“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).

 

“THE BENEFIT OF SELF-EXAMINATION”

In Jeremiah 5:7, the prophet records a most sobering question which God ask of the Israelites: “Why should I pardon you?” The Israelites were in a covenant relationship with Jehovah, based upon the events at Mt. Sinai (cf. Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). They had sworn to obey this Law (Exodus 19:8; Deuteronomy 26:17). However, as Jeremiah 5 details, they had BROKEN their promise. So, Jehovah puts forth the question, “WHY SHOULD I PARDON YOU?”

It is sad to read of the degradation of holy people. Yet, it is even sadder to read of holy people who are in denial of their sin. Spiritual blindness and hardening of the heart are constant dangers for the people of God. Satan is relentless in his attack upon our minds. It is why self-examination is so vital in our spiritual walk (2 Corinthians 13:5). Self-examination ensures that our worship will be in order. “Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).

Self-examination guards our minds from being self-deceived that material prosperity is proof that we are walking by faith (cf. Romans 10:3). Many will anticipate pardon on Judgment Day, based upon the teaching of Matthew 7:21-23. Their disappointment will be a result of their failure to self-examine their life by God’s standards. Self-examination will spare us, as God’s elect, from such disappointment on Judgment Day because we can know with certainty whether we are being rich toward God in our life (Luke 12:12). Pardon comes by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). As David put it, “Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him…in truth” (Psalm 145:18).

“LET IT BEGIN WITH ME”

Daniel Sommer (1850-1940), a gospel preacher, foresaw the controversy and division among brethren over the issues of the missionary society and instrumental music. He opposed such innovations. In the excerpt below, he wrote about the different attitudes he saw among brethren while he was still in college at Bethany.

“But before leaving that eventful period of my college life altogether, and taking the reader’s mind to my after life, I regard it important to retrospect and chronicle a few items of interest. Early in my life at Bethany I saw there was a difference between disciples and disciples. It became evident that some disciples were of the primitive or apostolic type, while others were of a modern or plastic type. Those constituting the former class I saw had stability, while those constituting the latter class had flexibility. The former disciples held that the world should bend to the church; the latter disciples held that the church should bend to the world. This was to me a saddening discovery! When I went to Bethany the name ‘disciple of Christ’ was to me a synonym for all that was true, upright, honorable, in religious character. Hence when I was compelled to recognize there was a difference, and that two classes of characters were found among disciples, I felt unhappy! The word ‘disciple’ then came to have a two-fold meaning. It thenceforth meant professed Christians who were entirely satisfied with what was written in the word of God, and professed Christians who were in certain respects unsatisfied with what was therein written. In other words, the term ‘disciple’ came to mean those who taught that the Bible is a perfect revelation from God to both sinners and saints, also those who held that the Bible was perfect revelation for guidance of sinners, but not for guidance of saints” (Daniel Sommer: A Biography, pp. 91-92).

OBSERVATIONS: Do you recognize such a difference in disciples today? If this situation exists, is it not a kingdom destined to fall (cf. Mark 3:24)? The ‘old paths’ still must be honored and practiced (Jeremiah 6:16). The “faithful word” must be the regular diet for the flock. Sound doctrine produces healthy disciples (Titus 1:9). As hymn title #150 in our supplement says, “Let It Begin With Me”. 

“SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER”

Ephesians 6:12, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities…the powers… the world-rulers of this darkness…the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We see only what is before our eyes, and the work we do in the preaching of the gospel. Paul says, it goes way beyond that. Our prayers are crucial to our victory in this war.

(SETTING: Daniel 10:1-11:1) Daniel has spent twenty-one days fasting, mourning, and praying. After this, a man appears ​to him in a vision. He reveals to Daniel what has been transpiring during this time and of the spiritual forces involved ‘behind-the-scenes’. He begins by informing Daniel that his coming, the vision he will rehearse, and the things he is doing is because “before your God, your words have been heard​... I have come because of your words” (10:12). God’s response to Daniel was already on the way from the first day Daniel began praying. Twenty-one days later, he receives God’s response.

Commenting on this, Dale Ralph Davis said, ‘Our timing and sense of urgency and God’s timing and sense of urgency are truly on different schedules! That should, maybe, give us some pause. We often bow at the shrine of immediacy and rapidity, and to humble us – or challenge us – God doesn’t allow our panic to force him to speed things up’.

Then the delay is explained to Daniel: “…the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but… Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days.” (10:13-14). This behind-the-scenes conflict between Daniel’s prince (Michael), and the prince of Persia was a result of Daniel’s prayer – ‘I come because of your words’ (v. 12), ‘but other forces fought to keep me at bay’ (vv. 13-14). Understanding the forces doing battle for, and against us, may be ‘above our paygrade’​, but never underestimate this: “the supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.” (James 5:16).

[Related readings: 2 Kgs. 6:15-18ff; 7:6; 2 Chron. 32:1-8; 1 Kgs. 22:19]

“WRONGFUL ENEMIES”

 

"They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: they that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty…". ~ Psalm 69:4

A 'wrongful' enemy is one who hates without cause. Sadly, there are those who, for whatever reason, are so driven by insincere motives, that all sense of reason is lost with them. As David said here, " I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." (v. 20).

David was innocent, and so today, many are innocent of any wrong, yet suffer because of a ‘wrongful' enemy. God knows who is truthfully innocent and who is guilty. Therein lies the consolation: "Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: Mine adversaries are all before thee." (v. 19).

God tries the heart of His child, to purify, and strengthen the child’s faith. Therein is the benefit. This trial period serves not only a benefit for the one under trial, but it also ‘proves’ by exposing the love of other children. If their love is genuine, they will "weep with them that weep" (Romans 12:15). If their love is lip service they will be exposed as a 'wrongful' enemy, in their treatment of the brother under trial. Thus, there will be an exposure of the genuine from the fake.

Many times, during a trial of our faith, others, (even brethren) will look at the situation as Job's three friends did toward Job. David described it in Psalm 69:26 as follows: "For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded."

They may revel when others suffer, yet God knows, and will, in His time, recompense the wicked and reward the innocent.

Those whom the Lord chastens will find consolation in these words of David in v. 13, “O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, answer me in the truth of thy salvation." It will enable them to emerge from their trial, stronger. But for those who are wrongful enemies, the words of David in vss. 27-28 are a sobering reminder of their final end: "Add iniquity unto their iniquity; and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous."