| There is a faith, a so called Christian faith, that | | | | Many want to be saved by their faith and good |
| destroys. Those who hold such a faith, while | | | | works all the while disobeying God in refusing to |
| sincere, do not understand faith from a scriptural | | | | accept clear statements of scripture. They may |
| point of view. Faith is all too often defined as | | | | do many good works in the community (and this |
| "what I believe." There is more to saving faith | | | | is fine and good) and think they have the book of |
| than just believing in Jesus, believing he is the Son | | | | James covered by the good works which they |
| of God. | | | | do. |
| If faith alone, defined as what one believes, could | | | | The trouble is they will not take God at his word. |
| save by itself then even the demons could be | | | | They cannot accept that Jesus and the Holy Spirit |
| saved for James says, "even the demons believe | | | | said what they meant and meant what they said. |
| -- and tremble!" (James 2:19 NKJV) What they | | | | Forget baptism for the remission of sins (Acts |
| believed was that there was one God but by | | | | 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21). They do not |
| studying the gospel accounts one also knows | | | | believe the words out of Jesus' own mouth, "He |
| they believed in Jesus for they often confessed | | | | who has believed and has been baptized shall be |
| him. One such example is Mark 3:11, "And | | | | saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be |
| whenever the unclean spirits beheld Him, they | | | | condemned." (Mark 16:16 NAS) They make it |
| would fall down before Him and cry out, saying, | | | | read, "He who has believed and has not been |
| 'You are the Son of God!'" (NAS) | | | | baptized shall be saved." |
| Another example is found in Luke 4:33-34 (NAS), | | | | Paul says in Ephesians 5:23, "For the husband is |
| "And there was a man in the synagogue | | | | the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of |
| possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and | | | | the church, he himself being the Savior of the |
| he cried out with a loud voice, 'Ha! What do we | | | | body." And, then again, (1 Cor. 12:13 NAS), "For by |
| have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have | | | | one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." |
| you come to destroy us? I know who you are -- | | | | One gets into the body of Christ, into the church, |
| the Holy One of God!'" | | | | of which Jesus is the Savior, at baptism. The |
| Yet another example is Luke 5:41 (NAS), "And | | | | body is the church (Eph. 1:22-23). |
| demons also were coming out of many, crying | | | | The kind of faith many have who call themselves |
| out and saying, 'You are the Son of God!' And | | | | Christians is the kind of faith that says "yes, I |
| rebuking them, He would not allow them to | | | | know that is what it says but I don't believe it" |
| speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ." | | | | and that even when the words are directly |
| But, it is not just demons who have faith that has | | | | spoken out of the mouth of Jesus. I ask you do I |
| not availed. In Mark 10:17-23 we have the account | | | | truly believe in a man when I will not believe what |
| of the man who is generally referred to as the | | | | he says? |
| rich young ruler. It is too long to quote in its | | | | As another example how about women |
| entirety so I quote only the relevant verses. | | | | preachers? Paul, by inspiration says, "But I do not |
| (Mark 10:17 NAS), "And as He was setting out on | | | | allow a woman to teach or exercise authority |
| a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before | | | | over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam |
| Him, and began asking Him, 'Good Teacher, what | | | | who was first created, and then Eve. And it was |
| shall I do to inherit eternal life?'" | | | | not Adam who was deceived, but the woman |
| And then (Mark 10:21-23 NAS), "And looking at | | | | being quite deceived, fell into transgression." (1 |
| him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, | | | | Tim. 2:12-14 NAS) |
| 'One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, | | | | Paul gives his reasons for this prohibition - that |
| and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure | | | | which happened back in the time of Adam and |
| in heaven; and come, follow Me.' But at these | | | | Eve. Can we rewrite history? Have those reasons |
| words his face fell, and he went away grieved, | | | | changed? If not why have we changed on this |
| for he was one who owned much property. And | | | | subject unless it be we lack the faith that believes |
| Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, 'How | | | | and obeys? |
| hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter | | | | One needs to understand that every word |
| the kingdom of God!'" | | | | spoken in the New Testament, every word |
| Here was a man Jesus loved and a man who | | | | written, is from Jesus. Speaking of the Holy Spirit |
| certainly believed in Jesus. Did his faith save him? | | | | that the apostles were to receive Jesus said, |
| His faith failed when he was asked to act upon it. | | | | "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, |
| There is a message in that and yet he did believe | | | | He will guide you into all truth; for he will not |
