The Importance of Faith
Matthew 17:14-20
James 2:14-26
We talk about faith, about having faith, exercising our faith… a lot in church, don’t we?
(Tom offered us a sermon on the virtues of faith last Sunday.)
Of course, most of the time, when we speak of faith, we’re talking about trusting in God. The spiritual state of believing. We even profess the Truth of God’s Word regarding faith: Ephesians 2:8, “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Salvation is by grace thru faith!
That makes Faith pretty doggone important in our walk with Christ!
Of course, we don’t so much think of faith as something we do. We don’t usually ascribe motion to faith... at least not like we do words like singing, or talking, or breathing. These are all action words… they are verbs, that denote something is taking place.
Honestly, most of the time we think of faith, more-or-less, as being something we possess, so therefore in our thinking, faith becomes a noun. Of course, a noun is a person place or thing. And many times, we treat faith as being a thing… something that we’re given, or something we acquire (emphasis on WE).
That’s why Jesus’ disciples asked for more faith! They understood faith as a possession. So it made sense, that in order to have more faith, or to exercise more faith, they had to first possess more faith.
Of course, Jesus reminded his disciples, they had all the faith they would ever need. Because faith is not measured by quantity, it’s measured by its use! You can have faith the size of a mustard seed, Jesus says, and you can move mountains! So possessing faith, as a thing, as a noun, is useless. It’s what you do with it that matters!
Because, most often in God’s word, faith is actually a verb. In fact, it’s an active verb, like jumping, or running. Faith requires us to do something, or it’s not biblical faith.
This is the point James is trying to help us understand. He says, “faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.“ And he adds, “what good is faith without works?” Can faith by itself save you? No. Faith requires grace for salvation! “We are saved by grace thru faith…”, remember!? But faith is always expressed thru action!
Can faith alone feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or comfort the distressed? If we sit around and talk about how much faith we have, but we don’t exercise that faith, if we don’t use that faith… If we don’t express that faith in some practical way that leads to “doing” God’s Will, and living out Christ’s call upon our lives, what good is it?
Faith without works is dead… Nothing. No life in it.
We talk about faith and works at times like they must be opposites, but that’s not the case at all. They’re actually complementary! They work together, and go together as they function together! (James 2:22)
Of course, you can separate them. You can exercise works all day long, without expressing one drop of faith in Jesus Christ. You can be good, you can do good, you can feed the hungry, clothe the needy, visit those in prison, go to church, Etc. Works alone do not equate to faith. And works alone don’t bring us into a proper relationship with God.
For our works to becomes a spiritual gifting, they must be exercised in faith. They must be expressed through faith. Faith that’s empowered by the grace of Jesus Christ working in our lives, through our giftings and talents and abilities. Therefore our works become spiritual giftings, because they’re intended to bring glory to God!
It’s the same when it comes to belief. Our belief in Christ is not valid until it’s put into action, with the intention of Glorifying God.
Belief in Jesus doesn’t become faith in Christ until we risk taking a chance on Christ. And in very much the same way, faith is not faith until our belief moves us to reach out in compassion, to seek God in prayer, to help those who are in need, etc. Belief is not faith until it is put into motion... to the glory of God.
James, stresses this point in verse 18, when he says, “even the demons believe and tremble.“ Think about it: if belief were enough in-and-of itself, it’s safe to say that demons would be followers of Christ. Satan himself, the chief of demons, certainly believes. But the fact of the matter is, Satan and all the demons together, lack faith, because their actions are contrary to the will of God. Their actions, their works… disavow any faith - they fail to glorify God.
The difference is obedience. Obedience to the Will of God. Obeisance to Christ’s Word.
John 14:15, Jesus says, “if you love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:23, Jesus’ words, “if anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
Belief requires faith, and faith requires action (evidence, fruit). They work together, as we seek to obey our Lord: forgiving until we lose count, going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, loving God with our all, and loving our neighbors as ourselves! All expressions of our faith, carried out by actions.
Because faith that is not expressed… Faith that’s not lived out… is no faith at all.
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