The thing that distinguishes a believer from a nonbeliever is the exercise of faith, OUR faith. The thing that keeps the believer secure and anchored in Christ is the ongoing exercise of faith, OUR faith. There is a misguided notion in modern day Christian teaching and theology that the Christian is kept secure by the “faith of Jesus” and that it is no longer dependent on the believer’s ongoing exercise of their own faith. The idea is that it’s “Jesus” faith that holds us and that we should just “trust” in that and not be too concerned about our own exercise of faith. Yet, as the title verse declares, it is the trial of OUR faith that, when proven, brings praise, honour and glory to Christ. It is not Jesus’ faith that is on trial here, it is OUR faith. Jesus’ faith does not need to be tried, it is already fixed and proven, it is OUR faith that needs to be tried and proven. That is what life in Christ is all about, after we are saved and redeemed, the trial begins. 

It’s not just a mind game either, in the sense that as long as we continue to “profess” faith in Jesus we are fine, it is an intense trial by fire that refines and proves us for our remaining days on earth. Will we continue to faithfully follow Jesus, walking in the Spirit as His disciples no matter the trial or temptations that come? Or will our faith falter and fail when it’s put to the test. Will we resist to the point of shedding blood, striving against sin? Or will we fail when we face temptation and give in to the flesh. That’s the trial of OUR faith, and it’s proven, not in empty professions of “Jesus”, but in our actions and behavior in all righteousness, godliness and holy conduct. Our profession of Christianity means nothing if it is not backed up and demonstrated by how we conduct our lives in the day to day. Do we live like the world and just do whatever we feel like? Or are we intensely committed and focused on walking in a manner pleasing to God at ALL times and in ALL situations. That’s the exercise and demonstration of OUR faith.

Too often professing Christians fail in the face of these trials and just give in to their fleshly temptations, excusing themselves from the exercise of their faith by saying things like “Well, I’m only human you know and it’s Jesus’ faith that I’m trusting in anyway….so whatever”. It’s a tragic declaration of defeat and one that will not pass in the day of judgment. Is it easy? No. Is it necessary for us as children of God? Absolutely…..It is the broad, easy road that leads to destruction, it is the narrow, difficult road that leads to life everlasting. 

Luke 13:23-24 – Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

The purpose of our redemption is not to secure free tickets to heaven with no ongoing conditions, but to prepare a people for Himself. A people whose faith has been tried through the fire and have been proven faithful. A people who live faithfully as Gods children and whose godly conduct and behavior bring praise, honour and glory to Christ.

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There is great controversy within many Christian circles today about the term “Lordship” salvation. It is centered around the question of whether or not a Christian is required to submit to the “Lordship” of Jesus Christ as an essential element of eternal salvation. There are many today who teach and contend that submission to Jesus Christ as Lord, while good, is not required to secure one’s eternal destiny and that there is indeed a Lordship-“less?” path to heaven. Many that hold this view suggest that to subscribe to a Lordship requirement is to “add” to the Gospel and not rely on faith in Christ “alone” to save us. In this view, “belief” or “faith” only requires a mental agreement with the claims of Christ as savior and verbal consent that you are “trusting in Christ for salvation” to once and forever secure a future spot in heaven.  The contention is that submission to Christ’s Lordship is basically optional and only a discipleship / rewards issue.

I think the best way to answer this controversy is to look to the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels and to what is presented in the Epistles. Did Jesus, or the Apostles ever intimate or convey the idea of a form of Christianity that would permit a person to retain their status as a saved believer, but not require them to actually follow Jesus or commit to His lordship in their lives? Did they, at any point, go out of their way to ensure that everyone understood that discipleship and following Jesus Christ was totally optional and would not affect their eternal destination? Did the Apostles Paul, Peter, James and John make it abundantly clear that all of their admonishments and exhortations in the epistles are “good advice” but not a requirement to be considered beloved children of the most high God, the saved and the redeemed? Was Jesus just kidding when He said “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me”? (Matt 10:38)

