(Further refections on “Faith-that-works”—Sunday 17-July-2022)
The difference between the demons, Abraham, and Rahab (cf. James 2:18-26) is what they did with their belief. Believing in God is a good start. But if it stops there, it is a terrible end. The demons were created fallen angelic beings. Abraham and Rehab were also fallen human beings. God is their creator. They all believed in the Lord. But the demons did not, according to what they believe. Their faith was probably still in God, but it is dying. Thus, it is considered dead. And without faith, the ‘working’ or ‘alive’ one (emphasis is mine), it is impossible to please God (cf. Hebrews 11:6). So Christians whose lifestyles do not match with their belief in God are in the same camp with the demons. Is this judgement too harsh? Do remember that none of us should be in a position of a judge, but God and His words are always the just judge, and we should not be shy to speak Jesus, who is full of grace and truth (cf. John 1:14, 17), into people’s life regardless of their past, whether they were respectful like Abraham or disrespectful like Rahab. The past should not be deleted and is here to know that there is always hope for the present. Grace is always sufficient. Truth is always diving between what is right and wrong, not according to us, but to God. God’s words are always showing what is evil and what is good. Jesus is the only hope, the only unbreakable bridge, for humankind to bridge the gap between what they believe in God’s word and how they actually live it. The Holy Spirit is the only power that can set us free from living a double life- what we do on Sunday and the rest of the week.
The only hope for both fallen angelic beings (i.e. demons) and human beings (i.e. Abraham and Rahab) is not what they have achieved in the past nor their current good deeds, but their faith that is alive, active, and working. For ‘faith-that-dies’ will be dead and ‘faith-that-works’ will be living. Salvation in and through Jesus Christ should never be seen or treated as an artifact in a museum. It should be a living sacrifice (cf. Romans 12), actively and sacrificially living through ‘faith-that-works’. The process is the sanctification, a process of being made holy. Salvation without sanctification is ‘faith-that-dies’. Sanctification without salvation is ‘faith-without-hope or assurance’, which are hopeless good works/deeds.
The only justification for all creation is by God’s grace through faith in God’s Son—Jesus Christ. And this faith must be an active and living one. It must live out what we believe in the Lord and His word. ‘Faith-that-works’ will always walk not according to its own sight or definition, but by faith in the One who saves and sanctifies.
Knowing the difference between faith of the demons and faith of Abraham and Rahab should be translated into bridging the gap between what we believe and how we actually live. And we know that we are unable to do it by ourselves. We don’t have to because Jesus is the Savior, Sanctifier, and Enabler who is working in us through His Word and His Body—the local church. None of us should be alone in the journey of minimizing the gap between what we believe and how we live.
Amen.
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Pastor Lap
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