Basic Bible Doctrine
Lesson # 23 August 6, 2008
From a lesson taught by
Elder Kent Welch 2.28.02

These two subjects are often held to be opposites. The truth is they are more supplementary in that they augment the necessity and effectiveness of the other. As the Apostle Paul teaches us, it is impossible to have one be effective without the presence of the other. Yet we see examples of individuals which seemingly focus entirely upon the works of the flesh while ignoring the essential utilization of God-pleasing faith. Conversely, the temptation to rely upon faith (solely at the expense of works) is a dead faith. The Bible teaches that we must possess both works AND faith in order to get where we seek to go.

Picture in your imagination a young man in a rowboat. It is a simple, one man rowboat with two oars. He can barely make out the distant shore across this vast waterway. He is told that on the other side lies happiness, prosperity, purpose, peace of mind, joy, contentment, and the very presence of God. He does not know how to swim and realizes that the boat and its two oars are his other method of effective travel. The oar on the right is named "Faith in God" and the oar on the left, "Working for God". He is motivated to realize the promises of the other side and thus launches out into the enormous deep and begins his journey.

"Faith" – Strong’s # 4102 pistis

Persuasion,i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system on religious (Gospel) truth itself: assurance, belief, faith, fidelity.

- Speaks of a personal character trait. We say that someone is "faithful" when we can depend on them to be true to their responsibilities.

- Speaks of a particular set of beliefs held by a group of people

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

- Speaks of the "dependence" that one has on another. When we say we have faith in God, we are saying we trust, rely, and depend on him.

- This is the most common meaning of the term "faith" in the Bible.

1. Some say they depend on nobody, that they are completely independent. Even these individuals depend upon those who drive the same roads. They have "faith" that the person will not swerve the 3 or 4 feet and het them head-on at 65 mph. They have "faith" that the sun will go down today. EVERYONE HAS FAITH IN SOMETHING EVERYDAY! WHERE OUR FAITH IS PLACED IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Our faith should always be in God. We should never depend on our own wisdom or that of any other. Our complete faith should rest in God alone. Men fail us consistently, but God has not, does not, and will not.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

It was by "works" that man lost his perfect state in the Garden of Eden. By what Adam "did" (work), he fell from the Law of God and became a sinner. Interestingly, it is only through "faith" that we may regain that which was lost by "works".

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is not simply a whim. There is real substance and evidence of this faith. The substance and evidence of faith, however, are not seen with the natural eyes, but spiritual ones. Philosophers struggle with being unable to "prove" that God exists because they cannot "observe" him and apply the Scientific Theory. The Bible teaches that God may be observed and experienced. Faith leads the way for us to experience salvation and the reality of God’s saving grace. He is as real as the sun is hot!

Real faith grants a certainty of our knowledge of God

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Rowboat update:

Our young man finds that he first must turn around and face the right direction. He grabs the "works" oar and begins to paddle. He turns in one direction only, the WRONG direction. In order to turn the right direction and be prepared for his journey, he must forsake works and rely completely upon the faith oar.

Note: Even after the young man gets turned in the right direction (saved), he is only ready to BEGIN the journey to the other side. Salvation is just the beginning of our true purpose in this life.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Believing that we do not needs works after faith is like telling this young man to get to the other side by continuing to only utilize the right (Faith) oar. Despite his best intentions, he will only go in circles. Sometimes, God’s children run themselves in circles because they never commit themselves to a life of service and works after receiving salvation.

Ephesians tell s us how vitally important faith is to our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, what does verse ten tell us?

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Real faith LEADS to good works. We serve God because we are redeemed, not so that we may become redeemed!

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Our works tell others "who we are". They don’t speak who we WANT to be or HOPE to be…but who we ARE!!

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Meanwhile, the Bible teaches us that bodily exercise profiteth little. We sometimes are tempted to compensate a lack of faith with an overabundance of works. All the works in the world will only get us in

bigger circles unless they are tempered with faith. How do you straighten out a rowboat headed awry? You compensate with the opposite oar. Our works must be tempered by an ongoing faith.

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Being "busy" for the Lord can be just an damaging as being lazy if we are not "doing" according to God’s will.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

c. The lost will have no "works" as it is impossible to produce good works as coupled with faith until one has been saved by the grace of God. I am afraid that many people are rowing their boats furiously with the "works" oar, but they have never had their boat turned around (salvation) to begin with…..a waste of time and effort.

d. For those of us that are saved, we cannot simply coast through life. It is not possible to live a neutral life. We will either have good works or evil works. Anything that is not God-honoring and God-glorifying is evil. Judgment will be according to our works as God’s children.

In closing, where are each of us on this river of life? Where are you?? We only have a finite period during which to strive for the other side (our mark) that God has planned for us. One thing for certain is that if we fail to utilize BOTH oars (Works and Faith), we will not get there!!