I believe the answer is No, they did not. In fact, I don’t think they even really considered the concept of a discipleship-less Christianity and would marvel that it is actually being presented as a viable option today. Jesus was quite direct in answering the entrance to heaven requirement by stating: 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 (Matt 7:21). Those rejected and told to depart are those who absolutely considered themselves to be Christians in their hearts, but their deeds and manner of life contradicted that profession because they were “workers of iniquity”. Matt 7:23 – And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that *work iniquity*. So, rather than focusing on their supposed “belief” and verbal confession as being Christians, Jesus instead focused on their actions and deeds as the true test of their faith and profession.

Some may contend that because there are a few scripture passages that, taken by themselves, would seem to indicate that just mental agreement with the claims of Jesus and a verbal consent that you “believe” them is all that is required. But when taking into consideration the *full* counsel of the Word of God, it becomes abundantly clear that there is way more to it than that and that submission to His Lordship is part and parcel to what it means to be a Christian. What are we supposed to tell an inquiring person asking if he can have Christ as savior, but not as Lord? Well yeah sure, but it’s not recommended? 

Now, some may argue that submitting to Christ’s Lordship cannot be a requirement because no one can honestly say that they have successfully made Jesus Lord over *every* aspect of their lives. But I would say it’s not a question of utter perfection, but one of heart commitment and intent. If someone asks us if we are committed to Jesus’ Lordship over all aspects of our lives, our response should be: “Absolutely, that is always my intent!”, not: “NO, and I never will”. You see the difference? The Apostle Paul put it this way: Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded (Phil 3:12-15).

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This remarkable and pointed statement from the Apostle Peter, which is a direct quote from Psalm 34, comes immediately following a very detailed exhortation from Peter on how the Christian is to live their lives and walk out their faith. He does not mince words but makes it very clear that the protection, blessing and favor of the Lord will be directly tied to how well the Christian practices their faith and follows Him in righteousness, godliness and obedience. In the verse just preceding, addressing the brethren, he states: He must turn from evil and do good, he must seek peace and pursue it (1 Pet 3:11).

This truth is not often talked about or effectively communicated in modern day Christian teaching and theology. Oftentimes we are given the idea that as long as we profess Christianity, we are basically exempt from this exhortation because “we have the righteousness of Christ” now and that serves as the substitute, absolving us from any requirement in regards to us walking out our faith in godliness and obedience. We are told that God will overlook our behavior and “only see Jesus” when He looks upon His people as if looking through rose colored glasses, and yet it states in Heb 4:13 – Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. He clearly sees and beholds everything we say and do with no filter and it is to Him that we will give an account for it all, which is why we are told: And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear (1 Pet 1:17).

Now, as the Gospel teaches, any practice of righteousness or good works prior to a person being redeemed by Christ, or done outside of His inward work, is as a filthy rag and is insufficient and ineffective in satisfying the requirement of a holy God. But once a person is redeemed by Christ and walking in the Spirit by faith, their practice of righteousness becomes a valuable “fruit” and a required aspect of that redemption.

As the Christian follows Christ and grows in their faith, they will naturally grow in their obedience and godliness, and righteousness will spring forth as the fruit of it. As the Lord observes this fruit in his followers, He protects and pours out His blessing upon them. As the title verse states, He watches over them and His ears are open to their prayers. But, if a Christian fails to walk by faith and instead persists in walking after the flesh and doing things that are displeasing in His sight, the Lord will turn His face from them and will not hear their prayers. It’s a terrible place to be in and one that we need to avoid.

The principle of sowing and reaping is always in effect and the Christian does not get any special exemption from it. In fact, I would argue that it is most pronounced for the believer who should know better. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Gal 6:8). It is imperative that the Christian learn how to put to death the deeds of the flesh and faithfully walk in the Spirit in a steadfast and consistent manner. 

