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The Kind of Faith Which Blesses

The Kind of Faith Which Blesses

 

     Religious error has spread so thoroughly that many people innocently assume when the Scriptures say so and so was blessed “by faith” (see Mark 5:34; 10:52), that really means they were blessed “by faith alone.” That is, they assume nothing more was needed for such persons to receive their blessing than for them to merely believe in Jesus. From this unwarranted conclusion, they further assume that Jesus saves people, today, by “faith only.” Considering a few scriptural points should help clear up this misunderstanding.
    
      First, Scripture teaches that faith, without further obedience, is dead. Notice James 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” In other words, if all a person has is a mental acknowledgement of the fact that Jesus is Lord, this is not enough to bring a blessing to that person. Though sometimes arrayed against James 2:26, Paul, in Romans 4:2ff., does not negate James’ teaching. The two writers were addressing two different issues.
    
     Second, the Bible teaches that faith, to bring a blessing, must express itself in action of some kind. James 2:24 says, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” James’ words are simple: a person must express their faith by action before they receive any blessing resulting from that faith. Some examples are in order: The walls of Jericho fell “by faith” (Hebrews 11:30) only after the Israelites’ faith expressed itself in action. Naaman was cleansed only after he obeyed all the instructions given him (2 Kings 5:14). The Israelites received healing only after they, and Moses, complied with God’s directives (Numbers 21:8-9).
    
    Even so, today, people are blessed with salvation only after their faith obeys all the requirements of God. God grants salvation only after people 1) believe in Jesus (John 8:24); 2) repent of all their sins (Acts 2:38); 3) confess Jesus as Lord (Matthew 10:32) and 4) are baptized for the purpose of having their sins washed away (Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:21). Even after doing all these things, one has not “earned” his salvation. He has merely complied with the requirements of God, thus accepting His offer of salvation “by faith” (Titus 3:5).