Many of the grand principles and teachings given to us in God’s word have been manipulated, abridged, changed, modified, or eliminated, all in the name of mainstream Christianity, and therefore, it is needful that Bible believing Christians study and understand truth in its most unadulterated form. The relation of faith, and works is one of the areas in which severe distortions have accrued over the years, because of the introduction of the notion, that believing God is all that is necessary, for one’s salvation.
Now, it is true that believing is the beginning point, but if the corresponding works, of obedience, and righteousness do not follow, then such faith is vain. In other words, belief minus works is equal to dead faith. This is what the apostle was referring to, and this is why the book of Revelation may seem to be off-balanced in its heavy emphasis on works, since the faith alone doctrine was foreseen by God, as the cause of damaging errors of various kinds in the last days of earth’s history.
The root cause of this delusion is the teaching which states God’s law was nailed to the cross at Calvary, and therefore is not applicable to the contemporary Christian. Thus, with the presumptive nailing of the law to the cross, the Sabbath commandment is also thrown out, and the floodgates of unbridled iniquity are flung wide open, giving rise to alternative, and unbiblical lifestyles, pedophilia by bishops, priests, and laity in too many instances, and fraud, scandals, and racketeering that has ravaged the modern-day church.
But God is calling His people, in every denomination to return to the Scriptural teaching of faith, with the corresponding works, for anything short of the ideal set forth in the scriptures, will pave the way for soul destroying errors to take root in the heart, with the inevitable results, unless the needed changes to our understanding, and practice aren’t made. Let’s read:
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
2nd Chronicles 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
Habakkuk 2:24 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
This last passage from Habakkuk then begs a clear explanation of what is meant by “Living by faith”. Living by faith is the process whereby a person who believes in God, is led to obey His every word, being empowered by the Holy Spirit, in cooperation with his/her freedom to choose. Of ourselves we can do nothing, both in the temporal, and spiritual realms, but if we choose to do right, then the power of God is engaged in us to produce the corresponding work of righteousness; but as a general rule of thumb, we will always have something to do in response to our faith in God. Always! Let’s read:
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
A misunderstanding of this fundamental principle, by which God cooperates with the human agent, is what has contributed to a large extent to the quick- fix brand of Christianity, in which the phenomena of so-called faith healings have become so popular in our day. For instance, if I have been diagnosed with cancer, as a Christian, and I pray to the Lord to heal me, those first steps of faith, and prayer should lead to a deep searching of soul, to see if by any means, my dietary habits have contributed to the problem, and if so, all necessary and corrective measures will, and should be implemented to avert the potentially tragic result.
Then after I have done my best, and have repented of any wrong habits I may have indulged, The Lord, at His discretion, may cooperate with my efforts, by doing what I cannot do for myself. But, for a person to pray in faith to God, without any corresponding effort in the right direction, is a misnomer, and may very well put such a person on the path to set his or her house in order. Thus, cooperation with God in the temporal, as well as the spiritual, is a law, and is essential for any success on this earth, and in the great hereafter.
Again, if a Christian prays to God in faith, for Mr. or Miss “Right” he/she should not expect the girl of his dreams, or her knight in shining armor, to just walk through their front door, without any well-directed effort on their part. On the contrary, a genuine faith will lead that single to “mingle”, by attending some socials, some camp-meetings, some dinners, some rap sessions, or other social activities where like-minded prospects are known to be in attendance.
But to lay in one’s bed, “in faith”, will produce no results. This leads us to an important commentary, written by the servant of the Lord on how this very principle of cooperation with God works. Let’s read:
[C.O.L pp 82] In everything that tends to the sustenance of man is seen the concurrence of divine and human effort. There can be no reaping unless the human hand acts its part in the sowing of the seed. But without the agencies which God provides in giving sunshine and showers, dew and clouds, there would be no increase. Thus, it is in every business pursuit, in every department of study and science. Thus, it is in spiritual things, in the formation of the character, and in every line of Christian work.
We have a part to act, but we must have the power of divinity to unite with us, or our efforts will be in vain. Whenever man accomplishes anything, whether in spiritual or in temporal lines, he should bear in mind that he does it through co-operation with his Maker.
So, let’s take some scriptural examples to see how the rubber meets the road. We begin with faithful Abraham. When Abraham was called by God, and was given the promise of seed, as the sand that is on the seashore, he believed, and according to the Bible, it was counted unto him for righteousness. He also put his faith into practice by going to a foreign country, in obedience to the word of God. He went to the nearest bank, drew out all his savings, rented a U-Haul truck, and hit the I95, because, as far as he understood, faith without works is dead!
