Faith Without Works

In Christianity, everything is supposed to be birthed out of a place of deep relationship with Jesus Christ.

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While being raised most of my life in a Baptist background, I have heard the phrase, “Faith without works is dead,” over and over again. I was also taught that it meant that any works that I was doing for the Lord were fulfilling my role in this verse.

As I have grown in my relationship with Jesus Christ over the years, I’ve come to realize that it isn’t just any old works that are being talked about here but that it goes much deeper than just a surface belief system. 

Much in the same way that God is looking for true Worshippers, who worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23), it is those who are operating in real relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (and doing what they say), who are doing the real “Works” of God by Faith.

In Christianity, everything is supposed to be birthed out of a place of deep relationship with Jesus Christ, not just a shallow belief system that has no real Encounters with God. So when the disciples are talking about Faith being dead without works, it’s not talking about just any works, but it is talking about hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying to you at any given moment and moving upon what He says in obedience so that you can see the Demonstration of the Holy Spirit and His Power moving upon your behalf!

But Jesus answered them, My Father has worked [even] until now, [He has never ceased working; He is still working] and I, too, must be at work.” John 5:17

Jesus Christ saw what the Father was doing by the Power of the Holy Spirit, and He actively did what He saw Dad doing.  In the same way, we are able to see what the Father is working on, as it is revealed by the Same Holy Spirit Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead operating in us.

Dead works (to me) are anything that the Holy Spirit is not telling me to do! Real “Works” which are done by faith are acted upon by obedience to whatever the Holy Spirit is saying for you personally. As you act upon them, He sends His Power as a witness to Testify that it’s Him.

It is the disobedient son or daughter who ignores the leading of the Holy Spirit (as well as the commands from the Word of God) and acts upon their own volition, ultimately grieving the Holy Spirit and seeing nothing happen as a result. 

Doing good to those around you is great, but BEING OBEDIENT TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS BETTER! This morning if you’re wrestling with a desire to see God move in or through your life, maybe you need a closer walk with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

Sacrifice is always easy to do, but obedience is sometimes hard. Show us, Holy Spirit, how to hear Your Voice and be obedient to it so that we can not only do Good Works, But God Works Instead!

 

Featured Image by Eason Fong from Pixabay

 
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About the Author

Daniel Pontious is a Kingdom Winds Contributor and passionate about teaching and revealing the Heart of the Father and Drawing people Closer to Him. It is his desire to see every member of the Body of Christ Functioning in their Personal Identity In Him!

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