Easy Believism vs. Perseverance & Obedience

We live in a generation of "easy-believism Christianity" where intellectual assent to the Gospel message is highlighted and often separated from a need for obedient living and a perseverance in the faith.

The book of James is such a great summation of what genuine faith in Christ looks like. John MacArthur states that "James' point is not that a person is saved by works, but that there is a kind of apparent faith that is dead and does not save."

Here are some great verses from James...

James 1:6b "he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

James 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?"

James 2:17 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Saving faith is also described clearly throughout Scripture as a persevering faith.

Colossians 1:23a "if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel"

1 John 2:3-6 "3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person by Whole People by Will Metzger is an excellent resource for Gospel-sharing and a proper understanding of what true saving faith is and "God-centered evangelism." Another book I suggest (b/c of the author) is How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian by Donald Whitney. Dr.Whitney has a LOT of great books on the Christian life.

Are you a victim of "easy-believism"? Are good works, obedience, and perseverance characteristics of your faith? Try reading 1 John & James...see what they have to say about faith.

God - The Greatest Father Ever!

Psalm 139:5 "You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me." God is such the epitomy of Fatherhood. His loving correction, stern rebuke, imparting of wisdom, loving punishment, and caring embrace show throughout Scripture in how He deals with Israel and His church. It is so encouraging to know that God fills the gap in our own fatherhood failures or those of our own fathers. Read a great article regarding the analogy of God as the Father who lovingly chases us down...when we run away from Him, just like children run away from or resist their earthly parents. http://www.crosswalk.com/parenting/11577135/ The author (Whitney Von Lake Hopler) lists several reasons we tend to run away from God:

• We think something else seems more exciting
• We’re afraid of what He may ask us to do
• We think we’ll experience more freedom on our own
• We don’t believe He’ll really love us as we are
• We want others to think we’re independent

The Vanity of Life

Psalm 39 is such a great tool to keep things in perspective...God's perspective. Is our prayer like the Psalmist's "Let me know how transient I am" in total humilty? Or do we find ourself boasting in our strength, wisdom, or riches (Jeremiah 9:23-24)? We must not lose focus of the shortness and meekness of our own lives. We must "in humility consider others better than" ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4) and seize every day as an opportunity to glorify God in all that we do.