Faith that Works

Tonight at Bible study we talked about Faith and Works. We looked at two passages of scripture - one focusing on Faith being the principle of 'The Way', the other focusing on the importance of works.

A lot of people will say that Faith and Works are polar opposites of each other. Maybe even that the two passages we discussed are contradictory. A year ago I would tell you that we are fully justified by faith - faith in the Gospel and that it's by Jesus' death on the Cross that we are reunited with the Father. I would tell you that Works are a way towards legalism and a life of constant judgmental survey.

What I'm learning more and more is that the two are designed to work in unity. A divine marriage of sorts.

I still hold to the promise that we are fully saved by grace through faith. Our faith is a gift that we cannot earn or merit. But what's so important and what I think we so often miss is that faith without works isn't really faith at all. Faith without works is spiritual insurance.

If we are truly impacted by the beauty of the Cross - the beauty and the offensiveness - we wouldn't be able to help but live a life of 'works'. A life totally dedicated and lived to glorify God. A life that makes Him smile.

I also believe that we are to become Christlike. This has always been sort of cliche for me. I claim the truth of our Christlike ascension, but then get on with my day. What in the heck does it mean? Are we to literally heal the lame and feed the masses? I think what this means is that through our faith and spiritual journey, we will actually begin to take on the personality of Christ. Our selfish ways will die to the humility, grace, love, etc of Jesus.

Our hearts will break for what His breaks for. We will truly desire for His Kingdom to come. Our importance will start to lie less in who we are or what we do, and more on how to pour out the love that we've received.

I believe when we are spiritually reborn we become babies. Clumsy, infantile in thought, and helpless. From there we grow into spiritual teenagers, then young adults. The pinnacle of this is Christ. I don't think we can ever reach this pinnacle, but we can most definitely get closer.

Now don't get me wrong, it's not all about surveying where you are in this journey. That actually has nothing to do with it. Self-reflection isn't a bad thing, but it's not THE thing.

The imprisonment of self-reflection is avoided by focusing on the Cross, and letting your cup runneth over. Being truly impacted by the gift at Calvary.

It's really simple. Just focus on the Cross and let everything else follow.

James 1:27 says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."


The Cross is the cause. James 1:27 is the effect.