In the previous publication, we have considered the works of faith. We have examined faith and seen how there is no faith if there is no deed. We realized that faith is not just in the hearing of the truth but in the hearing and doing of the truth. This is not supposed to be new to the believer; especially one who has been taught faith before. Generally the teachings of faith as we have them in the Church today are centered on the use of faith for material gain; health and wealth. I must state categorically that there is nothing wrong with this- especially when it is taught and understood properly. After all we need health and wealth to function at our prime for God in this world. If you are sick, how do you work and produce your best? And if you don’t have the means, how do you demonstrate your love for your neighbour?
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In the message of faith that we normally hear, the believer is taught that faith must be released and that faith only works when it is released. Faith that is held captive is dead faith. The release of faith is the working of faith. For example when a sick person is prayed for, he/she is asked to take the step of faith to do what he/she could not do before. And it is in taking this step that the person sees the healing manifested. Meaning without the step to release faith, the healing cannot be received. We normally hear statements like, “you can’t claim to have faith when you don’t act it”, “If you believe you are healed rise up, and don’t just say you are healed: but act accordingly”. Beloved this is very true about faith. In fact the Scriptures support this assertion. An example is the encounter of the lame man with Peter and John at the Beautiful gate. After telling him to rise, the Bible said Peter held his hand and raised him up. Then the desired changes started to appear.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.(Ac 3:7-8)
Beloved do you realize that when the believer is required to act out his faith so that the blessing which in this case is healing could be received, we do not say the believer is being put under law? We call it faith. We call it the acting out of one’s faith. And when faith has been successfully acted out, we have the works of faith. Similarly, if we see the symptoms of illness as trials or temptations that must be overcome, then we will agree that what the believer requires to overcome this trial is an active faith, not a passive one. And in such contexts we quote James that faith without works is dead.
Every faith therefore has its corresponding action without which that faith is dead or non-existent. The nature of the faith required to be healed is the same faith required to live righteously, holy, in integrity, and to overcome evil in one’s own heart when one is tempted. Jesus overcame every evil and not just sickness or poverty. It is the same faith that you are proclaiming when you call Jesus Lord. It is the same faith you are proclaiming when you say you are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. These must have their corresponding works; else, they are none existent or dead. It means that to ask
a believer to live righteously is not to subject him under the Law [of carnal commandments]. It means to tell a believer to live holy is not to teach the Law [i.e. carnally]. It means the believer is being asked to produce the works of faith without which the faith is non-existent.
As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (Joh 8:30,31)
These accepted what Jesus was teaching but the Lord told them something profound. Proof of acceptance is in continuing in what you have heard. In other words if you live by what you are hearing then you are my disciples. It means accepting the word does not make one a disciple, it is only the beginning. It is living the word that makes one a disciple. The Greek word translated indeed means truly. It means true disciples are those who continue in or do the master’s words. True discipleship is in obedience And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? ( cf. Lu 6:46)
This means that the action or works that correspond with calling him Lord is to do what he says. If that action is missing so is the faith of calling him Lord Lord. It only becomes lip-service. Beloved this is not law. This is living in the reality of faith. Are you not tired of speaking about faith without having its fruits to show? We say Jesus overcame for us. For what reason? I ask. Is it not so that through Him we might also overcome? If He overcame sin for you and you cannot overcome sin through Him, of what merit is the faith that He overcame for you. Beloved, every faith proclamation has its corresponding work without which that proclamation falls down dead.
This is the works of faith. It says when you hear the word of God you should obey it. Obey it? Yes! Obedience is also one of the words the believer nowadays does not want to hear. The moment you mention obedience you are tagged as a law preacher. Why? What is wrong with obedience? When we speak of obedience we speak of God’s authority and reign over us through His words spoken to us. Isn’t the King’s word supposed to be obeyed? You say in the New Testament we don’t obey because obedience is for servants but we are not servants but sons. Really? We are sons of course but we are
servants also. We are servants when the Word comes to us because we must submit to It and obey It.
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.(Jas 1:21)
When we obey the word we are sons (teknon). Because through the word we have lived from Him. That is offspring. We are also sons (huios) because we, having done the word manifest Him. Beloved in our response to the word, we must be servants. To obey, which is to submit or be subject to and to do are the same. How can we do the word we do not submit to except that we are hypocrites.
This is not law beloved. It is grace. Why? Because the difference between the New Testament and the Old Testament is the spirit. The New Testament is the ministration of the spirit of the Old Testament. The spirit is the divine operation.
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.(2Co 3:6)
Under the Law, which is the Old Testament, they had a word without the spirit (comforter, helper, divine operation, grace) by which they would obey. They had a set of dos and don’ts without the presence of the Lord to help them do. So the man who heard the law sourced the power to do from himself and sin through that slew him since there is no good or strength from himself with which to do being utterly evil.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.(Ro 7:18)
However in the New Testament the word of God is understood from the perspective of Christ. Grace and truth came by Him. Grace is the divine influence on the human heart that brings about an outward manifestation. Truth is the word in spirit or operation. This is what Jesus brought that in hearing the word we may also receive the spirit or grace by which to obey. New Testament does not mean there is no word to obey. It rather means the power to obey has been won for us and by that power we can now serve God in righteousness and true holiness.
The Law (letter) came by Moses but grace and truth(spirit) came by Jesus.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Tit 2:11-12)
[To be continued.]
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