Unfortunately, because of the lack of, or bad teaching in this area, many Christians experience problems, turmoil and corruption in their lives and relationships that may actually be the result of their own behavior in sowing to the flesh and not walking in the Spirit. They are simply reaping what they have sown. Walking after the flesh, in its myriad of forms, will always bring destruction in a persons life and relationships and the Lord will not pour out His favor and blessings upon us in that state.

Gal 5:19-21 – Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Not only will walking in the flesh bring turmoil and destruction in the Christians life, if practiced and persisted in, can eventually result in being rejected and not granted entrance into the kingdom of God itself. It’s a serious issue and warning that we should not take lightly or try to talk ourselves out of.

As Christians, as part of our sonship, we need to be a people that are actively putting to death the deeds of the flesh and walking in the Spirit. Gal 5:22-24 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

The fruit of the Spirit, the outward evidence, is the tell-tale mark of “those who belong to Christ” and as we are diligent to practice that, the Lord blesses us, protects us, and hears our prayers.

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Gods law, which is His commands and precepts, has always been, and continues to be, absolutely perfect in every way. Even today, under the new covenant and in the age of grace. We might be tempted to think that Gods law under the old covenant was somehow flawed and deficient and that the new covenant was introduced to “correct” it’s problems, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact Jesus said: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (Matt 5:17-18). Jesus went on to strongly rebuke anyone who would break any of the commandments or teach others to do so.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:19).

The fault was not with God’s law, but with the weakness of men through the flesh to keep it.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom 8:2-3)

In Heb 8:8-9 it states: For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with THEM…. Again, the fault was not with the law, but with men and their failure to keep it. The distinction is an important one. If a ruler created onerous laws that were impossible for the people to keep, that would be considered tyranny, the fault would be with the laws themselves. Gods law is perfect, but men failed to keep it in their own strength, so when we come to faith in Christ, He gives us special strength and ability to walk in His commands and precepts, it’s called Grace. Grace is the divine power and ability given to men by God to enable them to do what they were unable to do in themselves. If you look up the definition of the word Grace, at its heart is this: “The divine influence on the heart, and its reflection in the life”. In fact look at what Grace is meant to accomplish in the life of the believer: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, TEACHING US that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD (Tit 2:11).

The new covenant under grace doesn’t replace the law, it establishes it. We aren’t excused from the righteousness of the law, but are given special ability by the Holy Spirit to walk in righteousness when we put our faith in Christ and follow him. Christ imputes and also imparts His righteousness to us, not by the works of the law, but by faith. The outworking of that faith, if it’s real, will result in us fulfilling the righteousness of the law, first in position, then in actual conduct and practice. We are considered positionally righteous, and If we are indeed maturing in the faith, we will grow more practically and perfectly into that position throughout our remaining days on earth and it will be reflected in godly conduct and behavior.

This is why God will judge all men according to their deeds, because their deeds/works are the measure of their faith. Faith doesn’t eliminate the need for good deeds, it establishes them and makes them possible. We are not justified by the performance of good works, but by faith….which results in good deeds/works as a fruit.

Rom 2:6-7 – Who will render to every man according to his *deeds*: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.

Rev 20:12 – And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, *according to their works*.

This judgment spoken of here in Rev 20 is often referred to as “The great white throne judgment” and it is commonly taught that Christians will not be a part of it because of its reference to “works”. I think this is an egregious flaw in evangelical theology that stems from a misunderstanding of what faith really is and how it functions in the life of a believer. Saving faith in Christ, if it is real and genuine, will produce the fruit of good works. Those works are the measure that will be used to determine if our faith is real, genuine and effective unto salvation. The Apostle James clearly explained this relationship between faith and works in chapter 2 saying: 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. As Christians, we will all be required to “show our faith by our works”. Jesus said that any branch that does not abide in Him and bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire (Jn 15:6).

