THE 2 SIDES OF FAITH: CONFESSION AND POSSESSION
FAITH. How often do we contemplate it, discuss it, define it, and try to determine if we have it, and it’s importance in our life ? Faith is defined in one’s dictionary as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” It can also be defined as a belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion. AI will tell us that in the Bible, FAITH is the trust and confidence in God and His Promises. It is the BELIEF that what God has revealed in His Word is TRUE. FAITH is indeed bantered about in many different ways. In a worldly sense, faith can find it’s foundation in oneself, scientific evidence, academic thought, philosophic thought, even Gut Hunches. Some people call out Faith in terms of a variety of descriptive adjectives. Blind Faith; Leap of Faith; Have Faith; Step Out in Faith; Share Faith, Find some Faith. Faith can be childlike, unshakeable, unwavering, sincere, rational, deep….or perhaps naive, little, weak, even bad. For a lot of Christians, a CONFESSION OF FAITH is one of the most important things that they focus on, and it is indeed of utmost importance. What makes a Confession of Faith truly important is defining JUST WHO AND WHAT YOUR FAITH IS IN AND ABOUT. I’ve met a lot of people who profess Christianity, but they really don’t know why. Perhaps they grew up in a Christian family or attended church as a child…but often there is an inability to Express A Deeper Thought Process or Sureness Of Meaning. For many believers, Baptism is a truly Important and Key WAY TO CONFESS ONE’S FAITH ! It is a great way to Show and Tell everyone “I Am Saved and I Have Jesus As My Lord, Savior, and King:)” It is important to be able to Confess Our Faith, but it is even more important to SHARE OUR FAITH IN CHRIST !
SOME TRUST IN CHARIOTS AND SOME IN HOSES, BUT WE TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD. Psalm 20;7
AND THOSE WHO KNOW YOUR NAME PUT THEIR TRUST IN YOU, FOR YOU, O LORD, HAVE NOT FORSAKEN THOSE WHO SEEK YOU. Psalm 9:10
KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD, THE FAITHFUL GOD WHO KEEPS COVENANT AND STEADFAST LOVE WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS. Deuteronomy 7:9
As a Christian and a follower of Jesus, I am always looking to Mature and Grow in My Faith. I believe that a key starting point in one’s journey into relationship with God is to understand our IDENTITY. GOD CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE ! The scripture above points out several things to us about God. His Name is TRUSTWORTHY. He will not Forsake ANYONE WHO SEEKS HIM. He is also a FAITHFUL GOD WHO KEEPS COVENANT AND STEADFAST LOVE WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS ! It is interesting that as Paul begins to describe Faith in The Book Of Romans, it seems clear that The Righteous Will Live By Faith. In the Gospel we experience the power of Salvation to everyone who believes and accepts it’s Truth. Romans is a major discussion of our interaction with following God’s Commandments, the place of the “law” in our lives and identity, and the sometimes confusing relationship of our efforts of behavior and works in the grand scheme of Faith. Without Faith, all our efforts of goodness will fall short. Works aren’t the answer Right ? SO, why do we read in The Book Of James that “faith without works is dead” ? Are Paul and James at odds here ? I Don’t think so:) THIS IS WHERE “POSSESSION OF FAITH BECOMES SO IMPORTANT ! We are so blessed that Jesus saved us. All our efforts and works would never have allowed us to be in relationship with God in a Whole and Complete way. Our Actions are truly nothing without Faith, and likewise, our Confessions of Faith will be very hollow if all our Faith is are Words !
FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. FOR WE ARE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP. CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND, THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM. Ephesians 2:8-10
YOU SEE THAT A PERSON IS JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, AND NOT BY FAITH ALONE. James 2:24
BUT SOMEONE WILL SAY, “YOU HAVE FAITH, AND I HAVE WORKS.'“ SHOW ME YOUR FAITH APART FROM YOUR WORKS, AND I WILL SHOW YOU MY FAITH BY MY WORKS. James 2:18
IF you are Confessing Faith In Christ, then I would suggest you also must Possess that Faith by putting it into ACTION ! I truly believe that Jesus Saved Us To Use US for His Kingdom Purposes. It is good to study, and learn, and equip oneself…but if WE never put our knowledge, contemplation, and words into action, then are we really FAITHFUL ? Are we “Hearers of The Word, bur Not Doers ?” It has become so clear to me that in order to Confess myself as a follower and believer in Jesus, I MUST POSSESS ENOUGH FAITH TO SERVE AND DO THE GOOD WORKS HE PREPARED FOR ME BEFOREHAND. There are so many needy people in our midst who want to find Faith, but they are watching us and wondering. Why do so many people proclaim one thing and do another ? Why does a Christian walk away from someone in need ? Why Am I forgotten by those who Confess to follow Jesus ? JESUS NEVER WALKED BY OR AWAY FROM SOMEONE IN NEED. My eyes, ears, and heart have been opened. HOW ABOUT YOURS ? POSSESS YOUR FAITH AND DO THE WORK/JAA
IN THE SAME WAY LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, SO THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. Matthew 5:16