Again, when he was old, and desired to see his son Isaac get married to “Miss Right”, he prayed in faith, asking and believing in God, to provide a wife for his son. But after getting off his knees, his next move was to start looking, and therefore he sent Eliezer, his servant on the important mission, believing that as he cooperated with God, his faith would become reality. That’s because faith, without corresponding works is dead, and is counterproductive to positive results. In fact, it is quite possible that Isaac may never have met, or seen Rebekah, had it not been for their faith exercised, in cooperating with God. Let’s read:
Genesis 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house,
3 I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of
heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.
4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
7 The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand.
12 And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 Let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out.
The same principle of cooperation with God in the temporal, as well as the spiritual, is also observed in the marked success which attended Joseph in the house of Potiphar. Joseph gave God all the praise, and the glory for his accomplishments, but he well understood, that without any diligent effort on his part, the blessings, and opportunities provided by God would remain in “Idle” mode, because faith without works is dead. Thus, he put forth his utmost efforts, and God crowned his works with success. Let’s read:
Genesis 39:2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 214>217] The marked prosperity which attended everything placed under Joseph's care was not the result of a direct miracle; but his industry, care, and energy were crowned with the divine blessing. Joseph attributed his success to the favor of God, and even his master accepted this as the secret of his unparalleled prosperity. Without steadfast, well-directed effort, however, success could never have been attained.
And the list goes on and on and on. Rahab’s faith in God resulted in works, when she hid the spies. The faith of David was followed by corresponding works, when he took five stones and a sling to slay Goliath. It was the power of God alone that took down the giant, but David had his part to play, because faith without works is “Very dead”. God shook down the walls of Jericho, but Joshua and the Hebrews had to march around the city on numerous occasions. With Gideon, it was faith, and works again, because the blowing of a trumpet has never killed anyone, it was the power of God alone.
By faith, Peter walked on water, in obedience to the call of Christ. By faith, the multitudes were fed from five barley loaves and two fishes, but the disciples had to distribute the food to the multitude. By faith the disabled man was healed by the power of God alone, but it led him to obey, for he took up his bed and walked, in obedience to the word of Christ. By faith the disciples drew in boat loads of fish, but they had to launch out into the deep and let down their nets.
By faith the crippled man in the temple was healed by the power of God working through Peter, but he had to look steadfastly on the apostle, in obedience to Peter’s word. By faith, the waters gushed forth out of the rock, but Moses had to strike it with his rod. By faith the Hebrews were spared from the wrath of the destroying angel, but they had to put blood on their doorposts.
Furthermore, in the book of Hebrews, where Paul speaks extensively on the faith of God’s people in ages past, the experiences he cited are frequently preceded by the words, “By Faith”, then he goes on to list what the faithful did in response to their faith in God. Let’s read:
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
The same principle that applies in the physical, and temporal realm, also applies in the spiritual too, for no one accomplishes anything without cooperation, with God. Furthermore, The Lord does not override our freedom of choice to force His good will upon, us without our consent. Thus, living by faith must of necessity be accompanied with corresponding work for it to be recognized as the scriptural brand. Just believing, does not give us a leg up on satan, for he is also a believer, who spends more time in God’s word, than many of us who profess to believe.
For instance, if a saint prays to God in faith, asking for deliverance from the one-eyed monster, which keeps him/her up late at night, God will work on the desire level, but the saint will need to use his or her remote to switch off the television. But for us to wait on the angel to turn it off will leave us addicted to watching, just as before. Faith without works is dead, and it is absolutely essential that as Christians we cooperate with God, if we are to live victoriously from day to day. Let’s read:
Zechariah 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2 And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by.
6 And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying,
7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
The change of raiment given to Joshua represents the robe of Christ’s righteousness, given to every believer as a free gift, and the remitting of sins is also done by Christ, in response to our faith in Him. However, after granting Joshua the gift of salvation, the Lord exhorts him to good works, by “Walking in His ways and keeping His charge. Note well that the exhortation in verse seven begins with the word “If” meaning that the choice is Joshua’s.
And if he chooses to do right, then the power of The Holy spirit is engaged in him to produce good works of righteousness. It all has to do with cooperation with God, through faith and works, for this is what is meant by the phrase “Living by faith”. Let’s read:
Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord, not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
[Christ’s Object lessons pp 331] Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. It is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.
In closing, it is in order to issue a caution pertaining to the multitudinous smooth doctrines which have taken root in our day, for many such fables have been spawned by the singular teaching of God’s law being nailed to the cross. Faith without works, once saved always saved, and presumption, which is the counterfeit of faith, are all offshoots of the same error. Thus, in the very last book, and the very last chapter of the Bible, God reminds us of the great principle or cooperation with Omnipotence, the one and only way for us to live victoriously. Let’s read:
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.
God bless!