"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, and the Truth is not in him."
What is salvation? What does God command? Are we saved through faith? Works? Both?
Many whom profess Christ Jesus come to me saying that faith alone is what saves. To them I say: "faith is just the starting point, for without faith, how could we even hope to begin seeking Christ Jesus?"
Fewer come to me saying that works are all that is required. Rather, more come to me saying works are entirely fruitless. That to even attempt works (which is the keeping of God's commandments) is to place oneself under a painful, burdensome yoke of God's "former," "outdated, "old" commands - do these people not know that God never changes? If we are grafted into an old promise (of Abraham), which should have "passed away" at his death - yet has not - why then have the Ten Commandments fallen away?
Malachi 3:6 (words of Christ)
"For I am the LORD, I change not..."
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
John 10:30 (words of God)
"I and the Father are One."
In the days of antiquity, when Christ Jesus walked the earth in His flesh born of a woman, the Pharisee claimed the law was all. In these days of modernity, when Christ Jesus ministers in heaven on our behalf as a High Priest of the order of Melchisedec, the Pharisee claims that faith is all.
But the Word of God rebukes them both!
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
Alone, neither the law or faith aveileth anything but faith which has its works in love. This is fully understood when one knows that the keeping of God's (Christ's) commandments (Ten and Love) are the works which are required alongside our faith - the belief in Christ Jesus as Lord Messiah.
If you yet refuse to believe me, then you tell me: what commandments does God speak of?
Is there some other commandment which God has given elsewhere? Other than the Ten, Love, and Mosaic? True believers of Jesus Christ have no choice but to forsake both faith alone, and works alone (the law alone). For it is manifest that both faith and works are required.
Faith, because without it we cannot enter into heaven. Works, because without it we do not Truly have faith - for works (keeping the law of Ten and Love) is a consequence of having True faith in the Lord God Jesus Christ. Truly, if you love Jesus Christ then out of this love for Him, you will do all that He has commanded in His Word.
"If you love Me, keep My commandments."
If we have faith, we keep God's (Christ's) commandments. Because we love Jesus Christ and He asked us to do so, we do both attest and keep them. Why go on forsaking what He asks? Keep His commandments - but only if you love Him. If you love Him you will keep His commandments. This is simple.
So, you Pharisees. What say you? Will you adhere to faith alone? Will you adhere to works alone? Or will you put off such foolish notions that either alone can save, and put on the full faith, the whole armor of God-through-Christ, and fully come to terms with what God-in-Christ has commanded?
Revelation 14:12 (emphasis mine)
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
It is clear there is a differentiation between the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Both works of the commandments and faith by the Lord God Jesus Christ are required. Let us all strive to live in the way which is desired of God-in-Christ.
Truly, the Pharisee of every age is a fool,
Logos Prevailing.
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