Sunday, February 19, 2012
TRUTH OR TRADITION? – Living Faith #3 #162
Living Faith #3
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
James 2:26
Two Views Of Faith.
There are two basic view of the part faith plays in the plan of salvation. One view is that one is saved by faith only. The other view is that one is saved only by the kind of faith that results in and includes obeying the Lord.
A Cure For Cancer.
Suppose I have terminal cancer, but there is a doctor who has discovered a sure-fire treatment that will cure it completely. I have all the faith in the world in this doctor. Must I make an appointment with him? Must I take the medication and therapy he prescribes? Will “faith only” cure my cancer? Will my cancer be cured before or after I take the medication and therapy?
A Cleansing For Leprosy.
In 2 Kings 5, we read of a man of Syria named Naaman, who was an honorable man in Syria, but he was a leper. He heard about a prophet in Israel that could cleanse leprosy, so he came down to the house of the prophet Elisha, who sent a servant out to tell him to dip in the Jordan River seven times for cleansing, which don’t make a lot of sense, for water cannot wash away leprosy. If he honestly and sincerely believed that Elisha could cleanse him, would he have had to make the 200+ mile trip to Israel? Would he have had to dip in the Jordan? All seven times? Was his leprosy cleansed before or after he obeyed? Why is that story recorded in the Old Testament?
The Faith Of Abraham.
“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3) . God told Abraham to leave his home and family in Ur of the Chaldees, and journey to a new land (Genesis 12) . Would God have counted him righteous had he refused to go? Later God told Abraham to take his only son upon a mountain and to offer him as a sacrifice. Would God have counted Abraham righteous had he refused to offer his son? Abraham was justified by faith, because his faith moved him to obey God. In our text at the beginning of this article, James makes it clear that a faith that doesn’t move one to obey is a dead faith? Will a dead faith save?
The Authority.
Who has the authority to tell me what I must do to be saved? Does any preacher, or church, or board of directors, or convention? Do I have the authority to decide for myself? Doesn’t all power and authority belong to the Lord? (Matthew 28:18) ?
The Great Physician. In giving the great commission, Jesus declared: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16) . Two things Jesus says to do for salvation. Does He have the right to tell me what I must do? Will I still be saved if I do only half? Is this multiple choice? Must I do all Jesus says to do to be saved?
He That Doeth.
Jesus, who has the authority to speak on such matters, said: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.:” (Matthew 7:21) . Can I be saved without obedience?
Steer Creek Church of Christ, 3466 Rosedale Road, Stumptown WV 25267
Minister: Gene H Miller, 3281 Rosedale Road, Shock WV 26638-8410.
Phone: 304.462.0384 E-Mail: “ghmiller@rtol.net” Web Site: steercreekchurchofchrist.org
Community • Gilmer County • Shock • Stumptown • Religion | G-MM™ • Permalink
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The message should be much more important than the messenger but still people just don’t read or take the responsibility of independent thinking. It seems more important to know who said it, to be on the “right” side. I don’t like bullies. I don’t care for people telling others what they should and should not say or how to say it. That’s my right, my opinion. Don’t have any problem signing my name to this but for now I’ll just use…
To Not Me,