Do You Possess True, Saving Faith?

Alexander Graham Bell was an amazingly talented person. He invented the multiple telegraph, the audiometer - which is used to test your hearing, the tricycle landing gear you find on planes, and a host of other less well-known machines. In addition to this he was co-founder of the prestigious magazine Science, served as President of the National Geographic Society, and spent his life working with deaf people. But, most famous of all his creations was the telephone. It also made his family and his descendants enormously wealthy. However, he almost lost it all.

You see Bell never seemed to get around to submitting a patent application. Finally, his father-in-law, who had financed a lot of the research, got so impatient that he filed the patent on Bell’s behalf on the 14th of February 1876, Bell’s 29th birthday. And it was a good thing he did, because just a few hours later, another scientist by the name of Elisha Gray went to the patent office to get a patent on a machine he’d been working on for many years – you guessed it, the telephone.

This story reminds us that sometimes its not enough simply to have great ideas. We need to act on them. Bell and his father-in-law are a good example of the relationship between faith and works. Bell had faith in his telephone but did nothing about it. His father-in-law had faith and works to go with it.

Faith is certainly an essential element in the Christian life. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). It's important to note that the Christian is saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8); and the Christian is to walk (live) by faith, as well (2 Corinthians 5:7). In fact, whatever we do apart from faith is described as sin (Romans 14:23).

It is important to realize, however, that there are different kinds of faith, but only one that is truly "saving faith." In James 2:14-26, James discusses the different kinds of faith, with an emphasis upon that faith which works to the saving of the soul.

Let's take a look at James 2:14-17, for different examples of faith. The first type of faith is "dead faith." This kind of faith substitutes words for deeds (consider James' example). People with this kind of faith know the correct vocabulary for prayer, and sound doctrine. They can even quote the right verses from the Bible. But, their "walk" doesn't  measure up to their "talk." Why?

It's only and intellectual faith. This is where in one's mind, he or she knows the doctrine of salvation; but they have never really submitted themselves to God and trusted in Jesus for salvation. They know the right "words," but they do not back up their words with their "works."

Now, can this kind of faith save? No! Three times, James emphasizes that "faith without works is dead" (James 2: 17,20,26). Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration:  A "dead faith!" Dead faith is counterfeit faith and lulls the person into a false confidence of eternal life.

So, do we have this kind of faith? We do, if our "walk" does not measure up to our "talk!" We do, if our "works"  do not measure up to our "words!"

The next kind of faith is found discussed in James 2:18-19. It is "demonic faith." Maybe to shock any complacent readers, James reminds us that even "demons" have a kind of faith. They believe in God (no atheists or agnostics here!) They even believe in the deity of Christ (Mark 3:11-12). They also believe in the existence of a place of condemnation (Luke 8:31). And, they believe Jesus will be the Judge! (Matthew 8:28-29)

Then, what kind of faith do "demons" have? We saw that the man with "dead faith" was "touched only in his intellect." The demons are "touched also in their emotions" (note that they "believe and tremble"). This is one step above a "dead faith," it involves both intellect and emotions.

Okay. Can this kind of faith save? No! A person can be enlightened in his mind, even stirred in his heart; yet still be lost forever! True saving faith involves something more, something that can be seen and recognized:  a changed life! (Jame 2:18) Being a Christian involves trusting Christ and living for Christ! You first "receive" the life...then you "reveal" the life!

How do we know we have this kind of faith? We do, if we just "believe" the right things; and "feel" the right things.We do, if our service to God does not go beyond intellectually adhering to the right doctrines, and emotional experiences while attending services.

Up to this point, we have talked about two kinds of faith that can never save:  "dead faith"  (involving the intellect alone), and "demonic faith," (involving the intellect and the emotions, but stopping there). In James 2: 20-26, he discusses the only kind of faith that can save..."dynamic faith."

What kind of faith is this? Well, we know from other passages that such faith is based upon the Word of God (Romans 10:17). "Dynamic faith" involves the "whole man." "Dead faith" touches only the intellect. "Demonic faith" involves both the mind and the emotions. "Dynamic faith" involves the intellect, the emotions, and the will! The mind understands the truth; the heart desires and rejoices in the truth; the will acts upon the truth.

True, saving faith, then, leads to action. It's not intellectual contemplation; it's not emotionalism. No, it's that which leads to obedience in doing good works. That's why it's important that each professing Christian examine his or her own heart and life, and make sure that they possess true, saving faith, which is a "dynamic faith."

Satan is the great deceiver; one of his devices is imitation. If he can convince a person that counterfeit faith is true faith...then he has that person in his power! Certainly, not every Christian has the same degree of faith; those who have had more time to grow should be stronger in faith. But for the most part, I hope that the spiritual inventory, we just went over, can assist a person in determining his or her true standing before God.

Scripture:  Hebrews 11:8; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:16; John 6:28; John 3:36

Prayer:  Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen   -Psalms 139:23-24

God bless you!

Abbey