BELIEVING AND DOING

 

BELIEVING AND DOING

James  2:17  So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all--it is dead and useless.  NLT

      Believing in Christ and His ability to save us from our sins is not enough for our salvation.  It is essential, but being right with God involves more than just what we believe.  Most people, if they are honest, will admit that they believe in God and Jesus as our Savior.  Satan himself knows that the Gospel message is true.  Yet, in spite of the fact that most believe, most do not live lives that reflect their belief.  Faith does no one any good if it doesn’t impact the way they live.

      Saving faith is a changing faith.  It changes who we are from the inside out.  It changes the way we see things.  It changes the way we respond to life.  It changes our motives so that we are not self-motivated but Christ-motivated.  We live to do good.  We desire to help others become viable children of God.  We treat others out of love for their souls.  We serve the Lord out of our love for Him. 

      All who profess to have faith and do not live the life of faith have no real faith at all.  The Lord demands evidence in our lives that we are sincere in our profession of faith.  If you are not living what you profess to believe, you need to re-examine your life and repent of your unfaithfulness.  You need to dedicate yourself to the Lord and start acting like you are saved.  You must quit making excuses as to why you aren’t showing your faith and serving the Lord.  If you don’t take your faith seriously, neither will God.

      And no, I am not saying that works are an essential part of becoming a child of God.  We are saved by grace alone.  It is the finished work of Christ at Calvary that cleanses us from our sins.  Nothing more and nothing less.  Works is a by-product of our salvation.  It is clear evidence that Christ lives in us.  We change and start living for Christ and not ourselves or the world.  Words of salvation are important, but so also are the works of salvation.  Faith that is not seen through how we live and what we do is useless, meaningless—dead.