Faith
A Maid Arise
Reader asked that I might do a post on the subject of faith.
They asked –
“I
have talked to several people of different faiths and find that most
people have different concepts of Faith and there seems to be a
substantial amount of controversy about the relationship between
Faith and Works. What is your take on that subject? In your mind what
is the effect that each one has on our salvation? I am interested in
hearing your opinion.”
What is Faith?
Firstly there is the definition of
Faith.
The Bible says: “Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Websters dictionary says: Belief; the
assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another,
resting on his authority and veracity without evidence; the judgment
of what another states or testifies is the truth.
Who has Faith?
Everyone has faith in something. The
Christian believes in Christ (Heb. 11:6), the Muslim in Allah, the
Atheist in himself. Even the devils believe and tremble. (James
2:19).
What is Faith needed for?
We are told in the Bible that God has
set forth Jesus Christ as our propitiation to all those that believe
through faith in his blood for the remission of sins. (Romans
3:20-25)
Why do we need a propitiation? Because
all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23).
All of mankind has sinned at least once in his life. For example, if we have ever
stolen something (despite it's value) or lied to someone, or looked
to lust after someone, we have committed a sin. We are a thief or a
liar or an adulterer of the heart. It only takes one sin to become a
sinner.
Because of this great need we are
without hope in ourselves. Yet God so loved us that – “he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
That is what faith is for. “He that
believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)
“Therefore we conclude that a man is
justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28
How does Faith work?
True faith works. The Bible asks why
Chrisitans would notice a brother or sister destitute and tell them
“peace...be ye warmed and filled” and yet they would not give
them any clothes or food?
“Even so, faith, if it hath not
works, is dead, being alone.” James 2:17
You definitely could not have faith without works. Works is faith's
evidence. We do not work to have faith, but if we have faith then works will be a result.
Why so many different opinions of
Faith?
How many faiths or religions or
beliefs are there in the world? It would seem almost impossible to
count and yet with our handy modern technology Google states there
are roughly 4,200. This easily leads to frustration and confusion.
Maybe this is why so many today are trying to say they are all the
same and we are all going to the same place as long as we just
believe.
That would be extremely convenient, but
it doesn't make any sense. All of these faiths differ widely in
their beliefs and some are completely opposed in belief.
In actuality you can categorize every
faith into two basic sections.
The DO and the DONE.
Most people agree there is some sort of
creator and spiritual world of some kind. But how we reach this God
and get to Heaven is really what separates these faiths.
Firstly there are the DO faiths.
Their main message centers around what
you must DO to get to Heaven. The general agreement is that mankind
must DO something to gain God's acceptance. They expect God to
accept them if they DO good things for the wrong they have done.
Really the list of DO's varys widely
from faith to faith but the message always boils down to this: DO.
DO the right stuff and don't DO the wrong stuff. Sometime the Do
list is long and tedious. Other times it's more general – be nice,
compensate the bad with matching it with good. Either way the
message is a working of DO. Performance, appeasing, earning. It is
a faith system that holds millions of religious people in bondage and
fear and keeps them jumping through hoops. God is the taskmaster and
human beings are the slave DO-ers. The saddest part about these
faiths is the fact that they keep the heart wondering if they have
been DO-ing enough and leaves them with anxious doubts.
What these people are missing is the
message of the Bible. In order to accept the DO message these faiths
have to ignore what God has said in His word.
God says –
“Not by works of righteousness which
we have done but according to his mercy he saved us.” (Titus 3:5)
“Therefore by the deeds of the law
there shall no flesh be justified in his sight...” (Romans 3:20)
“But to him that worketh not, but
believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted
righteousness.” (Romans 4:5)
God says that salvation is “not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works...”
What does this mean? It simply means
that there isn't anything we can DO to win favor from God into His
presence.
Secondly there is the DONE faith.
Done means finished, complete, full,
ended, ready, accomplished, fulfilled, perfected. The true message
in the Bible is DONE. Our restoration with him has already been
DONE!
When Jesus died on the cross he said
“it is finished” (John 19:30). What seperated man from God was
removed when God's Son died on the cross. DONE means there is
nothing more to DO. The price was paid, the debt forgiven. DO-ing
is a waste of time.
God's salvation is a gift to mankind
that He already paid for. To work for a gift is silly when He is
offering it to us freely. It's sitting right there in the open, He
is ready for us to simply accept it.
Most people I talk to believe they are
headed for “the good place” or heaven. But when I ask them why
their answer is because they have tried to be a good person and are
doing good things. They are saying – “I'm DO-ing.” They have
put their faith in what they DO. They instinctively understand that
they, all by themselves, are not good enough to reach Heaven. But
unfortunately they have staked their faith in a DO religion that
can't get them the free gift of salvation.
We by faith my accept that there is nothing good of ourselves and nothing we can DO to get to heaven. But by faith believe that He has already DONE what we need by paying our debt on the cross. The Bible says we do this by confessing with our mouth that we are the sinners we are and accepting Jesus' gift by simple faith. That faith that is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Just out of curiousity, do you believe the only purpose of our lives is to accept Christ's sacrifice for our sins?
