“Everyone then who hears my words, and these doing them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."1
This is where one begins to build up faith, on the Rock. Faith is trust, on a fundamental level, we being born of Spirit upon hearing the words of Christ, we believed, "trusted" that they were true, trustworthy, faithful, thus we are divinely persuaded. So we see the importance of understanding in this area and we raise the question, what comes first, trust or obedience? If you believed in your heart and confess with your mouth, what came first? believing in the heart, Paul writes. At the essence of such a question is an important understanding of the work of God.
“This is the work of God that believing in the One He has sent.”3
Jesus said one must labor for food that endures to eternal life, this laboring is not works of the law nor good deeds we do, not earthly food that perishes. This laboring is seeking, asking, knocking for heavenly bread and living water which is hearing and understanding, the essence of faith or believing. This is the work of God, not of ourselves lest we boast. Jesus is the Word, his words are Spirit and Truth, the Spirit draws all men to Christ, the Truth. Christ is the bread from heaven, he gives living water, he has been lifted up for salvation that all who may trust in him will be saved. This faith in Christ is like buying in, as the prophet spoke, come buy food without cost… The essence of faith is trust, my sacrifice is made because I trust in .
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."4
It is the same question asked, does faith come before works? Faith comes before works, Jesus said, believing is the work of God, thus as Paul writes, by grace through faith I am saved, not of works, lest I boast. But you say, faith produces works, so how can one separate my works from my faith? And is not faith without works dead? And how can I separate obedience from faith? But Faith produces work, not the other way around, obedience is a work produced by faith. Jesus is not walking around demanding obedience? no, he is desiring faith, obedience is what the Law demanded, and it gave no power over the flesh.
"to the one not working, however, believing on him justifying the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness,"5
The thief on the cross did no works, he trusted in the One who would do the "work" and could justify. Righteousness is declared apart from the works of the law.6 Such is justification by faith, it is judicial approval from the just judge, God himself. Paul asks, who can judge the spiritual person? Such a person is to be judged by no one.6 But he also writes he could not address these as spiritual, but as worldly, as infants.7 The believer is forgiven all their lawless deeds, their sins are covered.8 Sin is not reckoned against him.
"Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness."9
The blessings of God, therefore the promise, are to those by faith, not by obedience to the works of the Law. The sign of circumcision was a seal of righteousness by faith, given while Abraham was still uncircumcised, so that all those believing, while in uncircumcision, would be credited righteousness by faith.10 So we see the promise of heirs, inheritance, was always to those of faith, through the Seed. As believers we are justified by faith, circumcised of the heart, when we heard and believed the gospel we were seal by the Holy Spirit,
“... who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,”11
The Mosaic Law was guardian, holding captive the circumcised, until Christ. The Law was not of faith, now the obedience was to point to entering God’s rest, trusting in God. But the motivation for obedience was the fear of punishment, obey or die. The people disobeyed God and snakes were sent to bite them for their disobedience, the bronze serpent was lifted up so that those who looked upon it were saved. Now, “looking” required trusting God’s word, as looking unto Jesus is trusting in his word. So we the objective of the Law through obedience was trust, but the flesh is weak.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”12
The flesh is at enmity against God, thus the carnal mind can’t be subjected to God’s laws. The Law which is spiritual created hostility, sin abounded through this weakness of the flesh. Jesus came in the fullness of grace and truth, thus we see the objective of grace is to cast out fear, replaced with love trust. Through faith in the “works” of Christ we are made righteous, have judicial approval to stand before God in grace. What is the most important thing to God, or put another way what is the weightier matters of God?
“… the weightier matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness.”14
It is an amazing thing we would require faithful, available, teachable, servants in our organizations while we ourselves are not faithful, demanding obedience and sacrifice and not building trust. We know that the Law doesn't build up in faith, thus obedience to the "letter of the law" doesn’t produce faith. Surely one can adhere to the”letter of the law” and hurt the faith of another, "by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died."15 When we wound a weak brother's faith we sin against Christ, Paul writes.16 Hurting these little children, those who believe in Jesus, is a weighty matter to Jesus.17 I don't think anyone can excuse away hurting the trust of a child by calling the child disobedient or because he broke some rule... We see the importance of trust before obedience.
"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea."17
Faith is a pillar of the Church, thus building up others in faith is an important matter. Those who focus on the “letter of the law” focus primarily on obedience. They would say a child doesn’t need to trust but needs to be obedient, thus putting obedience before trust. This simple idea, which almost seems insignificant, will either direct one toward a performance based Christianity or one of faith. Of course we can be believers, but be of little faith, just enough for salvation. The nature of faith is that to those who are faithful in little, more is given.
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."19
Jesus is the Rock, and Peter a rock or little stone. The Church was built upon the apostles and prophets, with Jesus being the foundation stone, and as Paul writes, it is made up of "living stones." We think of this as authority or position, but is it possible, there is a greater point? Lets read in context, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it...”20 Seeking not food that perishes, drawn or revealed by the Spirit of God, Peter believes, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So we see as Paul writes, the blessings, the promise, comes through faith. Possibly, Jesus is saying on Faith I will build my Church.
Righteousness is declared apart from works.21
Obedience is a work of faith. Putting obedience before trust can create bitterness in a child.22 And can provoke a child to wrath.22 Think of an orphan adopted into a new family. The lack of trust in authority goes deep, for good reason, no one has been there to defend him, to care for him, evil men in authority would take advantage of him. It is what many orphans have experienced, it is what they know, not to trust. To try to develop obedience without trust would be disastrous in such a child, but many men think this would be right. If these men know the heavenly Father they do not trust him but fear him, this is how they have been raised.
