A common misconception in our day is that people can continue doing what they want to in life and just have faith in Christ to be saved. In saying this, I’ve talked with many people on the streets and a lot of them have said that they believe in Jesus, but only few of them actually say that they do as He says. This is exactly what Jesus taught, when it comes to people in the faith. Because most of them choose the easy path that excludes doing His will, they are really on a path of destruction. Jesus said, 1“enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13,14) Believing seems easy to most people, but actions are not. So what does the Bible say on this matter? Can someone simply believe and not do what Jesus says and still be saved? To answer this, we will look into three different chapters of the Bible, in order to piece together God’s answer on this topic. #1. Jesus said, 1“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.” (Matthew 7:21) So our faith plus doing the will of the Father will help us enter heaven. #2. Jesus said, 2“why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) So just because we call upon the Lord does not mean we are saved, unless we do what He says also. God knows our true intentions in life and our lack of desire to do His will shows we don’t love Him after all.
For #3. we will let James sum this one up for us. He said, 4“what doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14-17) It is clear that our faith without doing God’s works in our lives is not faith at all. When our desires matter more than others, then God does not really matter in our life also. This kind of faith is dead and doesn’t help us one bit in this life or the next. In saying this, we’ve learned that believing in Jesus without doing His will is dead faith and these same people are counted with the unbelievers and the wicked. Lastly to do God’s will is to do His works and not our own will. This we do, by putting off the lusts of the flesh, while focusing on others and walking in the spirit. As Paul said, 3“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-25) None of the things mentioned above can happen if God and others needs are not put as a priority in our lives. Therefore, have faith and live unto God by walking in the Spirit each day of your life. In doing this, your faith will grow and many lives will be affected for the good.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that those in the faith will become doers of what You say and not just believers in word only. I know that our faith can do great and mighty things in our lives, if our trust is truly in You and not in ourselves alone. However, this only matters when we decide to live for You and no longer for the cares of this world. Lives are changed and darkness is scattered when You take root in our hearts. It is when we are encompassed by Your light that our eyes are opened to our current sinful lifestyle and we are convicted of our sins. Then, as we give ourselves freely to Your will, and repent of our sins, there is freedom found because of Your blood that was spilt for us on the cross. We may have strayed from Your presence and done our own things for many years, but all this is over when we finally give our whole hearts to You in our confessions. I am so grateful Lord for Your mercy. Thank You for showing me grace, even after seeing me live in sexual sin for many years. You heard my cries, even though I didn’t think You could care for someone like me any longer. I deserved Your wrath, but instead You showed me compassion and gave me another chance at life. What a great God You are. Surely, I was wrong when I thought that my faith, without doing Your will, would save me. This only led me on a dark path, of which sin took over my life. Now I know Lord that when I live in Your will is when sin does not abound. I am free from shame and guilt, while doing Your good works and my conscience is clear. It is joyful when I can abide in Your presence and bless other people’s lives. Doing Your will truly makes me more happy than I could possibly imagine. I love You Jesus. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Matthew 7:13-23 (KJV)
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 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.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2Luke 6:43-49 (KJV)
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
3Galatians 5:16-26 (KJV)
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
4James 2:14-26 (KJV)
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.