FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD - "Dead faith" is a proclaimed faith in name alone, has no power or sign of true, redemptive work or positive change in lifestyle or even a desire to change over time does not equal a saving faith. Christians with a living faith will still sin, yet they will have a desire to be "imitators of God," who IS perfect. The difference between someone who claims to be a Christian yet has a dead faith and one with a living faith is their response to sin — are they heartbroken or do they show a desire to sin more? Christians will never be perfect until God perfects His sons and daughters in Heaven - Have you heard the phrase "faith without works is dead"? This is an often misunderstood and misinterpreted biblical truth. Many see a contradiction between this and another biblical truth about salvation: "by grace you have been saved... not a result of works." We can't earn our salvation, but salvation will result in fruits of the spirit, and that fruit is a reflection of an inner change of heart. If a person who professes to be a Christian isn't showing evidence of the fruits of the spirit, then it's likely they're living a "dead" faith. Good works cannot earn salvation. A works-based gospel isn't a gospel at all and is repeatedly denounced through Scripture. A works-based justification would mean that we could attain righteousness by our own actions, stealing the glory from God. A human being would then get all the credit instead of the Creator of the universe. Giving glory to God is one of the reasons we were created.

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Faith Without Works Is Dead

Why is faith without works dead?

"Dead faith" is a proclaimed faith in name alone 

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"Dead faith" has no power or sign of true, redemptive work or positive change in lifestyle or even a desire to change over time does not equal a saving faith. Christians with a living faith will still sin, yet they will have a desire to be "imitators of God," who IS perfect. 

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The difference between someone who claims to be a Christian yet has a dead faith and one with a living faith is their response to sin — are they heartbroken or do they show a desire to sin more? Christians will never be perfect until God perfects His sons and daughters in Heaven 

By: September Grace

 

Have you heard the phrase "faith without works is dead"?

This is an often misunderstood and misinterpreted biblical truth.

Many see a contradiction between this and another biblical truth about salvation: "by grace you have been saved... not a result of works."

Here are the verses:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." — Ephesians 2:8-9

"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." — James 2:26

While these verses may seem contradictory, they actually both point to the same truth: only God can save the soul and change the heart.

We can't earn our salvation, but salvation will result in fruits of the spirit, and that fruit is a reflection of an inner change of heart (Ephesians 4:22-24).

If a person who professes to be a Christian isn't showing evidence of the fruits of the spirit, then it's likely they're living a "dead" faith.

Good Works Cannot Earn Salvation

Whenever we study the Bible, we have to remember that a single verse, or chapter, or even book has to be taken in context of the overarching story of God's character and gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, as well as with historical, cultural, and literary context.

Sometimes James 2:14-26 is removed from its context to promote a works-based means of salvation (Titus 3:5).

But a works-based gospel isn't a gospel at all and is repeatedly denounced through Scripture.

Additionally, a works-based justification would mean that we could attain righteousness by our own actions, stealing the glory from God.

A human being would then get all the credit instead of the Creator of the universe. Yet giving glory to God is one of the reasons we were created.

Good Works Reflect a Changed Heart

While good works aren't the path to salvation, they are still an important evidence of a changed heart — a reflection of how God has renewed the spirit within.

Ephesians 4:22-24 uses the metaphor of exchanging an "old self" for a "new self," as though it were clothing: "... put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

There are many who claim to follow Christ but whose lives suggest they haven't actually experienced a saving faith.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:16, "You will recognize [my followers] by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?" (See Matthew 7:16-23 for context.)

We could never be 100% certain of the state of another person's heart, but a follower of Christ and a child of God will be convicted/taught/led by the Holy Spirit — not by the world.

And as such, that person will be found in different places and doing different things with different motives than someone who does not have the Holy Spirit influencing their heart.

Good works and obeying God's directives are an outward sign of a salvation already received.

What is a dead faith?

"Dead faith" is a proclaimed faith in name alone.

"Dead faith" has no power or sign of true, redemptive work or change.

Just because someone raises their hand in church and says, "Dear Jesus save me. K — thx!" that doesn't mean they've been saved.

Saying a prayer yet showing no positive change in lifestyle or even a desire to change over time does not equal a saving faith.

Salvation and a regenerate heart aren't "purchased" by saying a few words.

In fact, Romans 8:26-27 tells us that we don't even know how to pray rightly to begin with — that the supernatural intercession of the Holy Spirit alone allows us to talk to God at all.

"Dead faith" reveals a heart that just wanted a spiritual "safe zone" or a "get out of hell free" card.

A living faith reveals a renewed heart that recognizes their own sinfulness and rests in the grace and mercy of the Lord to change their life (John 3:3).

A living faith bears fruit through good works.

What is a living faith?

Please understand that Christians will never be perfect until God perfects His sons and daughters in Heaven (Philippians 1:6).

Christians with a living faith will still sin, yet they will have a desire to be "imitators of God," who IS perfect (Ephesians 5:1; Matthew 5:48).

The difference between someone who claims to be a Christian yet has a dead faith and one with a living faith is their response to sin and if they show a desire to sin more or to repent from sinful behaviors (Romans 7:15-20).

"No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God." —1 John 3:9

Have you been convicted against patterns of habitual sin?

Are you making active steps toward accountability, support, and healing from sinful choices?

Do you confess your sin to God when you fall back into old patterns? (1 John 1:9)

Do those patterns grieve your heart (Ezekiel 36:26)?

