True faith or professing faith?
I wanna share today about what I learnt from my bible study last week. Last week we started looking at James and seriously... really seriously... the book of James is so so so rich.. I mean well.. every book is rich but the book of James just makes me realise about so many things and that is why I cant wait to share it here =) hopefully it can be a blessing or maybe help you have a deeper view about what true faith is.
Chapter 1 of James started talking about trials, how every Christians should consider it pure joy when they face all kinds of trials. Repeat, ALL KINDS of TRIALS. When I first read that, I was like, really? seriously? you want me to take it as JOY? are you kidding? and then when you continue reading it, it says trials test our faith. The purpose of trials are actually to see how our faith is really like. It is like if you are in a relationship with someone,we may face trials such as arguments, different opinions, and if we do not feel like the relationship is worth fighting for, we abandon it and we move on. Similarly, our faith needs to be tested to see if it is pure. It also continue to explain that trials are there so that we may be complete and lack of nothing. Trials reveal what kind of faith we have and Joy comes from looking at the trial through eyes of God. Trials are also designed to produce maturity and character to be Christ like.
Then it continues saying that if a person wants to have wisdom, he should ask God and God will FREELY give it without looking at who we are or what we do, and if when we ask, we shouldnt doubt.
In facing trials, we need wisdom. We often ask, what should we do? There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is information while wisdom is how we apply the information we have so that we do not miss the opportunity that God wants us to have. Our greatest enemy is worry (unbelief). Wisdom is also thanking God where He places you each day and what you have been given. knowing that our circumstances may change anytime is also wisdom.
The next section continues saying about temptation and that God in nature cannot be tempted nor tempt others. This is very important : temptation and trial are two different thing. A lot of people mix it up but we have to be clear about this. God does not give temptation but trials. Most of the times temptation comes from ourselves. So how do we differentiate them in our situations? The answer is God sends trials/tests/challenges to make us more Christlike but Satan sends temptation to bring out our worst. When we fail to overcome our trials, it is okay, it just mean that we may face the same trial again until we are able to overcome it and be mature, but if we fail to resist temptation, we fall into sin. You get what I mean yea? XD
Some criteria of trials are :
1. common ( Job 5:7)
2. corrective - God uses some trials to get us back on the path of true discipleship.
3. constructive - to produce perseverance so that we may be complete and lack of nothing
4. cosmic - to bring glory to God
Christians have been debating about faith and deeds. Some say that we cant go to heaven without if we say we have faith but we keep on sinning, some say it doesnt matter what we do as long as we have faith because we are saved not by works but by grace (eph 2:8-9).
In latter half of James 2, the writer seems to say that we are saved by works or at least by faith plus works. The answer is that these verses in James deal with the issue of faith and works practically saying things that need to be understood, believed and appropriated no less today than in James' life time.
Works do matter.
A lot of people believe in the teachings of Christianity intellectually. They think that they are saved and do not have to worry. James challenges this thinking, saying that the kind of faith by which we are saved is a living faith- it is not merely intellectual assest to certain truths but a faith that expresses itself in good works and righteous actions. True faith is beyond head knowledge. Faith and deeds cant stand independently. Faith in Christ saves us, faith is invisible but the Lord knows. However man can only see faith when it appears in action. Abraham and Rahab are justified through the eyes of human from their actions.
False faith :
1. only intellectual - James said "You believe that there is one God, good! even the demons believe that - and shudder." It is the same as saying if the only kind of faith you have is an intellectual faith, remember that it only brings you up to the level of the devils. You have to go further than that to be saved.
2. useless - It has no fruit. Eg. the Holy Spirit is invisible, the only way we can see the HS in a person is through its fruits: kindness, gentleness, goodness, self-control, love, peace, joy, patience (Galatians).
3. incomplete
4. dead - faith without works is dead
True faith :
1. requires content - meaning to believe. how can you believe if you do not know what it is that you believe?
2. involves our assent to the content - a personal response or the warming of the heart toward what God has done. Usually we say this when we want to give our life to Jesus "I acknowledge no only that Jesus died on the cross for others but that He died on the cross for me that I might be saved"
3. involves trust and commitment
Abraham was considered righteous for what he did, He also believed in God. James is not saying that Abraham was justified on the basis of his works rather than faith, He is saying that Abraham's willingness to obey God when God commanded him to offer up Isaac was proof of his faith.
Paul also said (eph 2:8-10) : For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advanced for us to do."
In other words , just as we are ordained by God unto salvation, so are we ordained by God to do good works. If works are missing, true faith is missing also. It is imperative to note that if we try to mix the MERIT of our own works with it as a basis for our justification before God, we are not Christians.
A true, living faith expresses itself by good works, which means a life that brings glory to Jesus Christ.
The questions are:
Am I a professing Christians or possessing Christians?
Do I enjoy living relationship with Him in word and in truth?
Is my heart desire to share Christ with others?
These questions challenges me a lot.. It has now become a constant reminder to me, is my faith true faith? Honestly sometimes I doubt it, haha.. cos a lot of times I feel like I havent done anything that glorify God. I tend to take credit for myself or I do it for my own satisfaction. Well.. if you are like me, it is never too late to repent and turn to God. =)
Glory to Him alone
Orange girl ^^
Chapter 1 of James started talking about trials, how every Christians should consider it pure joy when they face all kinds of trials. Repeat, ALL KINDS of TRIALS. When I first read that, I was like, really? seriously? you want me to take it as JOY? are you kidding? and then when you continue reading it, it says trials test our faith. The purpose of trials are actually to see how our faith is really like. It is like if you are in a relationship with someone,we may face trials such as arguments, different opinions, and if we do not feel like the relationship is worth fighting for, we abandon it and we move on. Similarly, our faith needs to be tested to see if it is pure. It also continue to explain that trials are there so that we may be complete and lack of nothing. Trials reveal what kind of faith we have and Joy comes from looking at the trial through eyes of God. Trials are also designed to produce maturity and character to be Christ like.
