By Gary Ray Branscome
Because our faith in Christ is so
different from the caricature of faith that we encounter in the world, many who
are young or new to the faith have to deal with doubts about their faith, or
fear that it might not be a true or living faith. Such fears are often
amplified by the words of James, “Faith, if it does not produce works, is dead, being alone,” or Christ’s warning, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in your name? and in your name cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you
who do evil” (James 2:17, Matthew
7:22-23). Therefore, we need to know how to deal with such doubts and fears.
Even
though the words, “A man is justified by
faith without the deeds of the law,” plainly tell us that faith makes us
just [i.e. righteous] “without the deeds
of the law” (Romans
That being said, I need to make it
clear that it is impossible for faith in Christ to ever be dead. Those who have
faith have forgiveness, those who have forgiveness have the Holy Spirit, and
the words, “The flesh lusts against the
Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and they are opposed to each other: so that you cannot do the things
that you would,” tell us that those who trust in Christ have the Holy
Spirit’s help in resisting the flesh (Galatians 5:17). Therefore, John’s
statement, “Anyone who claims to know
Him, but does not keep his commandments, is a liar,” is not talking about
the struggles and shortcomings that beset a believer as he struggles against
sin, but those who are unrepentant (1John 2:4). That would include those who
claim to trust in Christ, but have no desire to give up their immoral
lifestyle.
Just as those who have no desire to
give up their immoral lifestyle are unrepentant, those who blind themselves to
their own sins, convincing themselves that the rules they keep make them
righteous or worthy of God’s favor are equally unrepentant. The first group is
condemned by the words, “Anyone who claims to know Him, but does not keep his
commandments, is a liar” (1John 2:4). The second group
is condemned by the words, “Christ is of
no benefit to those of you who seek righteousness by the law; you are fallen from grace” (Galatians
5:4). True faith cannot exist without repentance, and true repentance is
described in the words, “God will not
despise a heart that is humbled and sorry for sin” (Psalm 51:17).