SHOW YOUR FAITH BY WHAT YOU DO

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Jun 21, 2009 in AM Missives, Devotions

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father Who is in Heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Saying You Believe In Jesus Really Means Nothing

There are more than a few in the deformation of the Faith becoming known as Emergence Christianity now making a good living in the mainstream evangelical camp right now. And one of the things they love to attack is Reformed theology and a supposed belief that all one has to do to get a “fire insurance policy” is to say they believe in Jesus. The only problem is, it’s a strawman because this isn’t what is taught at all. As a matter of fact, the Reformers teach the Christian is sovereignly regenerated by God prior to responding to the Gospel.

As it concerns how mankind really feels about the absolute sovereignty of Jesus, in Offended by Christ Charles Spurgeon gets right to the heart of the matter, as he so often did:

The resolve of human nature until it is renewed is always this: “We will not have this Man to reign over us.” Men might be willing for Christ to save them, but not for Him to reign over them. Such laws as these—“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” “Thou shalt forgive till seventy times seven,” the law of love, the law of gentleness, the law of kindness—man says he admires them, but when these laws come home to him and lay hold of the reins of his ambition, cramp his covetousness, and condemn his self-righteousness, straightway he is offended. (At the Master’s Feet, June 21)

It is easier to understand why unbelievers outside the Church would misunderstand the Lord Jesus Christ, but it’s much harder to believe—actually it seems incredible—that people who claim to be Christians would be perverting His Gospel and misrepresenting Him. And yet, it was Jesus Himself Who told us that this would be the case! See for example our opening text where we see people saying that they know Jesus—some even believing they are even working for Him—and yet Jesus says plainly, “I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!”

This doesn’t exactly appear to be a message of inclusivism now does it? You see, it is one thing to claim to be a Christian, but the fruit of your life—or works—will eventually prove whether you are saved, and belong to Jesus, or whether your claims are but empty words. In chapter 2 of his book— James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes — Show me your faith without deeds — [or works] — and I will show you my faith by what I do (verse 18). Let me give you a modern translation: If you are gonna talk the talk, then you’d better walk the walk.

Now these deeds, or works, being spoken of here by James—as well as the fruit Jesus as talks about in Matthew chapter 7—do not, and cannot, save a person. One does not do works in order to be saved; rather, one produces works, or fruit in keeping with repentance (see—Luke 3:8) because he has already been saved. That’s why these works comprise two areas; the fruit of one’s life, as well as the fruit of one’s doctrine—or teachings. Just living a “Christian-like” life-style is not enough as virtually all world religions, non-Christian cults or peoples in general, can point to relatively high moral standards.

In a testimony to the absolute truth of Romans chapters 1 and 2, mankind intuitively lives by certain moral absolutes. Of mankind, Romans 2:15 says — they show that the requirements of [God’s] Law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness. In almost any culture—whether they’ve ever read the Bible or not—mankind tends to follow a pattern remarkably like that set by the Ten Commandments. Almost as if man didn’t just simply evolve out of a primordial pond of slimy algae; but rather, really was created in the image of God, just like the Bible says.

He was; and may you believe Jesus as He tells you about the only way you can ever live a life which is pleasing to God:

Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3-8)

SHOW YOUR FAITH BY WHAT YOU DO

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