Basel Labs

Faith Strong Enough

James 2:19 (TLB)

Are there still some among you who hold that “only believing” is
enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons
believe this too-so strongly that they tremble in
terror!

In the seventh chapter of Matthew Jesus prophetically identifies
a certain people that stand before His judgment seat with a
crippled faith that prohibits them from entering into an
inheritance incorruptible. Yes, a people that believe in God
but with an inadequate belief insomuch that our Lord Himself
denounces them as unbelievers and workers of iniquity.

What could have happened to these seemingly religious folks who
had performed many good works in the name of the Lord, cast out
devils, and prophesied, that would invoke such fiery judgment
against them? I believe that the answer to this critical
question lays in the fact that their faith in God was nothing
more than a mere acknowledgment of His existence and not the
required faith that transcends the ordinary and transforms the
heart and character.

It was this very line of thought that the Apostle James was
illuminating; that true faith truly transforms. We are living
in a very perilous time theologically. By this I mean our
modern society is embracing a hollow theology that suggests
believing in God is an adequate means to secure salvation. The
evidence proving this wide-spread epidemic of theological
dysfunction is the way modern Christians are living their
lives.

Their intellectual acknowledgement of God has produced no
change of heart and nature and therefore their actions and
lifestyles are consistent therein. They continue in their
abusive, self-centered world as they attend weekly services
giving mental assent to the messages illuminating the God that
they believe exists.

The danger of this religious intellectualism is that its
deficiencies in converting the soul are rarely identified and
corrected until it is too late. Jesus lamented this in His
address stating: “Many will say unto me in that day; Lord, Lord
- but I will say to them depart from me.” It is altogether
possible to have an accurate theological faith and be no better
off than the devil. Beloved, the devil’s belief in God is
theologically accurate but he is none the better for it!

His lack is in regenerative faith or faith that produces inner
change. Beloved reader, justifying faith is much more than
something we confess, speak forth, or believe exists. Faith is
the way we respond in a moral situation. It was by faith that
Noah built an ark. It was by faith that Abraham went unto a
land that he knew not. It was by faith that Moses refused to be
called Pharaoh’s son. It was by faith that Moses chose to
suffer affliction with God’s people. Therefore justifying faith
is not in our acknowledgement alone but in our response in a
given moral situation.

If our faith in God doesn’t produce a corresponding change in
nature thereby producing actions consistent with moral
requirements then we are grossly lacking in any redemptive
experience. Translating these terms from theological to
practical would suggest that if our faith or belief in God does
not produce in our lives obedience to Him and conformity to His
righteous standards of Truth, we should not deceive ourselves
into thinking we are born-again. Faith without works is indeed
dead. Its religious worth has become extinct.

How can this redemptive faith be attained? Beloved, the first
step is genuine repentance, which is produced by godly sorrow -
or inner anxiety and grief over our unbelief and wicked works.
The writer of Hebrews identified this important axiom when he
spoke of a foundation of repentance from dead works, and faith
toward God. It is consistent with scriptural truth that genuine
faith is preceded by genuine repentance.

In fact, it is an impossibility to reach upwards in
regenerative faith until we have bowed downward in acute
repentance. This is the great lack of modern Christianity. We
have become too poised to stoop so very low in contrition. Our
generation is too self-conscious to affiliate itself with such
voluntary humiliation. This is to our shame in the eyes of God
but concurrent with that which is spoken: there shall be many in
that day!

It is my belief that the reason our Christianity doesn’t soar
any higher than it does is because we have not humbled ourselves
any lower than we have. Self-abasement is in need of a
conscious resurrection in our generation. Who will dare to bow
first?

“Faith Strong Enough” - Pastor Derek Melton

03/20/2005

Pryor Creek Community Church / Pryor ON Fire Teen Church

http://pryorcreekcommunitychurch.org

Many Christians today and throughout our history, have missed the true point in their beliefs and practices with what they observe and do in their obligations to our Father in heaven. What I mean by this is, that many of us emphasize on the ritual aspects in the bible as the path that can be taken to personally reach heaven by. Many of us emphasize on many ways of interpretation on the bible’s written word that we miss the most important two wishes, (commandments) that our Father wants us to do for Him.
Our Father’s first wish for us is that it is that we develop and have a deep, meaningful relationship with Him.
His second wish is regarding our treatment and actions towards our fellow man.

In Matthew 22:35-40 (NCV) Jesus was asked by one of the Pharisees that was an expert in the Law of Moses which commandments in the law is the most important. Jesus answered, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands.”

An example in the Bible that shows the true emphasis is on relationship and not ritual is Matthew 12:1-7 (NCV) Jesus was walking through some fields of grain on the Sabbath day. His followers were hungry, so they began to pick the grain and eat it. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, “Look! Your followers are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath day.” Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and the people with him were hungry? He went into God’s house, and he and those with him ate the holy bread, which was lawful only for priests to eat. And have you not read in the Law of Moses that on every Sabbath day the priests in the Temple break this law about the Sabbath day? But the priests are not wrong for doing that. I tell you that there is something here that is greater than the Temple. The Scripture says, ‘I want kindness more than I want animal sacrifices.’ You don’t really know what those words mean. If you understood them, you would not judge those who have done nothing wrong.

Yet time and time again throughout history Christian leaders, clergy, and layman have missed or overlooked this emphasis as the basis for our Christian beliefs. Mark 7:9 (NCV) “You cleverly ignore the commands of God, so you can follow your own teachings.”

Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, it someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again.

I can only pray that those who read the above will be enlightened and blessed by these words.

By: Steven E Coffman
Family-eStore.com

I am the owner of Christian and patriotic gifts themed internet shop and ministry called (http://www.family-estore.com/). Our motto is: We cater to God, Country, and your Family. I like helping others and also offer prayer requests to those in need. Family-eStore also offers Bible study links and resources, as well as links and resources to patriotic endeavors. Family-estore.com was designed to be my ministry to God and Country, as is “G” rated and appropriate for the entire family. I donate 10% of my sales to charity. I am honest, sincere person with high morals, stable, loyal, dependable. I am mentally, emotionally, spiritually grounded. I praise God for my gifts and His grace, mercy, and blessings that I receive from Him. National Essay contest winner 1969.