Faith without works = This proclaims “not of works lest any man should boast”.  This too allows for living life to the fullest as unbelievers do and keeping the conscience numbed by proclaiming faith in Christ.  This road is wide and leads to destruction.

 

•  God given faith:   James clearly states the balance of faith and works which requires denial of self and Loving the Lord above all things and loving others.   It is not a conscience effort of either faith or works, but a realization of who God is and His interaction with mankind, having ears to hear Him.  The Word of God planted in good soil (ears to hear), takes root (faith develops) and grows to bear fruit (works) pleasing to the Lord as He is glorified.  This is the narrow road.

What does it mean for me to have faith?

  6/5/2009 

What does it mean for me to have faith?

•  I have faith that I am losing nothing by not seeking my own pleasures
• I have faith that I am losing nothing by not seeking my own dreams
• I have faith that I am losing nothing by not seeking my own passions
•  I have faith that I am losing nothing by not listening to worldly beliefs
•  I have faith that I am losing nothing by not listening to worldly philosophies
• I have faith that I am losing nothing by not listening to worldly wisdom.
• I have faith that not eating the food of Egypt and eating the Manna from Heaven is Life and Joy. 

       What does that make me? A peculiar person, separated out unto the Gospel of God, a sojourner and pilgrim, having faith in Jesus Christ instead.  Calling on Him who is near, giving myself as a living sacrifice, giving Him my very life center, which is my heart, my core essence, my entire self, my entire life that is all contained in one word – heart. 

       Without my heart my body is dead.  My heart pumps blood into every cell of my body, giving me physical life.  Without Jesus my soul is dead. If I give Jesus my heart, then His life pumps into my dead bones, giving me life abundantly.  When I surrender my life to Jesus, He takes over my heart and pumps His Life into every cell of my soul. 

      I have faith that I lose nothing but gain everything in Him, but yet I do lose everything but gain all things in Jesus Christ, looking forward to the resurrection of the dead, forever to live with Him in such a place I cannot even begin to fathom.  How great the Hope He has given us!  The more we understand and experience the wonders of His Glory, Grace, and Mercy and the more we dwell in His Light, then the darkness of the world is clearly seen and becomes utterly dark compared to the light. 

Mat 6:23 NKJV – But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great [is] that darkness!

        Imagine this:  If we spend a lot of time in a room that is brightly Light and turn off the Light, everything is so utterly dark, but as we spend time in the darkness, our eyes get used to the darkness and adjust, so that now the darkness becomes light, our reference is no longer the bright Light but the light in the darkness.  We then begin to say that it is not so dark anymore and manageable.  If then our light is darkness how great is that darkness!!  When the bright Light shines in, oohh…. How painful at first, we scream and cover our eyes, slowly peaking through letting some of the Light in, squinting and blinking, until we are fully opened to the bright Light.  Now we proclaim, oh how dark, utterly dark the darkness that previously surrounded us was, but now we see all things in this bright Light and how beautiful everything is!!

      Therefore, let us ever so abide in His Light, and have nothing to do with the darkness.  The Light exposes all false teachings.