Works Works Works!!!!!!!!
you know I grew up believing in ACTS 2:38. I still do. I believe in the essentiality of repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost (evidenced by speaking in tongues)
I only recently have begun to question the scriptures about believing. I have even wondered how I could reconcile the "works" words.
I have started looking at repentance and baptism as obedience to our faith. Yes I do really believe that. So others have made fun of that idea. You have the right to feel how my want about it.
Lately I have had a thought going through my head. We all know that faith without works is dead. We have also heard where Peter said to show him your faith without your works and he would show his faith by his works. So we know that faith alone does not really do much. Alone it is just faith, the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Well that is just it, faith IS substance even by itself. It is just multiplied when you add works to it.
I am starting to think that my faith is also a work in and of itself. By believing that Jesus is the Christ I am doing something. Jesus is the substance of my hope. He is then evidenced by His spirit coming to live in my heart. This all gets seen through my speaking in tongues as the spirit gives utterence but it continues in my way of living. My love for people, my doing of good deeds, etc....
So if faith alone, which by itself can not do much, can give me salvation then when I actually add works to my faith what exactly can I accomplish.
So repentance and baptism is not works they are obedience because works would actually be all the good things I do. Good things will never save me. I will not get into heaven by feeding the hungry, living a good life, never telling a lie, etc etc...
I will only get into heaven through Jesus Christ.
So I believe on Him, obey his words, he comes into my life. Now if I add the good deeds to it then my feeding the hungry becomes something else. I am now showing God's love to people by the works that I do. Other will never be saved just because I believe but others will be saved by me believing and doing good works that show God's love.
Any of this making sense to anyone??? it does to me but then I'm a bit crazy so who knows.
=)
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Life is .............
I'll get back to you when I figure it out.
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