Based on Romans 4:1-16 (New King James Version)
“What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.’ Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”
There is much confusion regarding what faith in Christ is about and for many reasons. There are people that think that faith is just about believing in Christ and that there is nothing else that needs to happen. There are people that think that faith is to be used to get what you want. And there are those also that think that faith in Christ is just a religion, and that you need to fulfill certain norms and rules, keep certain traditions, etc. There are all kinds of ideas, and the great majority of people subject faith in Christ to whatever they desire it to be, that it is all subject to what they think; in summary, that faith is defined by them, and by what they want to do with it. Having said all of that, what should faith in Christ be like?
The Bible defines faith as such: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. What is then the substance of things hope for, and the evidence of things not seen? The first thing we should see, per se, is through what could be inferred through Abraham’s and David’s lives. And what is that? That Abraham’s and David’s faith was not on something, not even on their own desires or wills, but rather, on Someone. That is the first thing that should be in faith, if you really want to reap what you need to or better yet, what is worth reaping: forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the rewards that can be received in eternity. And to be able to receive all of those things, we need to focus on the Person of God.
Now, who is God? Well, both Abraham and David understood that God was what was most important, the One that surpasses everything else that exists. In other words, they believe (because they are still alive in eternity because of their faith) that God is Someone worthy to be seen as and followed as such, of submitting to Him, because they truly believe in Who God is. And when you truly believe in God, there is an obedience, an acknowledgment of Him being superior, Someone that is supreme. In summary, faith produced something in their lives. When God told Abram (before he became Abraham) to leave his land and family, he did obey which took him to the unknown. Things back then were not like now where you could go to another country and have a good idea of what you are going to find, the possibilities there are, and that it is a civilized place, etc. Back then, there were many unknowns, and so, it was something crazy (humanly speaking) what Abraham did. David did the same. His faith in God took him to face lions and bears when he was very young, because he trusted that God was with him, the same way he trusted that God would be with him when he faced Goliath the giant. Humanly speaking, it was madness. But in the end, their faith not only took them to believe in God, but also, to submit themselves to Him as such, and to trust in what God would tell them, despite the fact they could not see Him, but only hear His voice. So then, what do we see? Their faith produced works, and this is what the Word says: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26. So, faith in Christ is not about what you think, but rather, in seeing God as such, and following Him and obeying Him, and submitting to Him as Who He is: God.
So then, when there is true faith in God, there are works as a product of that faith, but not the works that we want to do, but rather, the works that God tells us to do, as it is also written: “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.” Ephesians 2:8-10. Therefore, salvation can only be acquired through God’s grace, and through faith in Christ, but true faith in God must produce something that is real. It is not just believing. This is what the Word says: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:1-6. When we abide in Christ, when our faith is real, then fruit will be seen, works will be seen, the ones that glorify God and not man. But, if there is no abiding in that faith, if there is no fruit, then sooner or later, they will be cast out as a branch and will become withered and thrown into the fire. This is what the Word says regarding this also: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:1-4. In the end, true faith in Christ takes us to submit to His lordship, and to learn how to be like Him, to do things and live like He did. Having said all of this, what kind of fruit is your faith producing? Lord bless! John