Articles
Must Faith Be Demonstrated?
The Bible emphasizes the importance of faith in order to be pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (NKJV). According to Romans 5:1 we are justified by faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 speaks of us being saved by grace through faith. Does a person have to demonstrate their faith in order to be saved?
James 2:14-26 is a passage which plainly teaches saving faith which results in us being justified is faith which is demonstrated by actions. Faith which is without works or which is not demonstrated is a dead faith which is incapable of saving a person (James 2:17, 20, 26). One cannot truly demonstrate they have faith if they do not demonstrate their faith by their works (James 2:18). James 2:19 points out the demons believe but they do not act upon their belief. As a result, the demons demonstrate it is possible for a person to believe and yet still not be saved. Remember the rulers in the time of Jesus who believed in Jesus but were unwilling to confess their faith (John 12:42-43). Here are people who believed in Jesus but were not saved because they were unwilling to allow their faith to lead them to act upon what they believed to be true about Jesus. James 2 speaks about the faith of Abraham and the faith of Rahab (James 2:21-25). In both of these instances, these individuals whose faith resulted in their justification had a faith they demonstrated by their actions or works. James 2:14-26 clearly teaches faith alone with is not demonstrated by works is not going to justify a person (James 2:24).
Hebrews 11 tells us about many Old Testament heroes of faith. The end of Hebrews 10 has just we must not be, “of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39, NKJV). The fact Hebrews 11 follows such a statement indicates Hebrews 11 will be telling us about the sort of belief that results in the saving of the soul. Hebrews 11 will tell us about the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, etc. One thing all of these individuals have in common is they demonstrated their faith by actions which they did. Abel’s faith was demonstrated by him offering to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain (Hebrews 11:4). Noah's faith was demonstrated by him moving with godly fear and preparing an ark (Hebrews 11:7). Abraham’s faith was demonstrated by him obeying God when he was told to move to another country (Hebrews 11:8) and obeying God when he was commanded to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Hebrews 11:17). Isaac’s faith led him to bless Jacob and Esau based on things to come (Hebrews 11:20). Jospeh’s faith led him to speak about the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt (Hebrews 11:22). Moses’ faith led him to refuse to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, to choose to suffer affliction with the people of God, to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, etc. (Hebrews 11:23-29). Just as these great heroes of faith demonstrated their faith by their willingness to act upon what God wanted them to do, we must act upon what God tells us to do today in order to demonstrate our faith.
The conversion of the Philippian jailor demonstrates how our faith must be demonstrated by our actions. The Philippian jailor asks Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30, NKJV). Their response was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31, NKJV). They speak the word of God to him and those in his house so they would know what to believe. He washes their stripes and is baptized the same hour of the night (Acts 16:33). Acts 16:34 says after he had done these things, “he brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household” (NKJV). His faith brought about salvation which produced his rejoicing after he demonstrated his faith by complying with the commands given by Jesus in order for a person to be saved (Mark 16:16).
Let’s make sure we demonstrate our faith by our willingness to obey whatever instructions the Lord gives to us!
