A REAL FAITH IS AN OBEDIENT FAITH

 

 

The Scriptures often warn that a real faith is a fruitful and obedient faith:

 

·       What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14 ESV)

 

Consequently, obedience is not an additional requirement for salvation but a picture of what a real faith looks like:

 

·       ...the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed...(2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)

 

Upon His return, He will bring “eternal destruction” upon “those who do not obey the gospel,” on those who refuse to believe. There is no indication anywhere in the Scriptures of a second chance. Why not? Because they will respond to a “second chance” as they had the first! If they had rejected the Light of the evidence in this life, they will certainly reject Him in the next, as His Light penetrates even deeper into their souls to expose their darkness.

 

If we continue to walk in the darkness, it means that we are bereft of saving faith:

 

·       If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in 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 with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7)

 

A real faith will bear good fruit, as Jesus had taught:

 

·       “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:15-19)

 

Good deeds do not save us but serve as signs of a saving faith, as apples bear witness that they come from an apple tree.

 

Nevertheless, we need to be very hesitant about passing judgment. From all appearances, it didn’t seem that Lot had been walking in the light. His two daughters had even gotten him drunk to get impregnated by him. Yet, the NT informs us that he was a righteous man:

 

·       ...He rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard). (2 Peter 2:7-8)

 

But, according to Jesus, we must judge someone calling himself a teacher or a prophet. He must be able to demonstrate that he is bearing good fruit.