Faith
& Works – Part 1
By Ellen G. White
Signs of the Times, June 16, 1890
“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” (Hebrews 11:6). There are many in the Christian world
who claim that all that is necessary to salvation is to have faith;
works are nothing, faith is the only essential. But God’s Word
tells us that faith without works is dead, being alone. Many refuse
to obey God’s commandments, yet they make a great deal of
faith. But faith must have a foundation. God’s promises are all
made upon conditions. If we do His will, if we walk in truth, then we
may ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us. While we
earnestly endeavor to be obedient, God will hear our petitions; but
He will not bless us in disobedience. If we choose to disobey His
commandments, we may cry, “Faith, faith, only have faith,”
and the response will come back from the sure Word of God, “Faith
without works is dead” (James 2:20). Such faith will only be as
sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal. In order to have the
benefits of God’s grace we must do our part; we must faithfully
work and bring forth fruits meet for repentance.
We are workers
together with God. You are not to sit in indolence, waiting for some
great occasion, in order to do a great work for the Master. You are
not to neglect the duty that lies directly in your pathway, but you
are to improve the little opportunities that open around you. You
must go on doing your very best in the smaller works of life, taking
up heartily and faithfully the work God's providence has assigned
you. However small, you should do it with all the thoroughness with
which you would do a larger work. Your fidelity will be approved in
the records of heaven. You need not wait for your way to be made
smooth before you; go to work to improve your intrusted talents. You
have nothing to do with what the world will think of you. Let your
words, your spirit, your actions, be a living testimony to Jesus, and
the Lord will take care that the testimony for his glory, furnished
in a well-ordered life and a godly conversation, shall deepen and
intensify in power. Its results may never be seen on earth, but they
will be made manifest before God and angels.
We are to do all
that we can do on our part to fight the good fight of faith. We are
to wrestle, to labor, to strive, to agonize to enter in at the strait
gate. We are to set the Lord ever before us. With clean hands, with
pure hearts, we are to seek to honor God in all our ways. Help has
been provided for us in Him who is mighty to save. The spirit of
truth and light will quicken and renew us by its mysterious workings;
for all our spiritual improvement comes from God, not from ourselves.
The true worker will have divine power to aid him, but the idler will
not be sustained by the Spirit of God. In one way we are thrown upon
our own energies; we are to strive earnestly to be zealous and to
repent, to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts from every
defilement; we are to reach the highest standard, believing that God
will help us in our efforts. We must seek if we would find, and seek
in faith; we must knock, that the door may be opened unto us. The
Bible teaches that everything regarding our salvation depends upon
our own course of action. If we perish, the responsibility will rest
wholly upon ourselves. If provision has been made, and if we accept
God’s terms, we may lay hold on eternal life. We must come to
Christ in faith, we must be diligent to make our calling and election
sure. [To be continued.]
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Seventh
Day
Home
Church
Fellowships is
an association of Sabbath-keeping groups, which through web &
tele-conferencing provides means for study, fellowship, and jointly
organized missionary projects.
Website:
www.seventhdayhomechurchfellowships.org
Email:
admin@seventhdayhomechurchfellowships.org
Seventh Day Home Church
Fellowships:
P.O. Box 262, Laconia, NH 03246,
U.S.A.
Phone: 530 708-2381
Chief Editor: David Sims
Assistant Editor: Thomas Akens
Proof-reader: Alice Fredrick
Layout: Thomas Akens
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