Faith and Works

An old religious argument revolves around faith versus works. Are individuals saved by grace or does it take some works also?

First, we are absolutely saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. With out his sacrifice in the Garden of Gesemene and on the cross, change and salvation would be impossible. He gave his life that all may live. Many believers feel that confessing Jesus Christ as they Savior is enough. That's the end. Some have gone so far as to say that after this admission, they can do anything they want and they will still be saved. But is merely confessing Christ enough?

I will refer to a couple of scriptures to make the point. The first is the story of the rich young man found in Matthew 19:16-22 (KJV):

 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Of course, we do not know if this was a parable or an event, but the point is clear. The young man was a good person who did many positive things. He believed. But the kingdom of God required more. The rich young man was required to sell all he had and give it to the poor. That is more than just the confession of Christ. There was work to do. While the selling of all we have is not required of all followers of Christ, the point is that some actions are required.

Let us go the the last supper when Christ is with his disciples shortly before he is betrayed and arrested. Jesus gives them a new commandment. In John 13:34-35 we read words that Jesus spoke:

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

If Christ only wanted his followers to believe, there would have been no commandments, no parables no instructions. The word love here is a verb. Love as a verb indicates action. Christ was not looking for mere belief, he was looking for his followers to change because of their belief and to do many things. The gospel of Christ is the gospel of doing, of serving. Belief and faith are not ends in themselves, but spiritual evens that motivate people to change and to give  good works. The Bible is full of such examples.

Faith

The concept of faith, it seems, causes some confusion as to what it is and how it operates. We read in Hebrews 1:1 that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thing not seen." So there is some substance to faith as well as some evidence even though that evidence is not readily apparent.

If we offer a prayer, we have offered a desire for things hoped for, be it help for ourselves, gratitude, the expression of which we hope will be well received, or blessings for others. We all hope, but "evidence of things not seen" is a little tricky. Most everyone wants tangible proof of something before accepting its reality. I believe in atoms, even though I've never seen one. Is that faith? I believe my children love me. Their actions seem to indicate they do, but they could be pretending. How can I quantify love? Do actions prove love? Is love faith or taken on faith? These are all things I have contemplated over the years.

In June, 1963,  if the reader has read my conversion story in this blog, it is obvious I had a spiritual experience. It was mine alone. It was not seen, but only felt. It was very powerful. I didn't know it was coming. I had prayed for knowledge, but didn't really anticipate anything too unusual. It was a manifestation of faith and spirit. With the experience I've just described, the foundation for the rest of my life was set. I knew I was supposed to leave my hometown and as I made plans to do so many "coincidences" occurred to help that happen. In August, 1963, I left Modesto and went to Provo, Utah with $200 in my pocket expecting to make my way. And I did, with a lot of unexpected help. I just knew it was the right thing to do. The way opened before me like the parting of the Red Sea. All obstacles disappeared. An unseen hand was guiding me.

But nothing of what happened to me was seen. It was all just "coincidence." There have been many times "coincidences" aligned to help me and my family. It just happened often when least expected.

I believe in God. I believe God has a plan for each person on this Earth. While God has these plans, we, free to choose, usually mess it up through pride, jealousy and hate. For as much good as I've experienced, I've also messed up my share (I'll write on repentance another time.). I don't know what the plan is for someone else, I just know what it is for me. I wish everyone would follow my plan, as it has brought me much joy. That is not mine to judge. Each of us must find out own way.

Three of my children, as well as two children by marriages, have distinguished themselves. In our family we have three outstanding moms, a financial officer, a college professor and a government relations specialist. We have eight grandchildren, all of whom are bright and get good grades. One is in Guatemala on a mission trying to make life better for the people there. I was a teacher and counselor in the public schools for 32 years and my wife, Brenda, taught for 12 years. An old saying says, "It's not bragging if it's fact." I am not trying to set myself up as special. I am trying to demonstrate that the course that was set for me in 1963 has given good fruit, with a lot of help form others.

Is the result of my imperfect faith not seen? Are the experiences I went through not real? Are my faltering steps in faith just my imagination? No, a thousand times no. Faith is real. It requires commitment and work, but brings great blessings. I am not unique! Others can be guided as I have. As Christ said, it takes faith as a mustard seed.

This poem by French poet Guilliame Apollinaire sums up faith for me.

Come to the edge, he said.

We are afraid, they said.

Come to the edge, he said.

They came to the edge,

He pushed them and they flew.