Dead Faith
Cleopas noted in the ‘comments’ of “How Simple Is That”, the unnamed thief is the only person who could literally say, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20a.
Here we talk about the four basics of Christianity, obey, glorify (worship), share the Gospel, and study the scriptures. [*]
Notice that all these things are actions. Obey, glorify, share, study are all verbs they require that we ‘do’ something. Christianity is not couch potato belief. Is your definition of Christianity is dusting off your Bible once a week, sitting for an hour in church? If so, there is a problem.
James 2:26 tells us, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Read that again, “faith without works is dead”.
Do not; do not equate salvation with works. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
However, the very next verse (10) says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Titus 3:1 & 8,
“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,” “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”
Matthew 7:15-20, ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:10
Does that mean one can lose salvation? No. Good works are evidence of life. That is a person that says, “I am a Christian” yet shows no evidence by works may not be truly a Christian.
It is not a judgement made here. God will judge. This is a reminder that the fruit we bear and the works we do know us, and show us to be what we are. Christianity is not a passive proposition. It is an active living relationship.
In fact, consider this; Christians are the only people in the world that are alive!
“...even when we were dead in trespasses (sin), made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Ephesians 2:5 [Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; 1 Cor 15:56; James 1:15]
We should act like it.
What greater of evidence of life is there than performing C.P.R. on the dead by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
[*] John 2:5; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 1:16; Acts 17:11
Here we talk about the four basics of Christianity, obey, glorify (worship), share the Gospel, and study the scriptures. [*]
Notice that all these things are actions. Obey, glorify, share, study are all verbs they require that we ‘do’ something. Christianity is not couch potato belief. Is your definition of Christianity is dusting off your Bible once a week, sitting for an hour in church? If so, there is a problem.
James 2:26 tells us, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Read that again, “faith without works is dead”.
Do not; do not equate salvation with works. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
However, the very next verse (10) says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Titus 3:1 & 8,
“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,” “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”
Matthew 7:15-20, ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:10
Does that mean one can lose salvation? No. Good works are evidence of life. That is a person that says, “I am a Christian” yet shows no evidence by works may not be truly a Christian.
It is not a judgement made here. God will judge. This is a reminder that the fruit we bear and the works we do know us, and show us to be what we are. Christianity is not a passive proposition. It is an active living relationship.
In fact, consider this; Christians are the only people in the world that are alive!
“...even when we were dead in trespasses (sin), made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Ephesians 2:5 [Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; 1 Cor 15:56; James 1:15]
We should act like it.
What greater of evidence of life is there than performing C.P.R. on the dead by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
[*] John 2:5; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 1:16; Acts 17:11
posted by Unchained Slave at 9:18 AM
2 Comments:
I like the way you put it, that sharing the gospel is like CPR for the dead. Have you ever noticed the exchange of life between jesus and ourselves?
"For you died, and your life is hidden together with Christ in God."
and,
"when Christ, who is our life, appears, we also will appear with Him in glory."
Therefore,
"The life that we now live, we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us."
Thanks Cleopas,
Always insightful.
On the 'C.P.R.' theme, having taken courses in C.P.R., one never discontinues C.P.R. until the patient lives, or one is unable to continue (physically), or relieved, or told to discontinue by a competent medical authority... Taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the 'dead' is the same way. Continue until the patient 'lives', one is unable to continue (that would be the literal grave), someone else takes over (with that particular individual, but one stays interested and observant) or one is given the 'Word' from the Holy Spirit...
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