Faith has many dimensions. It means faithfulness. (Matthew 24:45) It means trust as shown by some of the people who came to Jesus in His ministry for healing. (Luke 7:2-10) It means confidence. (Hebrews 11:1) Faithfulness is spiritually tied into hope. However, faith is more than a belief that fails to bear spiritual fruit (think of ‘good deeds’ as the least of an example). (James 2:24)
What does the Apostle Paul tell us when he talks about saving faith in Romans? Christians must be very careful to understand faith as Paul uses the word. Paul ties faith directly to salvation. We don’t have a system of works that is required to earn salvation. If that were true, then faith would simply be one more deed. Paul clearly states that human deeds can never save. (Galatians 2:16)
Instead, faith is a gift from God that is deposited in us. This gift allows God to save. (Ephesians 2:8) That is exactly what He wants to do. God’s mercy and love save rather than the act of faith. When God saves you, He gave you the kernel of faith to begin with as part of His divine mercy. God saves.
He gives us faith relationship with his Son that helps us to become like Him and bear fruit just like His Son did in his earthly ministry so long ago. Through the faith that God planted in us, He carries us from death to life. (John 5:24) Even so, faith is not assumptive. Faith bears fruit that is clearly visible.
When Jesus triumphed over death, He canceled the charges against mankind and opened the way to the Father. (Colossians 2:12-15) Because God is merciful He gives us faith. How tragic if you turn faith into a mere deed and try to develop that faith by yourself by some effort on your own. On the other hand, faith is not permission to do nothing.
You can never come to God through your own faith alone, any more than His people in old Israel could come to God through their sacrifices. Instead, you must accept his gracious offer with thanksgiving and allow Him to grow the seed kernel of faith that He has planted within you.
- Ruth Greene
Very Well put!
Comment by CeCe Garrett — March 10, 2009 @ 2:11 am |