This should motivate us all to have and maintain a deep, abiding relationship with the Lord so that we will maintain a fruitful walk of righteousness and holiness that is real, tangible and observed because it’s all coming to judgment and we will all give an account of ourselves to God as it states in Rom 14:12.

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Here is a wonderful promise from God taken from Deut chapter 31 and repeated in Hebrews 13, that when a person comes to faith in Christ and follows after Him, we never need to fear that He will abandon us or forsake His promised covenant with us. We will never be able to say, I have followed after God, I have devoted myself to him and his ways, but he forsook me and did not keep his promise. If for some reason, after we have come to Christ and committed ourselves to the pursuit of God, we have a sense of distance between ourselves and Him, we can be assured that the source of the problem rests with us, not with Him. It may be simply a lie of the devil, and we need to resist him and draw nigh unto God in full assurance of faith. It may be that we have become complacent in our devotion and have gotten our focus off of Him and on to other things and we simply need to turn back and re-fix our eyes upon Him and diligently seek Him. It may be that we have allowed some measure of bitterness, sin or self-indulgence to take root in our lives and have grieved the Holy Spirit, so we have, by design, lost a measure of His comfort and need to repent and forsake that sin which is hindering our fellowship with Him.

Unfortunately, modern day Christianity has taken this wonderful promise, that was meant to comfort those who have truly committed themselves to Christ, and have turned it into licentiousness. We have taken this promise, which was meant to comfort those who are faithful, and tried to make it a blanket promise that covers anyone who has ever made a profession of Christianity. We have told those who have become complacent and stubborn and have not continued to walk in godliness, “now, you should do the right thing, but don’t worry, you can be assured that no matter what, He is still with you regardless and will never leave you, nor forsake you”. We have misused this passage to try and give comfort and assurance when no such comfort should be given, but rather warning instead.

Regardless of how sincere our devotion and commitment to Christ may have been at one time, regardless of how much headway we may have made in Him, if we draw back in our faith and turn from his ways and no longer walk in a manner that is pleasing in his sight, the Lord will chastise us and bring pressure to bear to bring us back, but if we stubbornly continue in that state, refusing to repent and return to Him, He WILL eventually let us go. I realize this may be a hard pill to swallow and probably goes contrary to just about everything you have ever heard, but one needs simply to continue in Deut 31, where this promise originates, to see this play out as a warning to us. We cannot claim a promise from scripture, and then ignore the condition of that promise laid out later in the very same chapter.

Deut 31:16-18 – And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I WILL FORSAKE THEM, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.

Some will say, well that was Old Testament and thankfully God has now changed and no longer requires us to keep covenant with him in faith. But that is false, God still requires US to exercise an abiding faith and patience in order to obtain the promise.

Heb 6:11-15 – And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through FAITH AND PATIENCE inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had PATIENTLY ENDURED, he obtained the promise.

And so it continues with His people today. We have a better covenant and better promises in Christ, but they are still obtained only as we continue in faith and patience. If we remain faithful, continuing to forsake our sin, walk in righteousness, and follow diligently after Him, then we can be assured that He will never leave us, nor forsake us.

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One thing that becomes pretty clear early on in the Apostle Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians is his frustration and concern with the fact that many there had not “grown up” in their Christianity and were stuck in a state of perpetual spiritual infancy. 

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ (1 Cor 3:1).

Many had made an initial profession of faith and commitment to the Lord, but had not really taken that commitment seriously enough by submitting themselves to the daily work of the Spirit in their lives to transform them and make them new. Or if they did initially submit to the work of the Spirit, somewhere they had veered off course and lost their way. 