| Jesus was the answer. | | | | speak on His own authority, but whatever He |
| John 12:42 proves beyond doubt there is a faith | | | | hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to |
| that destroys rather than saves. "Nevertheless | | | | come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what |
| many even of the rulers believed in him, but | | | | is Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-14 |
| because of the Pharisees they were not | | | | NKJV) In John 14:16-17 Jesus is talking about the |
| confessing him, lest they should be put out of the | | | | Holy Spirit coming to the apostles and how he will |
| synagogue; for they loved the approval of men | | | | dwell within them and then he says in the very |
| rather than the approval of God." (NAS) Would | | | | next verse, verse 18, "I will not leave you |
| you say these believers were saved? | | | | orphans; I will come to you." Jesus was coming to |
| In the late chapters of the book of Acts we find | | | | them via means of the Holy Spirit. See also John |
| Paul being examined by one official after another | | | | 16:25. |
| on his way to Rome after being put in custody in | | | | The Holy Spirit spoke the words of Jesus. There |
| Jerusalem. One of the first of these was Felix the | | | | are those who do not like that for they want to |
| Governor. It is said of Felix that he had "a more | | | | lay the cause of their troubles on Paul just being a |
| exact knowledge about the Way", a reference to | | | | man kind of out of step with the times. The |
| Christianity, (Acts 24:22 NAS). Then in verses 23 - | | | | words Paul spoke were not his own. |
| 26, "And he gave orders to the centurion for him | | | | There is a faith that will save. It is that faith |
| to be kept in custody and yet have some | | | | where if the Lord speaks (he does so today |
| freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends | | | | through his word) we will believe it and obey it |
| from ministering to him. But some days later, Felix | | | | even if it causes us problems. When Abraham |
| arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, | | | | was commanded to go out and offer his son |
| and sent for Paul, and heard him speak about | | | | Isaac as a burnt sacrifice that caused Abraham |
| faith in Christ Jesus. And as he was discussing | | | | problems. When Paul was constrained to preach |
| righteousness, self-control and the judgment to | | | | the word it often caused him serious problems. It |
| come, Felix became frightened and said, 'Go away | | | | is not faith alone as mental assent that saves us, |
| for the present, and when I find time, I will | | | | that alone in fact destroys us, but it is faith that |
| summon you.'" | | | | obeys God while not seeking a way out to keep |
| Paul preached faith in Christ Jesus and things that | | | | from obeying. |
| are entailed in that. If Felix did not believe why | | | | Jesus is "the author of eternal salvation of all who |
| was he frightened? Are you afraid of what you | | | | obey Him." (Heb. 5:9 NKJV) "If you love Me, keep |
| do not believe? Did the faith of Felix save him? | | | | My commandments." (John 14:15 NKJV) "He who |
| In the Parable of the Sower you find 2 of the 4 | | | | has My commandments and keeps them, it is he |
| types of men who hear the word that believe | | | | who loves Me." (John 14:21 NKJV) "If anyone |
| and yet end up being condemned. Luke 8:13-14 | | | | loves Me, he will keep My word." (John 14:23 |
| (NAS), "And those on the rocky soil are those | | | | NKJV) "He who does not love Me does not keep |
| who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; | | | | My words." (John 14:24 NKJV) Can a man have |
| and these have no firm root; they believe for a | | | | faith and yet not love Jesus and go to heaven? |
| while, and in time of temptation fall away. And the | | | | "If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be |
| seed which fell among the thorns, these are the | | | | accursed. Maranatha." (1 Cor. 16:22 NAS) That |
| ones who have heard, and as they go on their | | | | does not sound like such a man is saved to me. |
| way they are choked with worries and riches and | | | | Every person that teaches or believes that one |
| pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to | | | | can go to heaven all the while denying what Jesus |
| maturity. | | | | said to do about baptism is simply fooling himself. |
| In verse 13 Jesus says specifically that these men | | | | How can he reconcile what he is doing based on |
| believe. Are they saved? How about that class of | | | | passages that have just been quoted? |
| believers represented by the seed that fell in the | | | | The faith that saves goes far beyond obedience |
| thorns? Are they saved? | | | | to just one or two commandments. The faith |
| The Bible clearly teaches men can be believers | | | | that saves is willing to do whatever Jesus says no |
| and yet remain unsaved. Other examples could | | | | matter how tough that might be. We live in a |
| easily be given of men who believe but will be | | | | type of Christian environment today, if you want |
| condemned for they have the faith that destroys | | | | to call it that, that has rationalized every sin away. |
| and not the faith that saves. | | | | They can tell you why this passage no longer |
| There are many passages that teach we are | | | | applies to us today, why that one does not, and |
