Since we believe in God, it is natural for us to keep the laws of God, the commands God gave us. As a member in a family, we listen to what the parents say and try to keep them. And also as member of a nation, we try to abide by the law of the nation.
It is because we trust in the parents and the nation that we show our trust by obeying the laws and commands ordained by the parents and nation. We know that we can be benefited when we obey them. Then how much more should we keep the laws and commands God gave us for our benefit and salvation?
James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
The bible says that the Zion is the city of our festivals. Since we believe in God, we must keep the festivals of God in Zion. The faith must accompany with the action and without the action the faith is dead. Let us obey the commands and laws of God by keeping them according to the regulations God gave us.
Today the so-called Christians claim that we can be saved only through the faith in Jesus Christ. And they quote some verses from the bible.
Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 1:17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Many Christians follow suit this way and say that it is unnecessary to keep any laws and regulations. What is important is the faith in Jesus Christ. Abraham could be justified by God only through his faith. (Genesis 15:6) Then is this true?
Abraham’s Faith
This argument seems to be credible and agree with the words of God in the bible. In the Book of Romans, Apostle Paul clearly states that Abraham could be considered righteous by God because of his faith, not by his work.
Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Here the bible says we are not justified by “the works” we do, but by the faith. However, Apostle James gives different explanation about the faith of Abraham.
James 2:21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
Interpreting the same verses as Paul did, James said that Abraham could be regarded righteous because of “his action” that is “what he did”.
Abraham leaving Haran his hometown obeying the words of God. And he was regarded as righteous in the eyes of God. Was his righteousness from his faith only or the deed he performed out of the faith in God?
Work and Deed
Faith and Deed
Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
The two apostles interpret the same verse above in the different ways. One says that Abraham was considered righteous because of his faith, not because of his work. And the other says that Abraham was considered righteous because of his deed, not just because of his faith.
Then what is the difference between the work and deed? Basically, they mean the same even though their usage might be different a little bit. They mean “intentional and conscious activity”. The work can mean more “goal-oriented” connotation. On the other hand, the deed focuses more on the act itself.
Despite the differences, they involve the same quality, that is, “action” or “doing something to achieve certain goal or purpose”. It means that Abraham could be righteous because of his action, not just by his faith. What did Abraham do? Believing in God, he left his hometown even though he did not know anything laid out for him in the future. Having faith in God, he eagerly attempted to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Abraham showed his faith through his action, that is, the deeds. And because of his deeds, he was called righteous by God. Then without his deeds, could he be righteous in the eyes of God? Not at all. His faith was accompanied by his deed and that was pleasing to God. That is why Apostle James declares that faith without deeds or action is dead.
Therefore, we can conclude that we cannot be saved by faith alone which does not accompany action. With the faith in God, there are things that we have to do to show our faith in God. Then what is the “thing” that we have to do?
Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac
Work and Deed
It seems like that the teachings of the two disciples disagree with each other. How can we explain the seeming discrepancy between the two teachings? To illustrate the point, I would like to tell a story of two men.
A man had a son and he asked his son to go to the field and get rid of weeds. Since the work was great, the son hired a worker for the day and went out to the field together. When the work is done, the hired man asked for the wage and, receiving it, he left with a joyful mind. But the son did not receive anything from his father and went back home with a joyful mind.
In this story we can see a two man, the son and the worker. After finishing the work, they were happy. One was happy because he received his wage for the work, and the other just because he could accomplish the work entrusted to him by his father.
In this story, what the hired man did can be called “work,” in the sense of the term used by Paul. And what the son did can be categorized as “deeds” in the semantic sense used by James. The hired man worked for the wage. And the son showed his love and fidelity to his father by obeying his command and doing the task given to him. His love of his father was shown by his acts in the form of the work he did.
Keep the Sabbath Holy
Then let us think about our faith toward God. When Paul said we can be saved by faith, did he mean that we can be saved only through faith in Christ without doing anything. This cannot be true. Paul probably was the very apostle who had faith in Christ as was described in the Book of James: a believer of Christ who showed his faith through his action. Paul did many things to put his faith into deeds.
Paul kept the Sabbath as his custom. (Acts 17, 18) Paul kept the Passover as he was taught by Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthian 5, 10, 11) He taught female believers to wear a veil during the worship service. He preached the gospel even though he had to go through many tribulations and hardships.
If we could be saved only by faith and did not have to do anything, why was it necessary for him to suffer so much due to the preaching? He could have stayed his home and led a comfortable life without having to meet thieves, dangers, hardships, or any persecutions.
However, he did go though so many things because of the gospel. Then what should we learn from the faith of Paul? We also have to show our faith in God through our actions. Since we have faith in God, we should keep the commands of God.
God commanded to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Then we have to keep the Sabbath Day holy without making any excuse. God said the Sabbath day is a holy day. Then who can add something to the words of God and say I think Sunday is a holy day and I will keep Sunday holy. Or can any one say, “Oh God, since I can be saved by faith alone, I, who have faith in God, will do nothing, but lead a enjoyable life doing as I wish”?
We have to consider these things seriously. If not, the day when we face God will be the day of condemnation, not the day of salvation.
The bible says there would be weeping and gnashing of the teeth among the believers who have faith in God. If we can be saved by faith alone, why could they who have faith in God not be saved and weekping gnash their teeth in the lake of fire?
Conclusion
Today, there are many Christians who do not show their faith through righteous acts in the eyes of God. They neither keep the Sabbath Day, nor the Passover. They do not keep any of the festivals of God for the matter. They say that we don’t have to do anything to show our faith. Or they say Sunday is the day of worship and the Christmas is the day of celebration as people of God.