Then it continues saying that if a person wants to have wisdom, he should ask God and God will FREELY give it without looking at who we are or what we do, and if when we ask, we shouldnt doubt.
In facing trials, we need wisdom. We often ask, what should we do? There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is information while wisdom is how we apply the information we have so that we do not miss the opportunity that God wants us to have. Our greatest enemy is worry (unbelief). Wisdom is also thanking God where He places you each day and what you have been given. knowing that our circumstances may change anytime is also wisdom.
The next section continues saying about temptation and that God in nature cannot be tempted nor tempt others. This is very important : temptation and trial are two different thing. A lot of people mix it up but we have to be clear about this. God does not give temptation but trials. Most of the times temptation comes from ourselves. So how do we differentiate them in our situations? The answer is God sends trials/tests/challenges to make us more Christlike but Satan sends temptation to bring out our worst. When we fail to overcome our trials, it is okay, it just mean that we may face the same trial again until we are able to overcome it and be mature, but if we fail to resist temptation, we fall into sin. You get what I mean yea? XD
Some criteria of trials are :
1. common ( Job 5:7)
2. corrective - God uses some trials to get us back on the path of true discipleship.
3. constructive - to produce perseverance so that we may be complete and lack of nothing
4. cosmic - to bring glory to God
Christians have been debating about faith and deeds. Some say that we cant go to heaven without if we say we have faith but we keep on sinning, some say it doesnt matter what we do as long as we have faith because we are saved not by works but by grace (eph 2:8-9).
In latter half of James 2, the writer seems to say that we are saved by works or at least by faith plus works. The answer is that these verses in James deal with the issue of faith and works practically saying things that need to be understood, believed and appropriated no less today than in James' life time.
Works do matter.
A lot of people believe in the teachings of Christianity intellectually. They think that they are saved and do not have to worry. James challenges this thinking, saying that the kind of faith by which we are saved is a living faith- it is not merely intellectual assest to certain truths but a faith that expresses itself in good works and righteous actions. True faith is beyond head knowledge. Faith and deeds cant stand independently. Faith in Christ saves us, faith is invisible but the Lord knows. However man can only see faith when it appears in action. Abraham and Rahab are justified through the eyes of human from their actions.
False faith :
1. only intellectual - James said "You believe that there is one God, good! even the demons believe that - and shudder." It is the same as saying if the only kind of faith you have is an intellectual faith, remember that it only brings you up to the level of the devils. You have to go further than that to be saved.
2. useless - It has no fruit. Eg. the Holy Spirit is invisible, the only way we can see the HS in a person is through its fruits: kindness, gentleness, goodness, self-control, love, peace, joy, patience (Galatians).
3. incomplete
4. dead - faith without works is dead
True faith :
1. requires content - meaning to believe. how can you believe if you do not know what it is that you believe?
2. involves our assent to the content - a personal response or the warming of the heart toward what God has done. Usually we say this when we want to give our life to Jesus "I acknowledge no only that Jesus died on the cross for others but that He died on the cross for me that I might be saved"
3. involves trust and commitment
Abraham was considered righteous for what he did, He also believed in God. James is not saying that Abraham was justified on the basis of his works rather than faith, He is saying that Abraham's willingness to obey God when God commanded him to offer up Isaac was proof of his faith.
Paul also said (eph 2:8-10) : For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advanced for us to do."
In other words , just as we are ordained by God unto salvation, so are we ordained by God to do good works. If works are missing, true faith is missing also. It is imperative to note that if we try to mix the MERIT of our own works with it as a basis for our justification before God, we are not Christians.
A true, living faith expresses itself by good works, which means a life that brings glory to Jesus Christ.
The questions are:
Am I a professing Christians or possessing Christians?
Do I enjoy living relationship with Him in word and in truth?
Is my heart desire to share Christ with others?
These questions challenges me a lot.. It has now become a constant reminder to me, is my faith true faith? Honestly sometimes I doubt it, haha.. cos a lot of times I feel like I havent done anything that glorify God. I tend to take credit for myself or I do it for my own satisfaction. Well.. if you are like me, it is never too late to repent and turn to God. =)
Glory to Him alone
Orange girl ^^
I agree on your point regarding faith and works/deeds:
ReplyDeleteFaith without works is dead, simply because faith will produce (read: motivate) works. However we need to be careful in doing good works, so that we do not forgot the foundation of the salvation: grace.
How many times we feel God must be angry because we don't do this, this, and this? Or maybe we think that just because we give this, do this, contribute to church, etc, etc, we are entitled to His blessings? And yet so many Christians reap in this.
There is no single thing that we can do to make God love us more, or less. God has already poured out all His blessings for us, unconditionally.
By the way, a very good post, and I love it. I probably should join the Bible study sometime :)
Too bad jo, only for women, haha.. there is one for men at mitcham though. =) I highly recommend it, since it is free too and you will grow so much after you join.
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