NOTE: Our God is a dynamic problem-solver, and He applies His processes to each one of us uniquely. However, processes are best understood and applied in the steps they are given. The structure enables us to respond to God’s dynamic application. Therefore, before moving on to this final phase of God’s way for faith, be sure you understand the hearing of faith and God’s requirement of obedience to the faith.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… Hebrews 12:1-2a

For in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Searching out the mystery of faith rewards the serious-minded Christian with revelation awesome beyond our imagination. In these verses, we find that our Savior and King authors (i.e., begins) and finishes our faith – the faith that saves us, throughout the whole of our life, from justification to glorification.

We also learn that spiritual maturity occurs in steps as we add one measure of faith onto that which has been previously obtained. In other words, God’s way of faith for our salvation consists of iterative smaller faith processes. To better understand, consider the faith required to minister to someone in the grocery line.

Standing in line, we hear God say, “I need you to help that person.” When we hear that word, choose to be obedient to the faith it creates in our heart, and then actually engage with that person (the work of faith we will soon cover), a small bit of faith has been added to the foundation of faith Jesus is constructing.

Having added to our faith in this small measure, God can now entrust us with more impactful assignments – assignments for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. This is exactly what we were made for: greater and greater works of faith.

The Works Controversy

To fully appreciate and follow God’s way for faith, we must come to terms with the relationship of grace, faith, and works. Regrettably, the carnal mind has been allowed to use this subject to divide and distract the church for centuries. Experience with leaders from several denominations has convinced me that we have been the victim of a diabolical ruse.

Most of our disagreement regarding works is based on suspicion created by general misunderstandings of human doctrines. That is not to say that true heresy does not exist (e.g., a person’s works will save them). However, there are large groups of Christians that error in the opposite direction – determining, in fear and confusion, to dismiss works altogether.

Thankfully, there is a biblically sound – and rather straight-forward – explanation of the relationship between grace, faith, and works. We begin with a close look at Ephesians 2:8-10.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Notice first that it is grace that saves us, not faith. Faith – which is itself a gift of God – lays hold of and catalyzes the grace of God for our salvation. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the (rhema; i.e., spoken) word of God. Humans provide neither grace, nor faith; it all comes from God to those with ears to hear.

Verse 10 gives us the reason God has provided His grace, and the faith we need to lay hold of it – there are good works He has prepared for us to walk in. Now, this is important: “walk” is the correct translation; not “do”. A simple study of the Greek makes this obviously clear.

Matthew 5:16 helps us understand this further.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

We discover two important truths in this verse. First, Jesus’ command is not to do good works, but to “let your light shine”. Secondly, with the help of John 1:4 (In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.), we come to understand that “your light” is not us; it is Jesus Christ. In other words, we are commanded by Jesus to let people see Him in us. Let that sink in for a few moments.

Add to that epiphany the truth that “your good works” are not works we “do”, but works we walk in, and we begin to understand why our Father in heaven is glorified (and not us). They are His works!

This should not surprise us. Jesus said the same about Himself.

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. John 5:30

Jesus walked in the good works that His Father was doing. Every work associated with our salvation are the Father’s good works. Furthermore, as with Jesus, the Father is working in us to will and to do to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Willing and doing belong to the Father; our part is to believe, surrender, and participate with Him.

Consequently, we need not fear the inclusion of works in our considerations of grace and faith. In fact, without it, the process of faith (and the faith it creates in us) is incomplete.

The Work of Faith

The work of faith consists of two steps which occur, in our sense of time, simultaneously. They are, however, two distinct steps in the process. Both require an action on our part, but neither are possible without God’s enabling grace.

Step Seven: Laying Hold of God’s Grace

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2Peter 1:1-4

Peter opens his second epistle with some of the most amazing and exciting statements in the Bible:

• God’s divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness;
• He has given us exceedingly great and precious promises; and,
• We may be partakers of the divine nature!!

Of course, our carnal mind will do all things in its power to dissuade us from this life of glory and virtue. One of its tactics is to convince us, and our leaders, that such things are too complicated to understand and difficult to implement. Our response has been to either avoid such topics altogether or simplify them beyond meaning.

Grace is one of those Christian words that has lost its meaning to our vain attempt at simplifying the Gospel. Grace is more than “the favor of God”; it is what that favor provides and produces. Grace is the good work of God toward us, in us, and through us. Pause for a moment and let that sink in.

Notice that this amazing grace comes to those that have “obtained like precious faith” and have “escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”. In other words, God directs His grace toward those who have heard a word of faith and renewed their minds to obey it.

God gives His grace, but He does not force it on us. We must participate by actively laying hold of the grace offered. It is by faith that we lay hold of the grace of God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God… Ephesians 2:8

As it is with our salvation, faith lays hold of the grace of God for His work, first in us (Philippians 2:13); and then, through us in the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit, in the answer to our prayers, as we abide in Christ (John 15:7-8).