Christ warned to his believers, saying there would be gnashing of the teeth. This warning was not given to the unbelievers, but the believers. As they say, if we can be saved by faith and don’t have to do anything, why would the believers who have faith in Christ gnash their teeth out of regret for missing the chance for their salvation.
Luke 13:28 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.”
We should not be the ones who are thrown out from the kingdom of God because of following the teachings of false prophets. Since this word of Christ is also one of the prophecies of God, this prophecy will surely come true to the believers of God.
Some will be invited to the table of God and eat with Him. And there would be many who are thrown out. They will weep and gnash their teeth out of regret for following and practicing the falsehood. However, there would be no more chance for them to be saved. We have to consider seriously about this matter.
Spiritually all the humans living on this earth were once angels in heaven. They committed sins against God in heaven and they were cast down to this earth. They live the life of pain and sufferings, and their final destination is death, the sentence they received for the sin in heaven. However, God has had pity and compassion for us and opened the way of salvation to those who believe in God.
That is why the bible says that the goal of
our faith is the salvation of our soul which otherwise is destined to die.
1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Salvation of Our Soul, the Eternal Life
Then what is the salvation of our souls? Our souls are in danger of death because of our sins in heaven. Therefore, the true salvation of our souls are the forgiveness for our sins and eternal life, or the life without death. And this is the goal of our faith to receive eternal life from God. This was the very reason Jesus came down to this earth from heaven.
John 3:15 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Therefore, as people who have faith in God,
the goal of our faith should be the eternal life God grants to his people. Then
how can we receive eternal life from God? Will God give us some medicine that
can heal all the diseases? Is there a tree in a garden that gives eternal life
to whoever eats from the tree? Or as some believes, is there certain material
like elixir of life that gives eternal life?
The Words of God, Eternal Life
According to the bible God’s salvation work
is compared to the creation work. In a spiritual sense, therefore, as God’s
people we are made into a new creation through the salvation work of God. When
we are made into the complete, all the creation work of God will finish and
people who has been made into the complete will enter eternal heaven where
there is no mourning, crying, or death.
2 Corinthian 5:17 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Then how can we be made into a new creation
who can enter the eternal heaven? It is through the words of God. Many people
think they can enter into the kingdom of heaven if they live a righteous life
on this earth. That is only partly true. As God’s people we should show good
examples to the people of the world so that they can also praise God for our
good deeds. But strictly speaking, our good deeds has nothing to do with our
salvation.
The World of Maggots
Let me give one example. Wherever there is rotten meat, you can find maggots. Let us think about the world of maggots. Even though we cannot see the difference between them, the world of maggots also might be filled with various kinds of maggots like ours. There might a strong maggot. And there might be a wise one, foolish one, or loving one. There might be a maggot which always helps others and takes care of them.
Even though there is a maggot hero that do
good things for the maggot society, does it affect us in any way? Even though
there might be a wise maggot, does its wisdom affect us? Their good behavior,
wisdom, courage, or sacrifice does not affect us in any way. This is true to us
spiritually. Even though there might be a wise man, good man, or a man of love
and sacrifice, our deeds do not affect the spiritual world in any way. Our good
deeds might affect people like us, but not God.
Job 35:6 If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.
We cannot make ourselves righteous through
something we do. Rather we can be made righteous through the grace of God who
forgives sinners freely.
The Power of the Words of God
Then how can we be made into a new
creation? It is through the words of God. The bible teaches us that the words
of God are living and have power to make everything come true. (Heb 4:12) We
can confirm this through the creation work of God in Genesis. God creates
everything through His words. When God said, “Let there be light,” there was
light. God created everything through his words. He gave his words and
everything was done according to the words of God. For this reason, Apostle
John testifies that God is the Word.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Then how would God create us into a new
creation and give us eternal life? It is only through the words of God.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54)
The Words That Gives Eternal Life
We can be made into a perfect creation with
eternal life in us through the words of God. 2000 years ago, Jesus who was God
himself came as man in the flesh as John said, “The Word (God) became flesh and
made his dwelling among us”. And he gave the words of God which gives us
eternal life to make us into a new creation.
John 6:53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
God’s words are living and active and has
power to fulfill everything according to his words. The God came as man in the
flesh and gave his words of eternal life by say, “Whoever eats my flesh and
drinks my blood has eternal life”. He did not add any other condition for eternal
life. He just told us to eat his flesh and drink his blood for the eternal
life. This was the words of eternal life of God.
True Faith That Give Us Eternal Life
Then what is the true faith? We can find
the true faith which can lead to salvation in the faith of Apostle Peter. Peter
had complete faith in Jesus and could be saved. Then what was the faith of
Peter and other apostles of Jesus who we should follow as examples? Even though
all others deserted Jesus, the apostles remained faithful to Jesus to the end.
Then what made it possible for them to remain in Jesus?
John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Even though others deserted Jesus, the twelve remained because they believed in the words of eternal life Jesus was granting them. Their faith should be ours too. Today, some people try to enter heaven through their own righteousness, their sacrifice, their work, wisdom, authority, etc. But Jesus clearly told them to depart from him. (Matthew 7:21)
Obedience to the Words of God
Therefore, the true faith is obedience to
the words of God.
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey (the words of God) is better than sacrifice (our deeds or works), and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
God has given us the words of eternal life
for our salvation. Now is our time to show if we have faith in God. God is
pleased more with our obedience to the words of God than works we can do for
our righteousness. The words of God for eternal life is like this, “Whoever
eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life”. Let us obey the words of
God and keep the Passover.
Then even though we are unworthy, God will
forgive our sins and grants eternal life as free gift to us. Christ
Ahnsahnghong came and restored the Passover for us so that we can receive
eternal life. Now come to Zion, WMSCOG and keep the Passover. Then God will
change you into a new creation with his words of eternal life.