| saved by faith and yet it is certain many believers | | | | so on. Their faith is of the mental assent kind. |
| have been lost. How do we explain lost believers? | | | | Obedience will have nothing to do with their |
| How do we explain those many passages that | | | | salvation - so they think. |
| specifically say that believers are saved and yet | | | | We are suppose to be "slaves of righteousness." |
| find believers that are not? | | | | (Rom. 6:18 NKJV) Righteousness means right |
| There are two answers to this troubling question. | | | | doing and that is determined by God's word. The |
| (1) The word "faith" and its synonyms can be and | | | | Psalmist says, Psalm 119:172, "all Your |
| are used from time to time as a figure of speech | | | | commandments are righteousness." (NKJV) Can a |
| called a synecdoche. What is a synecdoche? It is | | | | man be saved by faith that does not work |
| where one puts the part to represent the whole. | | | | righteousness? |
| In speaking of salvation when it is said one is | | | | Paul, in Romans 2:8-9 (NKJV) says, "but to those |
| saved by faith and nothing else is mentioned then | | | | who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, |
| it is understood that faith is used in an all inclusive | | | | but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath, |
| sense to include everything that naturally follows | | | | tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who |
| from the belief. | | | | does evil." |
| In his book entitled Hermeneutics, D. R. Dungan | | | | I wonder if one was to be baptized for the |
| says, in discussing synecdoches, "This is many | | | | remission of sins (see the wording of Acts 2:38) |
| times the case with the salvation of sinners. The | | | | would that be obeying the truth, would it be |
| whole number of conditions are indicated by the | | | | obeying Jesus, would it be working righteousness, |
| use of one. Generally the first one is | | | | or would it be obeying unrighteousness? Many act |
| mentioned-that of faith-because without it nothing | | | | and talk as though it would be an act of |
| else could follow." (Page 305) | | | | unrighteousness. |
| Faith is the basis of Christianity. Surely, a man | | | | One who claims he will be saved by faith alone or |
| lacking faith in Jesus will not be concerned with | | | | just by faith and grace will not be saved by |
| obeying Jesus or keeping any commandments so | | | | either. Why not? Because he has no faith in what |
| why proceed with anything else? There is no | | | | Jesus said about other matters related to |
| reason to until faith is first established. But, when | | | | salvation and counts them as but wasteful words. |
| faith alone is mentioned as the saving factor it is | | | | When you have no real faith in what a man says |
| a use of the word as a synecdoche. It includes | | | | you have no faith in the man that said those |
| everything that flows from a living faith. | | | | things. |
| (2) There are two types of faith - the kind that | | | | The faith that saves is not a smorgasbord where |
| leads a person to take action on his beliefs (a | | | | you can go in and pick this or that, as you |
| living faith) versus the kind that is merely mental | | | | choose, to believe and obey. One must believe |
| assent (a dead faith). The latter kind can never | | | | and obey all that Jesus taught directly or through |
| save. James says, "But are you willing to | | | | the word of inspiration as found in the New |
| recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without | | | | Testament scriptures. |
| works is useless?" (James 2:20 NAS) Later he | | | | One can be easily deceived by the faith that |
| says "faith without works is dead." (James 2:26 | | | | destroys. I hope you are not. I hope that you |
| NAS) Thus James confirms what we have said all | | | | develop the kind of faith that if there was |
| along in this paper - there is a kind of faith that | | | | another Hebrews 11 to be written you might be |
| leads to destruction. | | | | included and it would be said of you that you |
| When the Bible talks about being saved by faith it | | | | believed and did this or that, whatever was |
| is talking about the kind of faith that has works | | | | required. |
| (works of obedience), the kind of faith where the | | | | It is really our own choice. We can follow the herd |
| word is used to stand for and represent | | | | mindlessly that discounts the faith that obeys, |
| everything that Christ requires of us (the word | | | | that trusts in mental assent, or we can follow the |
| faith used as a synecdoche). | | | | examples of those who believed and obeyed - |
| It is the kind of faith where if God told you to go | | | | faith leading to obedience. It is a personal choice. |
| out and offer your only begotten son as a | | | | Abraham and Noah had choices to make. So do |
| sacrifice, as he did Abraham, you would do it. It is | | | | we. |
| the kind of faith where if you were told to go | | | | Why not subscribe to my blog Thoughts On The |
| build an ark for there would be a worldwide flood | | | | Scriptures. |
| you would believe it enough to do it. It is not the | | | | Would you like to hear preaching like it used to |
| kind of faith that questions God and tries to | | | | be? If so listen to Waymon Swain. There are |
| reason out ways to disobey and yet remain | | | | over 100 audio sermons online recorded directly |
| justified while doing so. | | | | from the pulpit. |