Faith that Works (Part 2)

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. (II Corinthians 13:5 NLT)

When it comes to living the Christian life, few subjects are more important than faith. Whether used as a noun (faith, belief) or a verb (believe, trust), faith’s pivotal role in the life of God’s people is emphasized on almost every page of the Bible. 

• Without faith it is impossible to please God or do the work he demands (see Heb. 11:6; Jn. 6:28-29). Those without faith are defenseless since they have no shield (see Eph. 6:16). One cannot be saved without faith, and those who persist in unbelief are destined for hell (see Ac. 16:30-31; Jn. 3:18). 

  
  

• With faith, nothing is impossible (see Matt. 17:20). Those who have faith receive whatever they ask for in prayer (see Matt. 21:22). It is faith, and faith alone, that puts us in a right relationship with God (see Rom. 1:16-17). Yes, faith is the victory that overcomes the world (see I Jn. 5:4). 

With such a robust and comprehensive understanding of faith, it comes as no surprise that the first Christians were called believers (see Ac. 2:44; 5:14) and the religion they practiced was called The Faith (see I Tim. 4:6; Jude 3).  

Although Christians today are quick to underscore the importance of faith, almost nobody pauses long enough to define it! This lack of definition goes far in explaining the dysfunctionality that is so evident in the church today. In the previous blog, I sought to define what faith is not. I tried to show that the real problem today is not unbelief, but misbelief; faith that is vaguely understood and poorly defined. In this blog, I want to define what faith is. 

So, you may be wondering: What does it mean to believe in Jesus? What does it mean to put one’s faith in the gospel?  

I’m so glad you asked.

In the Bible, to believe in someone or something means to show allegiance and fidelity. To have faith means to be faithful, to act in a manner that is loyal and reliable. This sounds strange to modern speakers of English who think of faith as little more than giving mental assent to some truth or being hopeful that something is going to happen. However, old English used the word faith in a way that was much more consistent with the biblical understanding. For example, in the traditional marriage ceremony, as it is set forth in The Book of Common Prayer, the bride and groom made vows to one another by saying, “… and thereto I pledge thee my faith.” The vow was a promise to live in covenant faithfulness. They were pledging to be loyal and true, that is, to be faithful (literally, full of faith) to one another until death. Similarly, to put one’s faith in Jesus is to pledge one’s undying allegiance to him, even as he has pledged his undying allegiance to us. 

Matthew W. Bates, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, is a powerful voice in the contemporary church calling us back to a biblical understanding of faith. In Salvation by Allegiance Alone (Baker, 2017), he suggests that true faith always has three dimensions. In what follows, I’m using his outline, but the explanations are basically my own. 

1. Intellectual agreement. 

Although giving cognitive agreement (mental assent) to the truth of the gospel is not a sufficient condition for salvation, it is a necessary condition. Getting our doctrine right about Jesus (who he is, why he came, etc.) is the non-negotiable starting point for authentic Christian discipleship. At a minimum, in order to experience salvation, one must believe the basic facts of the gospel as set forth in the New Testament.

• Jesus came. He is the son of Mary (fully man), and he is the son of God (fully divine).

• Jesus died. He is the sacrificial lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

• Jesus rose. God raised Jesus bodily from the grave. Yes, he is very much alive!

• Jesus reigns. Now, Jesus sits enthroned in heaven and reigns supreme over all creation. 

• Jesus will come again. One day soon, Jesus will return to judge the world and reign over a renewed earth forever. 

  
  

The basic truth of the gospel can be summarized in one short sentence, which served as the first creed of the church: Jesus is Lord! (see Rom. 10:9; I Cor. 12:3; Phil. 2:9-11).

2. Confession of Loyalty

Although believing in Jesus is intensely personal, it is not private. Just as marriage is a public ceremony where a couple declares their covenant faithfulness to one another, so becoming a Christian requires a public confession of allegiance to Jesus as Lord. Typically, this happens when a believer is baptized. Paul speaks about the importance of this dimension of faith when he says: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9; see also Matt. 10:32-33).

3. Embodied Fidelity

Believing the right doctrines and publicly declaring one’s loyalty to Jesus, however, are not enough. They must be accompanied by a walk of obedience. As in marriage, finding the right person and publicly reciting wedding vows mean nothing if those acts are not followed by a lifetime of embodied faithfulness. This is the point Paul makes in the book of Romans, perhaps the most important treatise ever written on faith. He begins and ends the book by talking about “the obedience of faith” (see Rom. 1:5 and 16:26). Paul wants the Romans to understand that faith, without obedience, is a betrayal of the covenant. 

Conclusion

Let me ask you a question. Do you believe in bungee jumping? Some will respond by saying: “Well, yes. I enjoy watching people jump and I know it’s safe. And I’ve heard testimonies from those who tell what an exhilarating experience it is. So, yes, I believe in bungee jumping. But I’ve never jumped myself and, frankly, never intend to.” The person who talks this way may think they believe, but their claim reveals that they haven’t thought deeply about what they are saying. Everyone knows that true faith in bungee jumping is demonstrated by jumping! 

Now, let me ask you another question. Do you believe in Jesus? Don’t answer too quickly. Pause and consider carefully how you define the word believe. If you truly believe, you will forsake everything and step out in obedience to his call. 

So, are you ready to jump?

Print Blog