Bearing fruit
Eric Jones looks at Hebrews 6 and comes to this conclusion about faith and works:
Some people argue that our actions don’t matter in relation to our salvation. They say that we can’t do anything to lose our salvation. This passage is one of the many scriptures that debunk that line of thinking. Take another look at verse 8. Our actions matter. How we live matters. Our fruit matters.Amen. Although we're not saved by our good works, they are a sign of our standing with God. Quite simply, faith without works is dead. In a similar vein, John Schroeder shares thoughts on faith and action:
Being a Christian begins with faith, but if it ends there, I am not sure it is worth the effort. Did Jesus come just to save us from hell? What about the hell right here, right now? Is it just about what I think and believe, but my life is composed of so much more, who I love, how I love, what I feel, what I do....Indeed.
posted by Milton Stanley at 9:47 AM
2 Comments:
It seems as though a source of contention regarding the role of faith and works in the plan of salvation stems from when we take a limited view of justification as being a one time completed event, verses it being an ongoing process that requires our cooperation. Historical Christianity and scripture have always taught salvation as being both an immediate spiritual adoption into God’s family, but also a commitment to persevere in obedience (Matthew 7:21-27). The life of Abraham is the perfect depiction of salvation, being referenced in Romans, Hebrews, and James. What is interesting to note is that these three references to Abraham’s saving faith are from three different events that span over 30 years in his life.
1.) Hebrews 11:8 mentions Abraham’s saving faith when he obeyed God and left his home of Haran. (Genesis 12:1-5)
2.) Romans 4:3 mentions Abraham’s saving faith when he believed God would make him the father of many nations. (Genesis 15:6)
3.) James 2:21 mentions Abraham’s saving faith when he offered Isaac on the altar. (Genesis 22:12)
We can see through the life of Abraham that it was his perseverance in obeying God that completed his faith, and thus made it “saving”. It would not be accurate to say that his obedience was a sign that he was already irrevocably justified, in fact James tells us the opposite. We know that there are no amount of “good works” we can do to become adopted sons of God, but like the prodigal son, we are always free to leave our father’s family through deliberate disobedience and become “dead and lost” (Hebrews 10:26 & Galatians 5:19-22) . Thanks be to God that we have Him as a Father who runs to embrace us when we repent and return home!
Good points, Anon. I think I agree with you. Thanks for the thoughtful comments.
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