Skip to main content

Thursday's Thoughts- Is Faith Enough?

This is a controversial topic among many Christians. Can you really get to Heaven on just faith? 
Most of the controversy stems from James 2 which has a lot to say about faith.

 From this chapter many people draw the conclusion that in order to get to Heaven you have to do great works, but I disagree. While I'm not saying that you can be a bad person and still make it to Heaven just because you have faith. That would be wrong.
Let me ask you a question. Picture a man that has sinned his whole life. He drank and did drugs. The state prison guards could tell you his life story because they heard him tell it many times. On this man's death bed he accepts the Lord as his Savior. He died right after he asks God to forgive him. If this man has never done a good work in his life will God turn him away from Heaven? I don't believe he would as long as the man was sincere when he asked for forgiveness.
Now let's look at a man who's done nothing but good things his entire life. He owns several charities that feed the hungry and give shelter to the homeless. The problem- he's a professing atheist. One day he dies. Will the years of helping others be enough to punch his heavenly ticket? Sadly, I think Jesus will say to him, "I know you not."


 Faith is the only thing you need to reach the pearly gates. However, the way you demonstrate said faith to the world is through what you do every day. If you tell a non-Christian about God and faith but turn around and do something like get drunk or arrested do you think they will listen to what you have to say? Most likely they will scoff and say, "Well that Christian is no better than me so why should I bother?"
Live like you are looking forward to living in the most beautiful place when you die because you are.


Abraham is probably my favorite example of showing faith through our works. To test his faith, God told him to sacrifice his only son who he had prayed a long time to have. This boy was Abraham's sole blood heir to everything he owned. Without hesitation, Abraham took his son to the top of a mountain. He had complete faith that if this was really the son that God wished to bring a great nation out of then He would provide another way.
Just as God had instructed, he laid Isaac on the altar and prepared to end his son's life. Before the dagger dropped God stopped him. Abraham had passed the test. God provided them with a lamb which the sacrificed in Isaac's place.
So is faith enough? My answer is absolutely but so is showing that faith to others through our works. Doing good things is important but don't let it stand in the way of your faith.
I hope that you enjoyed this lesson. Join me for part 3 In Whom I Trust. God bless.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thursday's Thoughts- Jonah Chapter Four

Thursday's Thoughts- Jonah Chapter Four 1-3. God was quick to forgive Nineveh, but, like most people, Jonah had some issues with accepting His plan. He had heard God swear to destroy the city, and then, just as quickly, forgive them of everything and spare their lives. His response was to immediately question God. Here he was in his enemies city waiting for them to be overthrown like they had done to Israel and God was changing his mind. He was so upset that he even told God it would be better for him to die than live another moment. 4-11. In his fit of rage, Jonah left the city and went into the mountains to see if God would really spare the city. It was hot so God made a gourd to grow up to give Jonah some shade. Jonah was more than happy for the plant and accompanying shade and he rested. To teach him a lesson, God made a worm to destroy the plant while Jonah slept. In the morning, God sent a hot wind which scorched Jonah until he felt that he'd rather die. Now comes Go...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thursday's Thoughts- Talent

Talent God has given every individual a special talent but it is up to us to use it wisely. He gave us said talents so that we can use them to glorify Him.  Many people use their talents to benefit themselves and it's all good for a while, but when they die, their talents die with them. Others, choose to render their gifts to God and let Him use them to bless others and bring them to Him. These people's abilities live on even after their deaths: for example- Fanny Crosby, the famous song writer who penned works like Blessed Assurance and C.S. Lewis, the author of the Christian children's series, The Chronicles of Narnia.  "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of them manifold grace of God." -1 Peter 4:10 What are your talents? Have you rendered them to God? Maybe you sing- you could lead the choir at your church. Do you write?- you could write a devotional or children's book. Perhaps you...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thursday's Thoughts- Would You Stand?

Would You Stand? I have a very important question for you. Would you stand? This sounds like a simple inquiry, but it just may prove to be one of the most difficult ones you will ever be asked. What if you are sitting in church Sunday morning and suddenly masked men burst through the door holding rifles? Imagine that the leader announces that anyone who doesn't deny Christ will be shot. Maybe half the church chooses to denounce God and leave, but will you? Will the threat of death turn you away from your faith? Let me tell you about three men in the Bible who let absolutely nothing get in the way of their faith.  Travel back to the Old Testament with me and see a man who set his faith in God. His name was Noah. God told Noah to build an ark because He was going to send rain to flood the whole earth. Any other man would have laughed because, up until that time, it had never rained before, but Noah and his sons got right to work. For years they labored while their friends and ne...
2 comments
Read more