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CHAPTER 8
COMPLETED FAITH
Introduction
New Testament faith is not complete without actions
that correspond to the Word of God. James, in writing to
Jewish believers, describes biblical faith as that which
produces Godly action:
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone
should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow
to become angry, for man's anger does not bring
about the righteous life that God desires. There-
fore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that
is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted
in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so de-
ceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who
listens to the word but does not do what it says
is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
and, after looking at himself, goes away and im-
mediately forgets what he looks like. But the man
who looks intently into the perfect law that gives
freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting
what he has heard, but doing it--he will be bless-
ed in what he does. (James 1:19-25, NIV).
Speak and act as those who are going to be
judged by the law that gives freedom, because
judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who
has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judg-
ment!
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims
to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith
save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without
clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him,
"Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but
does nothing about his physical needs, what good
is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is
not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have
deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will
show you my faith by what I do. You believe that
there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe
that--and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that
faith without deeds is useless? Was not our an-
cestor Abraham considered righteous for what he
did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
You see that his faith and his actions were work-
ing together, and his faith was made complete by
what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled
that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was cred-
ited to him as righteousness," and he was called
God's friend. You see that a person is justified
by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the
prostitute considered righteous for what she did
when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them
off in a different direction? As the body without
the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is
dead. (James 2:12-26, NIV).
Weymouth translates James 2:14 as,
What good is it, my brethren, if a man professes
to have faith, and yet his actions do not corre-
spond? Can such faith save him? (James 2:14,
Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech).
Hearing the Word
One should hear the Word of God with the heart (Luke
8:18). He should be quick to hear (James 1:19) and he
should listen constantly (James 1:25). Solomon exhorts,
My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
(Proverbs 4:20-23, NIV).
One should hear the Word of God alone, for this is the
only way one can be saved (Romans 10:17). The Apostle
Peter states
For you have been born again, not of perishable
seed, but of imperishable, through the living and
enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23, NIV).
However, not everyone has heard the Word of God and has
faith:
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and
evil men, for not everyone has faith.
(2 Thessalonians 3:2, NIV).
One must beware of substitutes for God's Word such as
traditions of men (Colossians 2:8; Matthew 15:6) and doc-
trines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).
Saying the Word
It is essential to speak only the Word of God. To do
otherwise, is to side with the enemy, even if it is uninten-
tional.
Doing the Word
According to the passage in James quoted above, the be-
liever's actions must correspond with his faith. Since faith
is based solely on the Word of God, the believer's actions
must necessarily correspond with the Word of God. Works
complete, or perfect faith. Jesus, at the end of the Sermon
on the Mount, teaches essentially the same message as James:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise
man who built his house on the rock. The rain came
down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and
beat against that house; yet it did not fall, be-
cause it had its foundation on the rock. But
everyone who hears these words of mine and does
not put them into practice is like a foolish man
who built his house on sand. The rain come down,
the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat
against that house, and it fell with a great
crash." (Matthew 7:24-27, NIV).
If one hears and does, he has New Testament faith. If one
hears and does not do, then there are at least three possi-
bilities: (1) truth has been rejected or (2) one has mental
assent instead of faith or (3) one has genuine faith but is
not exercising it. In all three possibilities, one is acting
on false information.
By having actions that correspond with our faith, our
faith is perfected or completed. When we observe ourselves
living the life of faith, our self-esteem will rise.
ASSIGNMENT: ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL ANY AREAS WHERE YOU
MAY NOT BE ACTING IN LINE WITH GOD'S WORD. ASK FOR GRACE TO
BEGIN ACTING IN LINE WITH GOD'S WORD.
END