One of the primary goals of Paul’s first letter to the Church there was to alert them and warn them and to get them back on track. What the Apostle Paul was NOT trying to do was create a new class of Christianity called “carnal” Christianity, yet many times, sadly, I have heard Christians make that very assertion. I have heard some say “Do you see!, the Apostle Paul chastised them for their carnality but he still called them brethren…so that means you can be a “carnal” Christian”, completely missing the whole point of the epistle. I think the Apostle Paul would be shocked and saddened at that misapplication. The point was not to try and comfort them in their carnality, but to wake them up and warn of the consequences if they continue on that path. In fact he tries to reason with them 1 Cor 6:9 by saying “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?” and then gives a sample list of sins and behaviors of those who will not inherit the kingdom. That warning was not directed at unbelievers, but squarely at those who were in the Church, to those who professed Christianity, but yet walked in unrighteousness. He wasn’t referring to those who lacked the application of Christ’s righteousness, but to those who were failing to walk out that application and impartation of His righteousness by faith in how they lived their lives.

Modern day evangelical theology has utterly failed to convey this truth and has even given the idea that because we are “clothed” in Christ’s righteousness, somehow our behavior is detached from that. That even if a Christian continues to walk in unrighteousness, they need not worry because they are “covered” by Christ’s righteousness and God just sort of overlooks and dismisses their behavior. This a serious and egregious error and is likely the same mentality that was in the Corinthian Church which is why Paul warned them that their future entrance into heaven was at stake if they continued on that path. We don’t hear those warnings today, instead we tell Christians that “should” be godly in their behavior, but don’t worry, you will still be in heaven regardless. Is it any wonder that we have the same or even worse rampant carnality and ungodliness in the Church today amongst those who profess to be followers of Christ? Telling Christians, who are going to face intense warfare from the devil and their flesh to return to their sin and forsake righteousness, that in the end it doesn’t really jeopardize their salvation, does it then surprise us that many give up the fight and give in to temptation?

The Apostle Paul said this in 2 Tim 2:19 – Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. That is the mark, that is the seal of those who know the Lord and belong to Him, they fight the good fight of faith, they depart from iniquity, they walk in righteousness, they don’t accept “carnal” Christianity.

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It’s been distressing lately to read and hear of so many once revered Christian leaders who have fallen in such a surprising and shameful manner. Oftentimes the details of their misdeeds are downright shocking and span years, and sometimes even decades before they are eventually exposed and brought out. As it states in Num 32:23 – You can be sure your sin will find you out! Many such ministers, who maybe once did truly good and useful things for the Lord, end up in complete shipwreck, bringing reproach to the name of Christ and go to their graves in disgrace. Like a house built on the sand, perhaps glorious and impressive from the outside, it all comes tumbling down to nothing.

The questions that come to mind are: How could they go on for so long continuing to play the part with such glaring, un-dealt with sin in their lives? How could they delude themselves into thinking the Lord would just overlook those things and give a  blessing and anointing on their ministry? And what is wrong with the modern day church that such ministries can continue to grow and even seem to flourish, in that environment? These are questions that we should be asking.

I think a big part of the problem is that we elevate “the ministry” to an unhealthy level. Too often we regard the value of the ministry itself above the character of those who lead it. As E.M. Bounds so wisely said in his book Preacher and Prayer:

We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan or organization. God’s plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than anything else. Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.

A ministry is not an entity to itself, it is built on the character of the ministers who conduct it, no other aspect of the ministry is more important than that. That is why scripture teaches that a minister of the Gospel must be blameless and above reproach….and STAY that way, there is no room for compromise and impurity in their lives. By far, the best thing a person can do to “prepare for the ministry” is to be first and foremost, focused on their own personal relationship and walk with the Lord, following His lead daily in all holiness, purity and godliness. The Apostle Paul, speaking of honorable and fruitful ministry, said this in 2 Tim 2:21 – Therefore, if a man CLEANSES HIMSELF from these things (speaking in the context of any sin and iniquity), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, USEFUL to the Master, prepared for every good work.

