But then after all that, He also gives the measure of faith or you are dealt the measure of faith. To do what ? So you dont even have enough faith to get saved stay saved or does God Himself go ahead and Oh by the way I love you so much that I am going to give you the Faith to what ? Love ya bros thought i would put a little fatback in the pot
Hi Randy,
I think Paul answers that in Romans 12. In it we can see two things.
1) We are given faith
2) Our faith should be exercised in works of service, performed in proportion to the measure of faith we have been given.
Romans 12: 3-6 Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a mans gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach...
There are many places where works of service, or right actions, are taught in Scripture.
Ephesians 4:12 ...to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Philippians 2:13 - It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him.
The great faith chapter of Hebrews 11 gives us specific, concrete examples - so there can be no doubt that faith and works go together.
Hebrews 11: 33-34 ...who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
Besides simply exercising our faith, "works of repentance" brings proving or demonstrating faith, into the picture.
Acts 26:20 I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
This of course ties into what James says, which causes all the controversy among the faith alone teachers.
So the answer to the question you pose is has several layers. "We are given faith to do what?" To exercise and demonstrate it, which is pleasing to God, and builds up the body of Christ.
Ephesians 6:16 - For we are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us todo.
I guess what I am saying we dont even have enough faith in the natural man to stay saved or to come to Christ. God is so great that after all this He gives us the faith or His faith to be and stay saved. This has a lot of layers and people who only eat meat occasionaly should not attempt to get in here. Not talking about you.If you the kind of Faith God is talking about you will want to do some works. Not to score points because its the Christ thing to do. Before you got saved you didnt care were you mowed the widows grass or not. Now you do it because its what He would do Christ Like. If you stay in the Word you will stay saved. More on this later got to get some black eye peas cooking
ken the message is powerful, someone out there needs to know that gods love is much more powerful then the sin they have committed. (glory to god) you are going to make me shout young man(lol)
we are certainly saved by grace, faith was the vihichle that god use to get us there.
Yes, so true and that faith is evidenced by deeds born of love. You shall know them by their fruits.
It seems so simple that everyone should "get it". However, this subject is one of the "biggies" that causes divisions and in-house fighting among Christians. Go figure - lol.
Thank God that Grace is between me & God and not between me, a 3rd person, and God. God strengthens our Faith when we obey Him and seek Him. Over he years I have witnessed for Him and led many to Him, but that's as far as I can go. From there it becomes a personal thing between them and God. Having the faith to trust Him as Lord and Savior is a personal experience. Thank God I made the right decision when I accepted Him through faith. Clifford, Ken, it is so good to have Brothers in Christ to share with. God Bless you both!
anytime zack i love the word and i love sharing the word as well, and having someone like you to share it with makes it just that much enjoyable.
god bless you clifford mitchell
