"I perceived how that it was impossible to establish the lay people in any truth except the scripture were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue". -William Tyndale
Faith Alone?
Hebrews 11 is full of people who are famous for their faith. Notice that when the writer describes them, they are all presented in terms of some action? Noah constructed an ark, Abraham left his home, Jacob blessed his grandsons, Joseph instructed about his bones, Moses chose to be mistreated, Joshua fought. Faith is synonymous with action and apart from action, there is no faith. There isn’t even a noun form of the word “faith” in Hebrew. Faith is only expressed as a verb, because faith never exists apart from action. Abraham's faith produced obedient action, and his action demonstrated that his faith was genuine and living.
Faith is a conviction expressed in a choice.
Example of having faith:
Years ago, my best friend and I went rappelling for the first time. The idea of repelling is that you lean your weight against a rope and use that rope to essentially jump down the mountain. When it was my turn to go, the instructor told me to lean back and let the rope catch me. Despite my fear (and after a quick prayer asking Jesus to come into my heart again, just to be safe), I leaned back. Of course, the rope held and I repelled down the side of the mountain. My friend went next. From the bottom of the mountain, I could see him shaking. After about ten minutes, I saw him reach his foot down and start climbing down the rock face. He got halfway down before he found a spot that he couldn’t climb around, but instead of leaning back and letting the rope catch him, he climbed right back up! My friend’s approach to repelling is a lot like some people’s approach to faith. He might have “believed,” but he failed to act on it, and it did him no good. Faith is not “believing that the rope will hold you”; it is leaning back on that rope.
Faith is not a matter of 'word' but a matter of 'deed'. Faith is something you do in practical deeds. Letter of James makes quite clear in that faith is something you do Faith is not a personal thought or confession. We need to combine all of the authors testimony for proper insight and sound biblical doctrine. Paul AND James teaches about faith. "If you love me you will keep my commandments" Jesus
James highlights faith without action is dead. James shows that there exists people who have faith without action. Matthew 7:21-23 confirms that faith with immoral or unfair behavior will cost you salvation. ("Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven - depart from me, ye that work iniquity"). These are people who have "hallow" faith and continue to live unrighteous. Having faith in Christ doesn't automatically cause an individual to produce good works and without those faith verifying actions, faith is dead.
Faith and believing in God translates into action. Our salvation will be determined by what we do. When we believe in somebody or when we have faith in somebody it's shown with behavior and action. What good would it do if we told our husbands or wives we loved them but it wasn't shown in our actions? Most people who say they believe in Jesus Christ believe only with their mouths, having misinterpreted the scriptures and their actions do not testify of that stated belief.
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
The English word “believe” today is much weaker than the biblical concept of believing, especially when we use “believe” to mean merely thinking something is true.
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified of his deeds when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Faith and believing are things we do. Our actions testify of our belief and our faith:
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him.
Jesus said:
Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
James 2:18 I will shew thee my faith by my works.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar.
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Noah's faith produced action:
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out... obeyed; and he went out.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.
Faith is described not as something inactive but as work.. faith is work and it's a different type of work than self-righteousness work which is biblically described as works of the law.
Believing is something we do in practical deeds:
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Believing in Christ is an action, and it is an action that leads unto righteousness. Believing teaches repentance.
"Verily, verily I say unto you whosoever believeth on me, the works that I do, the same shall he do, and greater works then these shall he do" -Jesus Christ