Gospel 006- Faith and Works 1 Hope the series has been enlightening so far. This is the last subject matter on this series before the final post and well end the series. Follow with an open mind to the end please. Questions and contributions are highly welcome. Apostle James was the apostle that really talked on this issue in all of the epistles. Ive heard a lot of people say he was a works-oriented apostle quoting Galatians 2:12. Well be expounding on this issue today and tomorrow. Come along with your pop corn and zobo......plus the ministers offering. #winks# You would agree that upon the mention of faith and works, the first point of call/reference is the Epistle of James, brother of Jesus. With the commonly quoted text: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also James 2:26. The epistle of James has created so much arguments today in churches. You will commonly hear statements like, if you dont work for God, He wont work for you. Thus, basing Gods benevolence on what i have to offer Him first when His word declares that while we were yet sinners, He sent His Son to die for our redemption. Scarcely will a man die for a righteous man but Christ did while we were sin. Understanding the epistle as a whole is of importance here. The epistle was written to the twelve tribes (of Isreal) which are scattered abroad as a means of encouragement in the times they were currently in. Note: This epistle possess the attributes of the sermon on the mount. Notice the emphasis on the Perfect Law of Liberty (1:25, 2:12) which refers to the divine love and is the christians ultimate standard of conduct. Let me pick one or two verses to illustrate: James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them, depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. The WORKS in this epistle is more of SOCIAL in nature and the antidote for this shortcoming is LOVE. Someone hungry comes to meet you and all you can do is quote scriptures for the person instead of looking for a means to get the person food to eat. The same way some of us claim to have faith and men cannot see our works and also want to have the kind of faith we have. Remember that scripture that says we are the epistle that others read? Yea! Our works are a prove of our faith. Not to God but to men. Let me say this last thing. These works we do cannot and will not save us. We work to get rewards. Our works are based on what Christ has done and we are not trying to work for our salvation. No! No! No! We work to receive rewards. See this: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every mans work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is. If any mans work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any mans work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Hope you understood that. Even if a mans works cannot stand the test, HE IS STILL SAVED! Thats the Gospel. He wasnt saved by His works in the first place so when the works are destroyed, the foundation on which he laid the works- Christ, still stands. Glory! The only thing such a man will miss is the reward. For those who think Grace helps people to be lazy and just sit down doing nothing, I hope this helps to change your mindset! #winks# I hope someone learnt something tonight. Well talk more about this tomorrow. Graced night! Loves!
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:15:40 +0000
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