Reference: James 2:17-18
In the thirdchapter of the book of first Timothy,the apostle Paul is giving forth the qualifications for the bishops and thedeacons. In verse nine of thischapter he tells them tohold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Paul calls faith a mystery,meaning that very few can truly understand exactly what it is and how to put itinto practical operation. Many people of course can read what Paul said in Hebrews 11:1 where it statesthat faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thingsnot seen.
Many people has been led to believe thatfaith is just accepting something to be true, but genuine faith goes way beyondthis description. The word of God tells us that the just shall live by faithand so many millions of people think this simply means just to believe thatChrist is the Son of God and that he is their Saviour. This type of faithoriginated from the teaching of Martin Luther when he began teaching that theCatholic Church was not in accord with what the Bible truly teaches.
The Catholics of course taught thatsalvation had to be earned by doing penance which is self-imposed suffereing orprivation as an expression or contrition for sin. Martin Luther saw the errorthat was deeply rooted in this belief and so he began teaching what he thoughtwas living by faith. His version of living by faith was just a simple denial ofthe Catholic belief and to just accept Christ as his Lord and Saviour andanything outside of this was considered to be works. Now the word of God doescondemn works, but very few can understand what the works are spoken of in James 2:14,17,18,24,26.These works spoken of here are not works that a man in his own effort can putforth.
The works that James said willjustify a person stated in verse twenty-fourare the works that the word of Godspeaks about that we as believers must do and receive. The world today has beenbrainwashed on the very thought of any kind of works being connected withsalvation. But James tells us that a faith without works is dead if it isalone. Faith can only be manifested through and by the work that we do. If aperson fails to pray for the sick or to cast out devils, then they do not havea faith that is active. A person who sits around and never attempts to doanything but yet they confesses to be a born again child of God, then theypossess what James calls a dead faith.
Faith itself must be explained before aperson can truly possess it and allow it to grow in strength. Many people thinkthat faith can be strengthened by seeing great miracles in operation etc., butfaith can only grow through and by the word of God revealed in the gospel.According to God's word of the Bible he gives every person a measure of faith.This faith can either be strengthened or destroyed.
Satan is of course the author ofdestroying a person's faith. Paul speaks of those who overthrow the faith ofsome by teaching that the resurrection is past already etc. Satan comes to killand destroy as Jesus said in his word. The apostle James tells us in hisepistle that faith without works is dead, meaning that a person can say theyhave faith, but unless that faith is producing some kind of work then that typeof faith is useless.
James said that some may say they haveworks while others have faith, but the only way that faith can be seen is by itproducing some sort of work. Now there are thousands of people today in thereligious world that has works, but this does not prove the fact that they havethe faith that the word of God speaks about. The works in today's religiousmovements are nothing but the works of men. They have faith in their church andwhat it stands for, but they do not possess the faith that Paul speaks of asbeing a mystery.
All these works that the churches aremanifesting today confuses many people simply because of what the Bible saysabout works. But what many people are forgetting is the fact that there are twotypes of works, one being the works of God and the other, the works of men. Thechurches today are filled with the works of men.
Practical faith is a faith that manifestitself through works, but millions of people are being deceived today thinkingthe works that they are producing is inspired of God. The works of God thattrue faith will produce will be different in some respects with all believers.The nine mentioned gifts of the Spirit spoken of in I Corinthians 12:4-11 aremanifested works that will be produced through genuine faith, but these are notthe only works revealed in the word of God.
Paul tells us in II Timothy 2:6 thatthe husbandman that laboureth must be first partakers of the fruits.These fruits spoken of here are the fruits of the Spirit which are; love, joy,peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.These works are manifested through us by the life that we live. We must firstbe partakers of these works before we can advance into works of manifesting the gifts.The world today wants the manifested gifts, but they don't want the manifestedfruits simply because it requires a sacrifice to the flesh.
Paul tells us in I Corinthians 14:1 tofollow after charity, and to desire spiritual gifts, but the world today isfollowing after spiritual gifts and despising the fruits of the Spiritmanifested in the life that is lived. I place a thousand times more emphesis onthe fruits of the Spirit being manifested in our life than I do about the giftsof the Spirit simply because it's holiness without which no man shall see theLord. The gifts will be given if God wants them to be. What we better bethinking about is whether or not we will be counted worthy to escape thepunishment of the second death in the lake of fire.
Very few people are seeking the "inChrist position" today, but this in Christ position is exactly typed withthe days of Noah when he was in the ark. The ark of safety today is in Christof which very few want anything to do with.
In order to have works in our life thenwe must put our confessing faith into operation. Paul tells us that from theheart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession ismade unto salvation.
Salvation consists of more than a lifelived. It can also contain God's manifested power in operation doing great andmighty works in the miracles realm. We are told that through faith the eldersobtained a good report. (Hebrews 11:1) Through faith means that they put their faith intooperation by believing what God said in his word. Faith is the substance ofthings hoped for, the evidence of these things not seen. To receiveanything from God we must first believe we received it even before we actuallysee it with our eyes. To believe that you received without your seeing it isproven by what your actions are when you ask for something. If you ask God fora thousand dollars then your action of starting to buy something withoutactually having the money in your hand proves you believe that you received itwithout seeing it first. This is true genuine faith in operation. This faithcan only come from God being strengthened through and by his word revealed inthe Bible. How many people today has this kind of faith? When Christ comes backto this earth do you think he will find any faith? (Luke 18:8)