Many times people speak of their faith as what they “believe”, and by believe, they mean what ideas they have acknowledged as true in their mind.  Would it surprise you then to know that when someone says they “believe” in God, that they are not differentiating themselves at all from anyone else?  Romans 1 tells us that everyone knows that He exists, that He is eternal, that He is our divine creator (vs 20), and even that He is our righteous judge (vs 32).  So the random person on the street already believes these things about God, even if they have suppressed that belief through their repeated sinful actions.

James 2:18-20 says this: ” ¹⁸But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?”

What James is illustrating is that mere head knowledge about God, isn’t faith in God, specifically, faith in Christ as our Sovereign Lord and Savior.

1 John 2:3-6 explains this more: “³And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

What’s important to know is that neither James, nor John are suggesting that our works are in any way a cause for faith, or a separate thing apart from faith that warrants or assures us of our salvation.  What both are saying is that if your faith and hope in life is in Jesus Christ, His death as payment for all your sins past, present, and future, and His righteousness counted as yours.  If that faith is genuine, God’s Spirit will be given to you.  If God’s Spirit is in you, then your desires will change so that your joy is rooted not in pursuing pleasure apart from God, but pursuing pleasure in knowing God and making Him known.  If you see someone watching a football game, it’s safe to believe they enjoy football.  Likewise, if someone visits the mountains for a vacation, it’s safe to believe they enjoy the mountains.  The Spirit of God delights in the glory of God.  If our faith was truly wrought by the Holy Spirit’s work on our heart, and He dwells in us, we will find joy in manifesting the glory of God in our lives.  The Holy Spirit is the wellspring of life in us, He overflows and compels us into actions that validate His presence.

My encouragement to you is two-fold.  One, if your “faith” has always been all head knowledge, and has never pierced the affections of your heart – if your experience of Christianity has been more about checking off a list of to do’s that allows you some benefit of community or self-viewed morality, but in truth there has been little to no genuine affection for God, seek God in that.  He’s ready, and He will never say no.  Secondly, if you do know and love God earnestly; is He compelling you towards action in an area of your life that you have been resisting Him?  Maybe He’s calling you to serve somewhere that’s going to bring you out of your comfort zone, maybe He’s calling you to confess sin, maybe he’s calling you to reconcile a past relationship, or remove yourself from people who are drawing you away from Jesus.  Whatever it is, know that God works all things towards good for those who love Him, for those who have been called according to His purpose – seek Him in His Word for confirmation, pray, and take a step out in faith – submit to His leadings – you will never regret it.

Let us continue to encourage each other to love God and each other not in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.  Know you’re prayed for, and God is now and will always be with you.

Grace and Peace,
Adam