These actions are all signs of a regenerate spirit and a repentant heart that is growing and walking in the grace of God and also seeking to become more and more like Christ.

A living faith does not mean you are perfect. A living faith means you are trusting in, loving, following, and learning from the God of the universe who IS perfect, who IS love, who is unchanging in His passion for you.

A person with living faith is heartbroken over their sin and brought to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:5-13).

How do I know if my faith is living or dead?

If you struggle with the fear that you're not meant to be saved, you are not alone.

There are many other Christians who also struggle to know if their faith is genuine at all — alive or dead — or if they might do something bad enough they might lose their salvation.

Thankfully, the Bible gives us plenty of assurances and checks when it comes to our own faith.

God does not want us to be scared of or in the dark about His forgiveness (2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 34:17-20).

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." — Romans 8:1

TL; DR

"Dead faith" is a proclaimed faith in name alone, has no power or sign of true, redemptive work or positive change in lifestyle or even a desire to change over time does not equal a saving faith.

Christians with a living faith will still sin, yet they will have a desire to be "imitators of God," who IS perfect.

The difference between someone who claims to be a Christian yet has a dead faith and one with a living faith is their response to sin — are they heartbroken or do they show a desire to sin more?

A living faith means you are trusting in, loving, following, and learning from the perfect God of the universe who is unchanging in His passion for you.

September Grace is an aspiring novelist, book hoarder collector, and movie watcher. She has a black feline floof named Faust, an assortment of plants that seek global domination, and a distinct lack of awareness for where she is at any given moment.

https://412teens.org/qna/why-is-faith-without-works-dead.php

A TRAMPLED ROSE - a sweet-smelling fragrance - Crucified laid behind a stone You lived to die rejected and alone Like a rose trampled on the ground You took the fall and thought of me Above all - While in church one Sunday morning, I was introduced to the song, “Above All” written by Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche. I cried when we sang the chorus. For years, I could not sing the song without being deeply moved. Just to imagine Christ, my comforter and best friend, crucified, rejected and alone, touched me deeply. I myself was going through a time rejection and felt so alone. The words of the song touched me deeply – realizing that Christ had the same feelings. The sentence, “Like a rose trampled on the ground,” gave me such a clear word picture of what Jesus went through for us. One of the names of Jesus is “Rose of Sharon.” When a rose is crushed or trampled, it offers a very sweet fragrance. Jesus is a sweet-smelling fragrance. We, as believers, are a sweet-smelling fragrance to those who believe.

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A Trampled Rose

a sweet-smelling fragrance

by Katherine Kehler

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

Just over five years ago, while in church one Sunday morning, I was introduced to the song, “Above All” written by Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche.

I cried when we sang the chorus.

In fact, for years, I could not sing the song without being deeply moved. I still can’t.

Crucified laid behind a stone

You lived to die rejected and alone

Like a rose trampled on the ground

You took the fall and thought of me

Above all!

Just to imagine Christ, my comforter and best friend, crucified, rejected and alone, touched me deeply.

I myself was going through a time rejection and felt so alone. The words of the song touched me deeply – realizing that Christ had the same feelings.

The sentence, “Like a rose trampled on the ground,” gave me such a clear word picture of what Jesus went through for us.

One of the names of Jesus is “Rose of Sharon.”

One week, my husband and I spoke at a Day of Prayer gathering.

We sang the song again and the Lord gave me a new insight.

When a rose is crushed or trampled, it offers a very sweet fragrance.

Jesus is a sweet-smelling fragrance.

The Apostle Paul tells us that we, as believers, are a sweet-smelling fragrance to those who believe.

I wondered what kind of fragrance we as Christians offer when we have been rejected and feel alone – when we have been crushed and trampled on.

Mine is not always sweet. How about you?

Lord Jesus, thank You! Thank You that although You are above all powers and kings, nature and all created things, You were trampled to the ground – for us.

Yet being crushed, You were like a sweet-smelling rose. You did it all for us.

We ask that today and every day, when we feel crushed and rejected, a fragrance of sweet smelling rose would flow from our spirit so people would be drawn to You. Amen.

Katherine Kehler

was born in Bassano, Alberta, Canada and lived the first 9 years of her life in Rosemary, Alberta.  From there, her family moved to Abbotsford, BC and lived on a 64 acre dairy farm until she graduated from high school.

Katherine and Marvin were married in 1956 and had four children, three daughters and a son. Their children were raised on their 10 acre chicken farm. They lived 52 years of their married life in Aldergrove, BC.  They recently moved back to Abbotsford, BC.

When they were in their early thirties, their lives and priorities changed dramatically when they yielded total control of their lives to Jesus Christ and practised walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

She served as the producer and executive editor of Women Today Magazine, which was read in over 140 countries. In 1995, she began a website version of the magazine.  In only a few years, the website grew to five websites, in English and French. When she transferred her ministry responsibilities to other women, over 220,000 women from 155 countries visited these websites every month. More than 11,000 women subscribe to her devotionals.

When Dreams Come True: Her first book, When Dreams Come True: Women Today Online was published in September 2001.  In October of that same year she was included in The Celebration of Women, a book that profiled influential Christian leaders from around the world. Articles about her have been published in several publications such as Faith Today, Maranatha, and Christian Leadership.

https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/kk_trampled-rose/

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Above All

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https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/06/above-all-lenny-leblanc-paul-joseph.html