As a teenager, I found it difficult to understand what faith actually was. Is it merely an intellectual acknowledgment? A thought? If we believe something is true, is that what faith is? Perhaps a good way to describe faith is by contrasting it with works.
When Paul defines the gospel for the Roman Christians, he highlights the great adversary of faith: reliance on works, a common practice among the Jewish people of his time. He states, "a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28). The Jewish people had built a system of works as the means for their justification. Despite being privileged custodians of the law, they missed its deeper, convicting purpose by reducing it to external commandments they believed they could fulfil.
In His “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7), Jesus teaches the true meaning of the law. It’s not merely about the act of murder but the hidden motive of anger (Matthew 5:21-26). It’s not just about the external act of adultery but the hidden desire of lust (Matthew 5:27-30). This deeper understanding reveals that no one can be justified by works, as everyone is guilty of breaking the law in their hearts.
Human nature tends to seek justification based on our efforts to earn God's favour. Every religious system is built on the premise that if one keeps the rules, they will receive the blessing of salvation. However, this is not the gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is received by faith, not works. Faith recognises that our efforts cannot meet God's righteous standard or earn His favour. Faith concludes that we are hopeless on our own.
Faith, therefore, looks to God to grant salvation based on grace. It acknowledges that God is kind and loving, willing to forgive sin (Psalm 103:8) because of a person’s belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and His “work” on the cross,
“So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Paul refers to Abraham as an example. Abraham believed God, and God credited it to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3). Abraham acknowledged that his efforts were insufficient and deserving of condemnation, but he believed God could forgive his sin on the basis of grace. At that moment, Abraham was declared righteous by faith, no longer seen as a sinner but as one justified by God.
A vivid illustration of this contrast is the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Both the younger and older brothers were sinners, as all people are (Romans 3:23). The younger brother, despite his rebellion and squandered inheritance, returns to his father, not seeking to justify his actions but confessing his sin and relying on his father’s mercy and grace. This is faith in action.
In contrast, the older brother seeks to earn his father’s favour by boasting of his obedience. His hatred for his younger brother exposes his guilt. He believes his father should love him based on his works, illustrating the flawed thinking of self-justification. This is the stance of those who rely on works for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Faith is illustrated simply in the small boy who insists that he will jump off the third step of the staircase, expecting his parent or guardian to catch him. He is totally dependent, relying on nothing but the adult’s ability and willingness.
An interesting feature for many of those who believe in justification by works is that faith is not absent but they are relying on a combination of faith and works. They may believe Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for them but see this belief as insufficient without works (Galatians 5:2). Adding any works to what Christ has done nullifies the gospel, prompting Paul to write to the Galatian Christians, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose (Galatians 2:21 ESV).
The thief on the cross exemplifies pure faith. Like the child in the illustration above, he simply believed and, despite having no opportunity to perform good works, was promised paradise by Jesus (Luke 23:43).
To be continued . . .
