“LOVE: THE WORK OF FAITH”

  

The story in Luke 7, of the sinner woman who entered Simon’s home while Jesus was there, contains many lessons for us. One such lesson concerns faith. Jesus pronounced her forgiveness (v. 48) yet stated that His forgiveness was because of her faith (v. 50). The context reveals crucial aspects concerning faith that apply to every occurrence of salvation.

We read in Gal. 5:6, that salvation is a result of “…faith working through love.” This means that faith is to be exercised in acts of love. Faith is to be exercised by an alien sinner and by a Christian (cf. 1 Thess. 1:3). James repeatedly spoke of works through which faith is perfected (James 2:18, 20, 22). As we look at this sinner woman, we will see what this means.

Her faith in Jesus’ power to forgive her was shown by her acts of love toward Him. The washing, weeping and anointing of His feet were works of love, not merit. Jesus acknowledged of her, “she loved much” (v. 47). Her faith was perfected by her love. Her love was exercised in works; not of merit, but of humility and serving. These acts of love were evidence of two things:

1) her unworthiness because “her sins were many” (v. 47); and, 2) her belief that Jesus was the Son of God, as He claimed (John 5:36).

Neither of these are the basis of a work of merit. Jesus came to “call sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Her works of love also evidenced her repentance. Her works of love validated her belief that Jesus would show mercy to sinners by granting forgiveness (Matt. 9:13).

In ‘coming’ to Jesus we will exercise our faith in Jesus’ promise of life abundantly (John 5:40; 10:10). Thereafter, adding to our faith validates our faith in Jesus’ promise that doing so ensures our entrance into the eternal kingdom (2 Peter 1:5-11). That is faith working by love. Pardon is the reward for our work of faith, but pardon does not precede our work of faith.

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7).

“JESUS, THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE”

Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live…” (John 11:25). Our hope of life after death rests upon these words. Without this hope, we have no real reason to live, nor any reason to have scruples. Indeed, a life without faith and hope of life beyond physical existence is “vanity and a striving after wind” (Eccl. 2:26).

It is sad to read of some whose love of “all that is in this world” (1 John 2:15-17), drove them to a persecution level of hatred toward those who preached a resurrection from the dead through Jesus (Acts 4). Most of their ancestors of the nation of Israel doubted God’s power to fulfill His oath to Abraham (1 Cor. 10). Their lack of faith also turned to rebellion and persecution of God’s messengers and appointed leaders. They boasted of being Abraham’s seed yet failed to acknowledge that the blessing of Abraham was through the righteousness of faith, regardless of physical lineage (cf. Rom. 4; Gal. 3). They rejected the message of the prophets, that Christ was a confirmation of the “promises made unto the fathers” (Rom. 15:8).

Jesus was the one promised to bring a blessing upon all families of the earth (Acts 3:25). That blessing has come because Jesus lives. His soul did not see corruption. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father and has given us the Holy Spirit as assurance of our eternal inheritance (cf. Rom. 8; Eph. 1). Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, is God’s assurance to us that all who die in faith, will be raised to eternal life. As God raised the Lord, God will raise up us through His power (1 Cor. 6:14).

“He is risen” declared the angel (Matt. 28:6). Because He lives, we have the, “…promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). Let us pray for one another lest there be, even the slightest resentment of Jesus’ resurrection, simply because of what we are called upon to give up in this life (cf. Heb. 11:25-26). 

“THE JOY OF DISCIPLESHIP”

The Hebrew Christians are reminded in Heb. 12:1 of a host of witnesses who, by their faith, gained God’s approval (cf. Heb. 11:2, 4-5, 39). These witnesses’ faith and hope were in Jesus and the resurrection through which they would, one day, obtain a better resurrection (Heb. 11:35); and the promise of eternal life (Heb. 11:39). That Jesus had risen from the dead, as prophesied, is seen from Heb. 11:40, “…apart from us they should not be made perfect.” Why is this statement important? Paul explained it as follows: “if Christ hath not been raised…ye are yet in your sins.” (1 Cor. 15:17). Simply put, there would be no “us” (Christians). For this reason, we read of Jesus, “…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2).

It takes the proverbial eye of faith to see the unseen. To ‘see’ by faith, is to comprehend or understand why physical pain and suffering are connected to an incorruptible crown of life. It is known only through wisdom and understanding provided in God’s word. (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9-10).

The joy set before Jesus enabled Him, in the flesh, to endure the cross. Do you know that you and I were that joy? Jesus deemed the value of our souls well worth the shame of the cross. He looked beyond the physical suffering and physical death to the resurrection. His joy was to make that possible for us. His resurrection is our hope and assurance for a resurrection to eternal life (1 Cor. 15).  

What of our joy? In view of this great love for us, does it not renew our spirit within us? Let us encourage one another, lest we become weary. The Lord has provided the means to address that very thing: assembling. This is the path to joy: “not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.” (Heb. 10:25). In this, the saying is fulfilled, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Prov. 27:17).