I was not released by the Holy Spirit to go on to the next subject of discussion until I did this third part under this topic.

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In our last two segments (#1 #2) I shared with you what untrained and inexperienced faith would not do for you; today as a capstone, I will share with you what faith must do for you and where you must concentrate your faith effort in spite of a very busy life.

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† James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Lest it be confusing to some, passages such as this one and others are not saying that by our “works” are we saved but we are saved by faith and God’s grace and how we properly employ it to fulfill faith’s purposes.

It is by love for God and obedience that we act by faith regarding things that are works inspired and carried out by our faith in God and His Word.

The days are nearly upon us whereby if you do not have a sure and strong faith in God and His Word (which two things are inseparable) you will not be able to endure to the end and be saved († Matt. 24:12-13); according to Jesus, those times will be the worst the earth has ever seen or will ever be again († Matt. 24:21-22).

Without a sure and true faith, a professing Christian today can become lost to God again in some tomorrow by its stresses and dangers.

This is a statement that is not to be taken lightly by anyone, including those in ministry; so many are confident that where they are in their relationship with God today is good enough but the Spirit of the Lord says, “Good enough is not good enough!” These are examples of how God looks at “good enough”:

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† Jeremiah 12: [Think within the context of faith during normal and low-stress times versus faith in times of great trouble:] 5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? 6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee [flattery and betrayal, † Mk 13:12].

† 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

† Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly [good enough is not good enough], according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

As a Follow-Up to What You’ve Heard As a follow-up to what you’ve heard in the previous 2 sessions under this title where I have pointed out that faith in God, does not make you safe, but it does save you, if you abide in it, I add these things today. Here are several critical issues on this spiritual subject which I believe are FOUR KEY POINTS on what we must stand in and exercise our faith in the practice of: 1. An unshakable faith in God and His Word, 2. personal repentance, 3. the genuine forgiveness of others, and 4. love. ❤ ❤ ❤ If you are weak at or failing to believe and trust God, not practicing repentance as needed, and have unforgiveness in your heart, you are in danger of not having a home in God’s realm when your life is over. Although there are other aspects of the faith, if you need a place to start to examine yourself and with the help of God to become stalwart in your faith against the stressors of our tomorrows, these four are what can deliver you into the glorious realm of God when you leave this earth. With respect to faith in God, I feel as Paul did in his concerns regarding believers that he had ministered to.

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† 1 Thessalonians 3:1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

As to the highest application of faith, with that being perfect confidence in God and in what He has recorded in His Word for us, it (faith!) is the essential turning point away from fear, doubt, and confusion about God and what He is and can do.

Not knowing and trusting in God and what He has said in writing, [not knowing] provides no guidance for a believer on the other three other top-shelf aspects of faith: personal repentance, the forgiveness of others, and an unconditional love for others.

This first issue of faith has been the underlying theme for just about every discussion I have had with those that heard me over the years. Simply stated, you need to read the Book to know God and His Son, His power and promises, and what He requires of us to be saved.

Not knowing Jesus, as you and I are called to, means that He does not know you—and that will be shockingly terrifying to many and very bad for those that had been sloppy Christians.

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† Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart [this is developed in our hearts by reading and knowing His Word and talking to Him regularly]; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

† Matthew 7: [Jesus said this:] 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

† Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith [and its legitimate actions] cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

But for The Remaining 3 ~ We Will But for the remaining three we will touch on in the next few minutes—how are they faith-related, you might wonder? Let’s move now to how faith affects one’s repentance when sin has arisen. It is by faith in Who God is, why He did what He did to redeem mankind through the sacrificial and brutal death of His Son Jesus, and how God feels about sin that I come to know that when I sin, I must repent of it, be forgiven, and cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus—and that is to be my stand-by position all the days of my life in this present realm. It is belief in God’s Word and ways that lead me to a necessary sorrow for my sin and the subsequent act of sincere repentance and the seeking of the Divine help needed to stop sinning (commanded in the New Testament many, many times).

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† 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow (sadness, grief, heaviness) worketh repentance to salvation [my being saved] not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

† Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

The third aspect of an active faith is that of forgiveness of all others that have wronged us (or we think they have), and yes, for some that includes forgiving God of things they have blamed Him for!

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† Job 2: [As to holding thing against God:] 9 Then said [Job’s] his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil (adversity, affliction, calamity)? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

† Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye. . .12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. . . 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

† Mark 11: [It is on the subject of faith that Jesus said this:] 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Therefore, The Question you should ask Therefore, the question you should ask of yourself and honestly answer in your mind and heart is this, “Who (if anyone) do I still hold ought against (a parent, sibling, spouse, ex-spouse, an in-law or other relative, child, neighbor, co-worker, someone from long ago, etc.)?” It matters that you and I rid our souls of unforgiveness because we absolutely need the forgiveness of God. Such issues may easily dismissed or be long forgotten by us but can still be in Heaven’s record and even influencing us from our subconscious mind and heart. It is wise to ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind all such things that need our attention—and not just asking one time! It is faith in action to know what God’s Word says about forgiveness, to believe it, and take the action of forgiving when we are sinned against or in some way offended by another. Jesus indicated that a failure to be clear of matters of unforgiveness have consequences with the Father in Heaven.

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† Matthew 18:32 …Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

The final aspect of faith today is that of love, loving both God and having a genuine warmness for others—indeed, we are informed to have affection for all human souls as Jesus did and does still today.

I heard someone say this: “True love for God and others can only be developed by faith.” In part, that goes back to reading, knowing, believing, and living the Word of God—His faith-building manual for our lives.

If you don’t live daily in a love for God and a tender affection for souls, then by “the faith of Jesus” († Rev. 14:12) start practicing love this week with the goal of perfecting love for God and others.

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† Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

† 1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of [or “love for”] God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

† John 14: [Jesus said:] 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

† 1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (affection, benevolence, love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. . . 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

† Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

You’ve Heard Me Say Over The Years You’ve heard me say over the years that in his writings the Apostle John’s emphasis seems to be this: “Stop sinning, and if you get anything right, get love right.” How true this is because if you come to love God like we are commanded to, we will be sorry for sin and repent of it when it happens. We will also not hold unforgiveness in our hearts if we love others even though they have hurt us. True faith is not what so many have made it to be, and that can be eternally catastrophic. We can have perfect confidence in God and His Word, and if we do not, it is our fault. By being fully persuaded of the truthfulness of God, by complete reliance of Jesus Christ for your salvation, and by unwavering constancy in our profession of these things (the definitions of faith!), we grow to believe Him and trust His word, be quick to recognize sin and repent of it, forgive all and be forgiven of all, and love God with our whole being and others as yourself. If you will, I am confident that all the other areas of a rich and rewarding faith will take care of themselves. Amen!

The Word Has The Last Word

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† Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. . .

† Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith:

† Gal. 3:11 but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. . .

† Gal. 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. . . 6 [But know that] without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

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~ Brother Scott ... With ... The Right Word^© ... For Today~

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