CONCERNING TRUE FAITH AND LIVING FAITH

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 3:28), a believer will sooner or later encounter the words, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). And, the way of the world is to affirm one passage while explaining away the other. However, because both passages are the Word of God that approach is totally wrong. Both passages need to be accepted as true. And, both are true because they are talking about two different things. The words, “A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law,” are speaking of works “of the law”. In contrast, the statement, “Faith without works is dead,” is not talking about the works of the law, but about conduct that is consistent with faith. James makes that clear when he says, “Wasn’t Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the spies, and sent them out another way?” (James 2:25). Notice that Rahab’s works had nothing to do with the law, but with acting in a way that was consistent with her faith. The second chapter of James begins by pointing out how wrong and inconsistent it is for believers to treat poor brethren as inferior, instead of showing to them the same love that Christ has shown for us, and James points to Rahab to illustrate his appeal to put our faith into action.

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).