Bible Matters 404: Victory thru Faith

When you believe by faith that the Lord God offers you the gift of everlasting life, you accept the forgiveness of sins offered by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, so that you shall live a glorious life serving God and your fellowman.  Decide to live the truth in God’s Word, so that you too can be with Jesus in heaven.  To do the will of God.  Obey his commandments.  Love God.  Love your neighbor.  Share God’s Word.  Depart from the devil, unto eternal life.  Victory will be yours.   Jesus warns you, that when you believe, it is not what you say, it is what you do.

Matthew 7:21 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus’s brother James, understood what it meant to have faith.  You show your faith by your works. 

James 2:14,17-18,20,22,24,26 – What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

One can rattle off a couple of verses pointing to the gift of everlasting life as being a gift earned without works.   Classic verse is Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Paul tells you in Ephesians, exactly what it means to love Jesus from the heart.  By being a servant to Jesus Christ.  By doing the will of God from the heart. 

Ephesians 6:5-6 – Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Paul adds further clarification in Titus.  When you believe, you maintain good works.

Titus 3:8 – This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

What is love?  When my mom was alive, I did not have to say I love you.  She could tell that I loved her by what I did for her from the heart.  I maintained good works because I loved her and not because I wanted anything for my effort.  Do you think it is any different with Jesus Christ?  Remember, Jesus tells you to repent and turn from your sin.  You must overcome the evil in your life and walk in the light of Jesus Christ.  To take up your cross and follow him.  Overcoming evil and let your faith shines forth.  Show your faith by what you do. 

Revelation 2:7 – He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Jesus tells you to let your light shine forth.  Glorify God by your good works.

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

All your works are not in vain.  God rewards those that diligently seek him.  That diligently serve him with their light to shine forth in this dark world.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

It is clear that you witness and share God’s Word because you love him and have faith.  You look at your neighbor and recognize without God, they are on their way to hell.  You see your purpose in God’s kingdom as that one wise soul that can make a difference.  That one bright shining star that glows brighter than the darkness in this world. 

Daniel 12:2-3 – And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

A brightness that is established by showing love toward your neighbor and not the dead works of religion.

Hebrews 6:1 – Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Do not be fooled.  Man cannot give you everlasting life without a change in your life.  Jesus is looking for your heart.  You must understand the will of God.  To depart from wickedness.

Proverbs 17:23 – A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

Wickedness defiles a man and will steal your testimony.  When you repent, you replace wickedness by good works.  By serving God.  By serving your fellow man.

Acts 8:22 – Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee

Victory will be yours, through the power of God.  Have faith.  Faith works.

1 John 5:4 – For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Study the scriptures.  God will give you the power to overcome darkness, your enemies.  He is the God of the living.  Giving you the power of the Holy Ghost.  To be a witness for his kingdom.

Matthew 22:29,32 – Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. To God be the glory in all you do, Amen

Luke 10:19 – Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Acts 1:7-8 – And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

God is giving you and this country a second chance.  It is time for all to turn from sin, quit thinking about self and show love toward your neighbor.  Purify your heart and walk in the light of the Lord.  Decide in this year of the priesthood, “24” to be a witness for God.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.