Balance in Faith and Works
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Him, Christ will make all our imperfect efforts acceptable to God. The
faith we are required to have is not a do-nothing faith; saving faith is
that which works by love, and purifies the soul. He who will lift up
holy hands to God without wrath and doubting, will walk intelligently
in the way of God’s commandments.
If we are to have pardon for our sins, we must first have a realization
of what sin is, that we may repent, and bring forth fruits meet for
repentance. We must have a solid foundation for our faith; it must be
founded on the Word of God, and its results will be seen in obedience
to God’s expressed will. Says the apostle, “Without holiness no man
shall see the Lord.”
Evenly Balanced
Faith and works will keep us evenly balanced, and make us suc-
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cessful in the work of perfecting Christian character. Jesus says, “Not
everyone 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.”
Speaking of temporal food, the apostle said, “For even when we were
with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither
should he eat.” The same rule applies to our spiritual nourishment; if
any would have the bread of eternal life, let him make efforts to obtain
it.
We are living in an important and interesting period of this earth’s
history. We need more faith than we have yet had; we need a firmer
hold from above. Satan is working with all power to obtain the victory
over us, for he knows that he has but a short time in which to work.
Paul had fear and trembling in working out his salvation; and should
not we fear lest a promise being left us, we should any of us seem to
come short of it, and prove ourselves unworthy of eternal life? We
should watch unto prayer, strive with agonizing effort to enter in at the
strait gate.
There is no excuse for sin, or for indolence. Jesus has led the way,
and He wishes us to follow in His steps. He has suffered, He has
sacrificed as none of us can, that He might bring salvation within our
reach. We need not be discouraged. Jesus came to our world to bring
divine power to man, that through His grace, we might be transformed
into His likeness.