What Identifies A True Christian?
Faith In Christ
Receiving God's Spirit
As defined later in this article, those "without faith who unknowingly follow the law of Christ are excused and acceptable" to God. That is because God looks for "mercy and not sacrifice." It is only this mercy and loving kindness to others, that truly exhibits the "fruitage of the spirit," not the performance of sacrifices of a person who has faith. However it is ONLY with faith in Christ that one can obtain the mental strength, endurance, "peace that excels all thoughts" and "power beyond what is normal" that God supplies. Yet without having this faith and trust in the Christ and power that God supplies, those who perform acts of mercy, compassion and kindness to others are still doing God's will and for this they will be "excused" for those actions. This does not mean that those who do not have faith will be "children of God," nor will they be walking in agreement to the spirit. The love they show will still be the "works of the flesh" and Paul states that those who walk in the flesh, "this means death." But are those who live a life of love, despite coming from the flesh, really "sinning against the spirit, which will not be forgiven?" It appears not to be the case but instead they are sinning against the Christ which will be forgiven." For this the love and mercy they show will separate them from evil people and according to Romans chapter 2, they will be "excused." It is possible that this could mean an escaping a "cut off" with a second chance under totally different conditions, where Christ will be revealed to them, to have a second opportunity to put faith in Christ and then becoming part of God's family and bride of Christ. At this time they will have a second opportunity to put faith in Christ. But in the meantime their love to others, despite being of "works of the flesh" and not of the "spirit," will "excuse" them, possibly with this opportunity."(Rom 2:14-15, 20-25; Romans 8)
The question one has to ask is, what is faith? It certainly is more than showing mercy to others, and at the same time, it is not simply believing in Christ, making a verbal affirmation like so many do. Faith must include trust in God and his promises. Trust is more then just words.
When we trust someone, we take chances with them, that we would not take with other people. Because we trust this person, we are willing to give them access to areas in our lives that leave us open and vulnerable. We are willing to risk personal loss, because we trust this person always to act in our best interests. This is the trust we must have in God, in order to please him. Not blind faith, or acting foolishly against our common sense and intellect. Not acting on out of our emotions, overriding the power to reason properly, which gives us a clear understanding and not mere intellectualism, which blinds persons. We can not call that faith. But using common sense, listening to God, trusting is his word, the bible (not "slave classes" or governing bodies of men), being willing to act on those words and taking some chances and risk in our lives, this is faith. Because we trust and believe in God to the extent that we will leave ourselves open.
"Faith is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even thought we cannot see it up ahead." - Hebrews 11:1 - Living Bible.
Notice that faith is having total confidence and assurance.
We "must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who see him, for without faith it is impossible to please God." But faith is more than assurance, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."- Hebrews 11:1-6
Faith is real ! Faith can be compared to obtaining a title deed to a piece of property. The property is not seen (only the paper), and to those without faith in a piece of paper, it lacks evidence, yet it is the very substance of a binding agreement, the evidence that assures you the property truly belongs to you. You put your trust in this deed.
Faith is not blind, but at the same time it is action performed without total certainty and a without a full understanding. It is willing to take a chance because we trust in God and his caring for us. Only after the action is taken does full understanding take place. As Apostle James puts it,
"Let us keep asking in faith, not doubting at all, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. In fact, let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways." (Heb 11:1, 6; James 1:5)
As Hebrews states:
"Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6
Faith is the only way we can receive God's holy spirit to dwell inside us, giving us the "power beyond what is normal" to use and open this faith that God supplies. It is the only way we can actually walk according to the spirit and show agape love, putting mercy ahead of sacrifices. Faith is something we give to God and he gives back to us. No matter how many "works" of sacrifice we perform, it is only true faith in Christ, that pleases God and supplies us his spirit that enables us to live in agreement there of. This in turn, moves us to showing "love and fine works" to "all persons, "especially those in the faith." (2 Cor 4:7; Heb 10:24-25; 11: ; Gal 6:10)
| Without Love of Our Fellow Man, There Can Be No Faith In Christ |
| Without Faith In Christ, There Can Be No Love of Our Fellow Man |
| Without Both Neither One Is Valid |
Having trust in God and Christ, we are not supposed to let worries overwhelm us. Were told that if we truly "seek the kingdom first," with our faith, which gives us God's spirit, in turn enables us to show acts of mercy, not sacrifice to our fellow man, we are promised that he will watch over us. He will not pay our bills, cure us of illness, nor prevent the physical and mental abuse others do to us, nor feed us physical food, but what he will do, is give us the "power beyond what is normal," a "peace that excels all thoughts" and the "strength" of his spirit to deal with the hardships we face, a mental strength to endure. This is why Jesus repeatedly told his deciples to have faith and not to be anxious or let the anxiety of this system of things cause them to loose their faith.
The major step, and apparently the only step to really find God, is to discover God's Spirit. With this, a revealing of truth occurs, faith is strengthened and agape love can be shown to others. The "Spirit bears witness with ours," confirms our faith as one of "God's children." It is a strange encounter, one that brings us to truth, power and the meaning of life. It is an intimate connection and a supplied "comfort," "a power what is beyond normal" and truly supernatural. Obtaining God's Spirit is only way a person can walk in it. All other ways to walk are those of the flesh, limiting our walk to two ways, the flesh and the Spirit. Solitude, prayer and meditation are key ways to make room in yourself to allow this Spirit to enter, this must be supplied with a degree of faith. Faith acts as a doorway to the Spiritual realm, which allows God's Spirit to enter and work on our hearts. It will always be a fight from walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit, until the day we die. But in the meantime, with faith and our daily connection with God, we can be strengthened right here, right now and prepare our way for a "kingdom that can't be shaken." (Romans 8: Galatians 4:5-7; Luke 4:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6-8; 1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:28)