A friend gave me one of those pretty display plates, with chalkboard paint in the center. This, of course, just invites the writing of messages, sayings, etc. At the moment, the saying on my plate is "The Truth WILL set you free!" I wrote that because the college Bible study group that meets here twice a month is studying the topic of divine truth.
James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, wrote in his New Testament book about living out the truth that we know, the truth which our faith says is real. James' writings provide the perfect complement to Paul's writings about the central role of God's grace in our salvation. Paul drives home the truth that our own good deeds cannot earn salvation for us. James points out that if our behavior doesn't show evidence of our "decision to follow Christ", then perhaps our belief in Christ is only intellectual.
James points out that the forces of Satan, the demons, believe intellectually the truth about Jesus Christ, and it causes them to tremble with fear. They do not and cannot worship the Name that is Above Every Name, the One True God. Their belief never reaches their hearts, nor does it lead to salvation.
Many people are like that. They are content to profess "belief in Christ." "I am a Christian", they say. But, while they identify as a Christian, and may even attend church, their hearts have never been changed. Their consistent actions show this.
James pierces to the heart of the matter in 2:14-17 (The Message)
Dear Friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half=starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup - - - where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
Wisdom in living involves not only knowing the truth, but also the deliberate acting on it day after day after day in self-denial. The Christian life is characterized by taking up the cross of Christ daily and following hard after Him. (Luke 9:23) This is what real Christians do, not because they are trying to earn their salvation or "get into Heaven". (That deal is sealed at the moment they surrender their lives to Him.) They do it because they love the Savior and because they truly believe what they say about Him.
Non-believers like to point at Christians and criticize them for their missteps. Often, the sins of Christians are used as a basis for rejecting Christ. Christians do sin, but they do not consciously, deliberately practice sin because displeasing their Lord is abhorrent to them.
Functioning properly, Christian churches should be places where Christ is worshipped and people are loved, places where sin is brought out into the open and dealt with, places of repentance and cleansing. It is only by confronting our own sin that we can fully embrace the Truth and then live out His love in our own lives.
Genuine believing gives birth to doing. Anything less is outrageous nonsense.
Father, please forgive me for the many times I walk unworthy of Your grace, for the many times my actions are not reflective of my salvation status. I thank You that it is You who holds me and keeps my salvation secure, in spite of my day-to-day stumbling. Help me to take up that cross, the cross of my Savior, daily and follow You. In Jesus' name, amen.
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