If a leaders’ personal walk with the Lord begins to suffer and crumble and they find themselves beginning to stumble and fall into any particular sin or impurity, they should be ready and prepared to walk away from their ministry and tend to what is more important, even if it means letting the ministry itself dissolve. The Holy Spirit will not remain and work within a ministry that has corruption in its ranks, but will depart unless those issues are dealt with. Sadly, many such ministries continue on for years oblivious to the fact that the Spirit has left them while they continue to “build the house”. Undoubtedly there are countless huge Christian ministries, churches, seminaries, etc. built by men that appear to be growing and flourishing, but are nothing more than wood, hay and stubble. Many will not stand in the day of judgment when the quality of it is tested, and that quality will be no better than the character, both seen and unseen, of those who lead it. Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it (Ps 127:1). It doesn’t say they won’t “labor”, it is just saying that all that labor will be in vain.

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This sounds reasonable on the surface, but then the Apostle James comes along and states something pretty astounding in the face of that in James 2:24 – “You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone”.

That verse may come as a shock to us Protestant Christians, but there it is…straight out of scripture. We have become so accustomed to hearing repeated warnings about “works based” salvation, that we get the wrong idea that our works play no role in the justification of the believer, and yet, according to scripture, they do. And while it is true that we are justified by faith, apart from the works of the law, it’s crucial that we understand that there is a fruit, demonstrated by our works, that must accompany that faith, as it states in James 2:26, faith without works is DEAD if it is by itself. The distinction is in the nature of the works, we don’t obtain salvation through the works of the law, but by faith alone in the finished work of Christ. But, if a person is truly living by faith, good works are the natural and absolutely *necessary* result of that faith. In other words, there is a distinct character to our faith that must be present in order for it to be alive and effective unto salvation.

The whole 2nd half of James chapter 2 is in scripture to make this point and clear up any notion that a Christian can maintain saving faith in Christ while at the same time not have the necessary works and the fruits of righteousness consistent with that faith. James 2:14 – What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  The answer is no, it cannot. The point is further driven home in James 2:17-20 – 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*. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? The Apostle James provides here the definition and the context of saving faith. Jesus even rebuked the Pharisees for this by saying: “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matt 3:8).

I’ve seen horribly bad advice given to Christians who have expressed concern about the state of their soul before God because of repeated iniquity and habitual sin. They have essentially been told that regardless of the continual string of bad fruit being produced in their life, they never need to worry about their standing before God or the status of their salvation, because regardless of how they conduct themselves, their ultimate salvation is never in question and is ever fixed in the heavens. I think this is faulty teaching and bad counsel, scripture makes it very clear, over and over again, that the soul of any Christian who continues to repeatedly produce bad fruit is in danger of being cut off. This is the plain teaching from Jesus in the Gospels. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away (Jn 15:2). Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire (Matt 7:19) and further reiterated in epistles: “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever *doeth* not righteousness is not of God” (1 Jn 3:10). “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment” (Heb 10:26-27).

I realize this may not be a pleasant, soothing truth and does not fit into dominant man made systems of theology, but God’s truths were never meant to fit into men’s “systems” and we do a disservice to God’s people to try and shoehorn them in.

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Faith and obedience go hand in hand, you cannot separate the two. Obedience to the Lord, his commands and his precepts, IS the measure of our faith. We cannot say we have a strong, vibrant faith and yet walk in sin and disobedience, we expose the true nature and strength of our faith by how we conduct ourselves each day. Show me a person who is strong in godliness and obedience and I will show you a person who is strong in faith. Show me a person who is weak in godliness and obedience and continually stumbling into sin, and I will show you a person who is weak in faith.

Too often, modern day Christian teaching tries to seperate the two as if they operate independently of each other, but they do not. We are told things like “Don’t worry, it’s not about your conduct or performance as a Christian, but about who Jesus is!” or “When God looks at you, he doesn’t see your actions or behavior, all he sees is Jesus!” subtly conveying the idea that God winks at sin and disobedience in his people as if it’s not that big of a deal, nothing could be further from the truth. We are told in Heb 4:13 – but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Nothing is hidden from His sight, and He is taking all things into account.