ReplyDeleteWell, no. Obviously faith isn't the only purpose of our life. It certainly is the beginning of our new life in Him, but not the only purpose. :)
DeleteI think this was well said Toni. Just wanted you to know that. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, just a thought in relation to the question. We were created for fellowship with God. Made in His image with a free-will to choose in order to love Him freely. It wasn't until Adam, "sin entered into the world, and death by sin", (Romans 5:12) in which we needed His Salvation through faith, "Which is by one man, Jesus Christ". (Romans 5:15) It is through faith in Jesus Christ that we come into this fellowship with God once again.
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 2:5)
So is our life purpose just faith in acceptance of salvation? (Which even in saying "just faith in acceptance of Salvation" almost feels inconceivable. There is so much love and grace between those lines!) But.like Toni said, not exactly. But it is the leading factor to a life in fellowship with Him, which I do believe we were created for. Faith is the beginning of so much more in Christ.
Could you explain a little more what you mean by fellowship with Christ.
ReplyDeleteFellowship with Christ comes from knowing Christ. You can only fellowship with someone that you actually know. We know Christ through Salvation.
ReplyDelete“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
" And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death:" (Philippians 3:8-10)
At salvation, His spirit then comes to dwell inside of us and bears witness there. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Romans 8:16) There is a mutual “knowing” (beareth witness) between the Lord and myself. Amos 3:3 says- “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Just to simply “know about God”, isn’t the same as to know God personally. We can know God exists, just as we can know there’s a president of the United States, but it doesn’t mean that HE knows us.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
James 2:19 tells us that- “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” It is through the acceptance of the blood of God’s Son for us that we become the children of God. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:6-7)
“And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” (Jeremiah 24:7)
Take a good friend for example. What would be the requirements for fellowship? Obviously it first begins with knowing that person. And then time with him. If you never spend time with someone, you wouldn’t have much of a relationship. Getting to know a person intimately takes time. It is the same with the Lord. Spending time in His presence, reading His word to us. (Bible) Talking to Him. As I get to know Him better each day, He only becomes sweeter. Reading His word is a delight. Talking to Him feels natural. He is real to me. I sometimes tell Him “good morning” when I first wake up, or think about Him while I’m doing a pile of dishes. There’s the times when I’ll have a memory of Him and I’ll catch myself smiling and laughing out loud. I can talk with Him all the daylong and He talks to me. I learn to trust Him utterly and share with Him everything that is in my heart. As omniscient God, He knows me completely and fully. Knowing Him, becomes a sweet journey. Just as, “We love him, because he first loved us.” (I John 4:19)
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (I Corinthians 13:12)
Loved what you had to share here Nay. Really could resonate with your example of a good friend. You're so right, fellowship does take time and communication. And it's easy! It's sweet, it's beautiful. I loved what you said about telling Him "good morning" when you first awake. I had to smile. I do too. Isn't it so lovely to wake up and find Him already there...just waiting to be talked to? He actually loves to talk to me! What joy. And the more I get to know Him the more I want to know. And it's only going to get better! Thanks Nay for your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteRecently was reading in my diary and came across an older entry that reminded me of our conversation of fellowship. Thought I'd add it here. :)
ReplyDelete"Had a lovely day....worked really hard. Got home and tried to have a chat with the Lord in the pasture but the mosquitoes are so bad, it was rather difficult. But I was still able to convey (amid smacking and squishing) how I was simply in love with Him. It really is true. I can't explain how perfectly lovely it is to be "head over heels" in love with Someone who feels the same way about you. It really isn't complex. It's easy, simple, natural... Even if all my dreams and ambitions were changed, my future took an entire unexpected turn, my man didn't come for another 5+ years, or He required hard tasks from me -- I still would love Him.
Siberia or USA, a "normal" life, or one of tribulation, living next to my friends and family, or not, missions, or no missions, education, or lack of learning, service or no service, published book or not, healing or continued sickness, many healthy future children or none at all, my Grandparents at my wedding, or them passing on before that... I will accept anything from Him as long as He goes with me. And He will. He promised to never leave or forsake me. I will still love Him. I'm thankful. It doesn't matter where others are at. I am willingand completely open to anything. And He has me here. So here is where He must want me. And I'm so content with right here in His fellowship. What a blank future. Suddenly my life's canvas looks so white. But it's exciting. He could do anything. As long as I'm with Him it will be wonderful."
That was great! Thank you both for your answers. Keep sharing the mesage of God's infinite love for His children, for it is sorely needed in this world ravaged by fear.
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to amaze me how God truly cares about each and every of us, but it is more shocking that He loves me. I think most people feel that way. He really has a plan for each one of us, a specifically tailored mission. He sees us for you we really are and what we can become. I used to be dissatisfied with myself and the experiences God gave me. Here I am preaching to the choir, but it is just wonderful that when I finally accepted His love, and it is an ongoing expanding acceptance, I have been able to accept the blessings, trials, supposed disappointments, and everything else that God has given with gratitude and more faith. He knows what he wants us to be and how to get us there. Thank you again for sharing your personal experiences, they are very inspiring.