Faith and Works

You must do both,

Is it true that all you have to do is believe and you are Saved? The Short answer is, Yes. You have to believe that God so loved the World that He laid down His Godhood and came to earth as a Man, lived His life Sin Free and was killed only to Rise again.

All you have to do is accept Jesus's Sacrifice for you. His Blood for your Blood, His death, yet rather His Resurrection, for your payment of Sin. All you have to do is believe in your heart, and do not doubt, say this Prayer

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That is it. You ARE Saved. Now you should go tell someone what God just did for you because Jesus said,

"So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven," {Matthew 10:32}

As well, you should find a Church and be Baptised the way Jesus said to be Baptised because you are a new Creature and have just been Born Again. However, now what? You see, NOW is when you should be thinking about God's Work. What is it that God wants you to be doing? Oh, make no mistake about it. He DOES have a Purpose and a Plan for you and your Life. Why would you not want to find out what that is and do it?

James tells us in James 2:14-17

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Have you ever thought about it this way? You were lost. You were on the road to Hell, someone, or something, lead you to hear the Gospel. God called you. Jesus Died for you. Now? What? You simply accept that and continue to live as you will? There are so many people in this World that are where you were and worse. James continues in James 2:20-24

"You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”e and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."

Jesus even told us, that if you believe in Him, you WILL do the same Works He did.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father." {John 14:12}

What Works did Jesus do? Spread the Gospel. Teach the Lost. Heal the Sick. Love us no matter how vile we were, and still are. Laid down His very Life for us so that we do not have to. Again, He just said "whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do" AND that "greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father."

Greater Works than Jesus? Yes. Because of the Holy Spirit, but that is a whole other Message. Now I am not saying that you need to go to the local Cemetery and try to raise the dead, but, what ARE you doing? Are you visiting the Sick? Feeding the Homeless? Tithing to your Church so that they can reach out to others? Are you sharing the Gospel? Are you even telling anyone that you are Saved? What are you doing?

Jesus warns us about the "Religious Folks" who may or may not be Saved. He said this in Matthew 7:15-20

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."

You SAY you are a Christian. You SAY you are a Child of God. You SAY lots of things. However, what are you actually producing? What are you doing? Do you realize that there is far more to life than working 9-5 for someone else and coming home to pay bills?

God Created the Heavens and the Earth, and all that in them, for YOU. He put you here for a REASON. God is not the Author of Daily Routines. We are. God did not invent Money. We did. God did not Create Debt. We did. God is not concerned with what time your Show comes on, or if you can make your Sports Car Payment. If you got one Tie or twenty. Or none.

Oh, and while we are being real here? God's idea of Retirement is when HE calls us home. AKA, when we die.

"for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his." {Hebrews 4:10}

It was never God's intent for us to hear the Word, accept Jesus, and continue on living as we always have. He has a Work for you to fulfill. One that can only be fulfilled by you. Pray about it. Find it. Do it. The Word declares in Hebrews 6:10

"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."

God knows the Works you do and will reward you for them, even if they do not seem all that important to you, they are to Him. More on that next time.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord!