Your Faith or your Work?



How do the two seemingly contradictory functions of faith and works relate, interact and compliment each other?
By faith alone, in Christ alone, we are saved. Faith is the instrument, Christ is the savior.
This reformation was born out of the biblical conviction that a man is deemed just in the sight of God, forgiven, adopted not on the basis of his own goodness, but on the basis of the goodness of Christ imputed to him. Not everyone, however, is blessed with this imputation, but only those who trust in that provision and in that provision alone.
The debate at that time to this day has been characterized as faith versus works. In framing the debate as work versus faith, however, some miss the very nature of faith.

One way to err on faith is in fact to turn it into a "work" in this error, we see "faith" as a substitute for our obedience. This view suggest that in the garden of Eden God required a total and complete obedience from us in order for us to be at peace with Him. When that failed , God graciously lowered His standard. Now all that He requires of us is that we trust in Him.

The trouble with this view is that it wrongly makes faith the ground of our salvation. We stand before the throne of God and He ask why He should allow us into His kingdom, we bodily reply "because of my faith". God then answers"faith? I love Faith! People with faith that just the kind if people I want to have around. By all means, come in" this error in the end is faith in faith, which faith will surely not save, it makes the cross gratuitous which is blasphemy.

Christians are justified before God as they place their trust in Jesus Christ, the Sin-bearer, the Substitute who bore God's wrath in our stead (Romans 3:26; 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16). The Christian starts and lives his life by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). He does not look inside him but outside, to Christ. By faith his hope is sustained (Hebrews 10:35-12:3).

Faith is not simply a feeling, a mere sentiment that results only in positive speech. It is not an optimistic decision. Neither is it passive orthodoxy. Faith is a response, directed towards Christ as it satisfying object. That is why faith must have content. Truths about Christ must be understood and believed.

Christian faith is trust in the eternal God as revealed in Scripture and His promises secured by Jesus Christ. It is called forth by the gospel as the gospel is made understandable through the supernatural and free work of the Holy Spirit. Christian faith is not inherited or passed mechanically on; it is a personal act, involving the mind, the heart and will. It is not faith in an idea or philosophy, but in the Triune God.

To be continued....



©mychristcenter

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