This next verse may come as a bit of a surprise, but we are told that God will render to every man according to their deeds. Rom 2:6 – Who will render to EVERY man *according to his deeds*. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, *eternal life*. Why? Because our deeds, our actions and behavior, day to day, are the measure of our faith. 

In Heb chapter 3, the writer makes a fascinating point about why Israel fell in the wilderness and were prevented from entering the promised land. He first explains that it was because of their disobedience: Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. (Heb 3:7-11). And then: But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? (Heb 3:17). Clearly he established that it was their sin and disobedience that caused them to be rejected, but then he makes this fascinating observation at the end of the chapter: So we see that they could not enter in because of UNBELIEF (Heb 3:19). It was their unbelief and lack of faith that ultimately drove their disobedience. Faith does not “supersede” our conduct and behavior, it is exposed and measured by it which is why the Apostle James said: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith *by my works* (Jam 2:18).

We are told in Heb 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God. But that faith is not a mere mental state, but a life transforming trust that drives our obedience.

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Jesus pretty plainly states here that those who follow him shall not walk in darkness. Not “should” not walk in darkness, *shall* not walk in darkness…it is not optional. This is the mark of a person who is truly following Christ, they are absolutely committed to putting off the deeds of darkness and walking in the light. 

In Eph 5:8-9 the Apostle Paul says: For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: *walk as children of light:* For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.

So this is the question anyone claiming Christianity needs to ask themselves: Is there any darkness in my life, any….at all? Am I dabbling in the deeds of darkness….ever, at any time? Is there any activity that I give myself to, even if it’s only periodically, that I know in my heart and conscience, is dark and would not meet with approval before a Holy God. We need to be honest with ourselves.

We need to examine ourselves, are there any “areas” of darkness in our lives. I’m not talking about something we might inadvertently stumble into like perhaps an unkind reaction in the heat of the moment, I’m talking about any sinful deeds or behaviors that we regularly return to. If there is, then we are walking in darkness.

The Apostle Paul lists a few of those deeds of darkness in 1 Cor 6: sexual immorality (adultery, pornography, extramarital sexual activity, etc.), idolatry (exalting anything above God), covetousness (greediness, the pursuit of money and wealth), drunkenness (alcoholism, drugs, mariguana, etc.), thievery (extortion, dishonesty), things like these.

The apostle Paul made it very clear in Gal 5:21, that those who “do” such things will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. We can call ourselves Christians all we want and claim we are “trusting Jesus for salvation” but if we continue walking in darkness and unrighteousness, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Each and every one of us who call ourselves by His name must be 100% committed to expunging the deeds of darkness from our lives and cooperating with the Holy Spirit….if we are, then God will work in us and with us to see it through, if we aren’t then He won’t work in us…it’s as simple as that. 

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Ph 2:12-13).

Jesus makes an important admonishment about this in Jn 12:35  – Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.

We have to be careful to not allow any deed of darkness, any particular sin, to remain and take root. If we allow it, then darkness will “come upon us” and can eventually overtake us. If we continue in it, ignoring the warning of our conscience, then we will eventually fail the grace of God (Heb 12:15) and seal our fate.

The Apostle John said: If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 Jn 1:6-7).

So, one of the important conditions of the blood of Jesus continuing to cleanse us from sin is that we walk in the light and are committed to it.

Jesus said that if our eye is single, focused above, allowing the Holy Spirit to refine us and purify us, then our whole body will be FULL of light. It’s that light that we are supposed to shine before men.

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

The word “good” means morally valuable and virtuous, so it goes beyond mere “works of service” but down to the core of who we are and how we conduct ourselves in daily commitment to godliness and putting off the deeds of darkness. This is what it means to walk as children of the light, this must be our testimony as Christians.

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