This matter of abiding in Christ is an important one; for without it, we can do nothing (John 15:5). We are commanded to abide in His word, in His love, and in His very life. Consequently:

…it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God. Galatians 2:20

Our abiding in Christ is accompanied by Christ abiding in us; and the release of His faith into our lives. His faith becomes our own – the gift of God.

Furthermore, the Father is in Christ that we may be made perfect in one – that the world may know that the Father sent His Son, and have loved them as He loved His Son (John 17:23). Abiding in Christ, who abides in us, the Father does the good work He created us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). This is the meaning of Matthew 5:16:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Our light is the life of Christ (John 1:4). His life, manifested in good works, brings glory to our Father in heaven.

The grace of God is one of life’s great mysteries. The carnal mind attempts to use this against us – overcomplicating and thus discouraging us from our responsibility. Our role is simple: to be the vessels, instruments, and weapons of His righteousness – through the faith He provides.

We are to take the faith we have been given and use it to lay hold of the grace God has provided for the good work that will perfect our faith.

Action step: Read the description of David’s Mighty Men in 2Samuel 23. Acknowledge before God that the grace given to these men is the same grace God offers to the followers of His Son. Then allow John 14:12 to encourage you to lay hold of God’s grace for whatever good work He invites you to walk in.

Step Eight: Walking in His Good Works

Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:14

Jesus Christ gave Himself for us – this we know and cherish… but there is more. We are to be His own special people, identified by our zealous yearning for good works. To be zealous is to “burn with desire for” and to “vehemently contend for”. Such an attitude requires the abounding grace of God.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2Corinthians 9:8

God has promised to provide His grace in sufficient measure. As the seemingly dead branch receives the life of the vine in Spring-time for the production of fruit unto harvest, the grace of God uses an otherwise dead disciple as His instrument of righteousness unto good works. The carnal mind does all it can to prohibit the life-giving flow of God’s grace.

Most obviously, the carnal mind distracts us from ever walking into the good work that God desires. It may accomplish this by making the good work appear too big, or too small, for our consideration. It may remind us that God’s desire requires the investment of something we hold dear, or the acquisition of something impossible for us to obtain. Paralyzed by carnal reasoning, we risk putting off the good work until God’s desire becomes a faded memory.

I have allowed my carnal mind to distract me in each of these ways… and several others. I hope to never again allow this tragedy in my life; for the end result is dead faith (James 2:26). One day, while riding my bicycle past a dead possum, the Father said to me, “That’s what dead faith smells like in my nostrils.”

Secondly, our carnal mind would have us do every work imaginable except for the work of faith. There will always be something “good” to do, including the dead works with which our carnal mind attempts to keep us busy. This kind of work is hay, straw and stubble; wood and clay.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2Timothy 2:20-21

Whatever is not from faith is sin (Romans 14:23). We must cleanse ourselves of these dishonorable distractions.

Lastly, in a last-ditch effort to steal the glory due our Father in heaven for every good work, the carnal mind seeks to convince us that we are somehow worthy of accolade and attention. The world joins in the ruse with awards and degrees, citations and recognitions. This deception may be the most difficult of all to overcome.

It is important to recognize that we are not responsible for what others say and do, but for our own heart and mind. Our response must be in accordance with the Father’s will. The world’s attention can be a great platform for His purposes. Other times, it is best we say nothing at all and let the work do the talking.

Regardless of our outward response, we must be mindful of the way we are processing the world’s applause. We must choose to be instruments of God’s grace – in the good works that bring our faith to perfection.

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made complete? James 2:22

Good works are God’s work. The process of faith begins with God and necessarily ends with Him. Faithfully following the process of faith – from His word to His work – makes us into more faithful people; from faith to faith, until our faith has been completed.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

Action step: Ask God to give you an opportunity to exercise the faith you have been given; not some general concept of faith, but the faith He has given you through a particular word (e.g., share your testimony, visit a neighbor, reconcile with a family member).

Applying the Process

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. Titus 3:8

Christians have been faithfully applying the process of faith for millennia… most without the knowledge or understanding presented here. So, why should we apply ourselves to it now? Answering in the simplest way possible: We have gotten out of practice, unknowingly settling for an imperfect faith.

Vince Lombardi has been quoted as saying, “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” To subvert the process of faith and the God-glorifying good works it produces, our carnal mind has deceived and distracted us from its perfect practice.

Very few processes come to us naturally. We must apply ourselves to their understanding AND practice. The more importance we place on a particular process, the more time and energy we will invest in its mastery.

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works… Hebrews 10:24

It is time we got back the way of God for our faith.

God bless you with a greater measure of faith and His grace for good works.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob

#iamjustthepen