September 14, 2024
Two words that we read often in the Bible are "faith" and "believe." For example, in Ephesians 2:8, Paul says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith." In Romans 3:26 we read that God "justifies those who have faith in Jesus." John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." In Acts 16:31, after the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved, Paul replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."
These Bible verses are evidence that faith plays a critical role in our journey as Christians. However, one important question comes to mind - what kind of faith do we have? Are we just blindly accepting God's words without truly understanding them, or have we been transformed by our experience with Jesus Christ? In order to address this question, we must delve deeper into the concept of faith itself and what it truly means to be a person of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." It is the unwavering trust we have in God and His promises, without needing to see tangible evidence.
According to the Bible, there are two primary types of faith - living and dead faith. James 2:17 states, "Faith with no works is dead." This means that faith must be accompanied by actions and a willingness to live according to God's commands.
Living faith is the kind of faith that transforms our lives and inspires us to serve others. In Galatians 5:6, Paul writes, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." This means that faith is not just a set of principles, but it should inspire us to demonstrate love and compassion towards others.
Dead faith, on the other hand, is one that does not lead to true transformation. This kind of faith may involve going to church and participating in spiritual practices but not bearing any fruit of love and generosity towards others.
So, how do we ensure that we are living a life of genuine, transformative faith? The answer is simple yet profound - surrender. In Romans 12:1, Paul writes, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."
When we surrender our lives to God, we allow Him to work in us and transform us according to His will. We develop an unwavering trust in Him and learn to trust His plan, even when we face difficult circumstances.
The opposite of surrender is resistance. Resistance involves stubbornly clinging to our own strength and trusting in our own intelligence rather than seeking guidance from the Lord. When we resist, we deny God the opportunity to mold us according to His image.
So what kind of faith do we have? Are we living a life of genuine, transformative faith, or are we holding onto a dead and ineffective faith? The most important thing we can do is reflect on our relationship with God and consider whether we have truly allowed Him to transform our lives.
Let us renew our commitment to living a life of faith that truly honors God, a faith that speaks of our experience with Him and witnesses to the incredible power of divine love. May we always seek a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and allow our faith to be the powerful force that motivates us to live the life that God intends for us.
Originally published on Albert Lea Tribune, this post inspires us to examine our own faith in light of the true biblical definition of faith. We are encouraged to reevaluate our priorities and commit to living lives that reflect genuine faith in Jesus Christ.
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