“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”23
Faith is the evidence of things unseen, and the substance of things hoped for, and what is hope if it is in things we see.24 It is the natural that comes first, before the spiritual, through faith we see in the natural through love, thus “faith is working through love.”25 It is not how obedient we are to the “letter of the law” but to the “requirement of the law” which is expressed in the natural through love. Love God, because he first loved motivates one to please him by faith, to be a good child. The praise of a loving father, "well done..." is rewarding. Love my neighbor shows that I understand how important trust is to my Father and how it is used to build up others.
“Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”26
Against the fruit of the Spirit there is no law. Have you ever been thrown in prison for gentleness? Oh, but what a tool it is for building up. The purpose of the Church is the edification or building up of the body in faith, and nothing else matters as Paul writes but "faith working through love." I can meet the natural need and not the spiritual of building up in faith. I can adhere to the ”letter of the law” and tear down the faith of another. I can judge others and not build up in faith. I can excuse away the big beam in my own eye thus hurting the faith of another. I can witness to someone and walk away from his natural need, but how does the love of God abide in me? Now abides faith, hope, and love...
Only Grace
This is where one begins to build up faith, on the Rock. Faith is trust, on a fundamental level, we being born of Spirit upon hearing the words of Christ, we believed, "trusted" that they were true, trustworthy, faithful, thus we are divinely persuaded. So we see the importance of understanding in this area and we raise the question, what comes first, trust or obedience? If you believed in your heart and confess with your mouth, what came first? believing in the heart, Paul writes. At the essence of such a question is an important understanding of the work of God.
“This is the work of God that believing in the One He has sent.”3
Jesus said one must labor for food that endures to eternal life, this laboring is not works of the law nor good deeds we do, not earthly food that perishes. This laboring is seeking, asking, knocking for heavenly bread and living water which is hearing and understanding, the essence of faith or believing. This is the work of God, not of ourselves lest we boast. Jesus is the Word, his words are Spirit and Truth, the Spirit draws all men to Christ, the Truth. Christ is the bread from heaven, he gives living water, he has been lifted up for salvation that all who may trust in him will be saved. This faith in Christ is like buying in, as the prophet spoke, come buy food without cost… The essence of faith is trust, my sacrifice is made because I trust in .
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."4
It is the same question asked, does faith come before works? Faith comes before works, Jesus said, believing is the work of God, thus as Paul writes, by grace through faith I am saved, not of works, lest I boast. But you say, faith produces works, so how can one separate my works from my faith? And is not faith without works dead? And how can I separate obedience from faith? But Faith produces work, not the other way around, obedience is a work produced by faith. Jesus is not walking around demanding obedience? no, he is desiring faith, obedience is what the Law demanded, and it gave no power over the flesh.
"to the one not working, however, believing on him justifying the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness,"5
The thief on the cross did no works, he trusted in the One who would do the "work" and could justify. Righteousness is declared apart from the works of the law.6 Such is justification by faith, it is judicial approval from the just judge, God himself. Paul asks, who can judge the spiritual person? Such a person is to be judged by no one.6 But he also writes he could not address these as spiritual, but as worldly, as infants.7 The believer is forgiven all their lawless deeds, their sins are covered.8 Sin is not reckoned against him.
"Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness."9
The blessings of God, therefore the promise, are to those by faith, not by obedience to the works of the Law. The sign of circumcision was a seal of righteousness by faith, given while Abraham was still uncircumcised, so that all those believing, while in uncircumcision, would be credited righteousness by faith.10 So we see the promise of heirs, inheritance, was always to those of faith, through the Seed. As believers we are justified by faith, circumcised of the heart, when we heard and believed the gospel we were seal by the Holy Spirit,
“... who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,”11
The Mosaic Law was guardian, holding captive the circumcised, until Christ. The Law was not of faith, now the obedience was to point to entering God’s rest, trusting in God. But the motivation for obedience was the fear of punishment, obey or die. The people disobeyed God and snakes were sent to bite them for their disobedience, the bronze serpent was lifted up so that those who looked upon it were saved. Now, “looking” required trusting God’s word, as looking unto Jesus is trusting in his word. So we the objective of the Law through obedience was trust, but the flesh is weak.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”12
The flesh is at enmity against God, thus the carnal mind can’t be subjected to God’s laws. The Law which is spiritual created hostility, sin abounded through this weakness of the flesh. Jesus came in the fullness of grace and truth, thus we see the objective of grace is to cast out fear, replaced with love trust. Through faith in the “works” of Christ we are made righteous, have judicial approval to stand before God in grace. What is the most important thing to God, or put another way what is the weightier matters of God?
“… the weightier matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness.”14
It is an amazing thing we would require faithful, available, teachable, servants in our organizations while we ourselves are not faithful, demanding obedience and sacrifice and not building trust. We know that the Law doesn't build up in faith, thus obedience to the "letter of the law" doesn’t produce faith. Surely one can adhere to the”letter of the law” and hurt the faith of another, "by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died."15 When we wound a weak brother's faith we sin against Christ, Paul writes.16 Hurting these little children, those who believe in Jesus, is a weighty matter to Jesus.17 I don't think anyone can excuse away hurting the trust of a child by calling the child disobedient or because he broke some rule... We see the importance of trust before obedience.
"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea."17
Faith is a pillar of the Church, thus building up others in faith is an important matter. Those who focus on the “letter of the law” focus primarily on obedience. They would say a child doesn’t need to trust but needs to be obedient, thus putting obedience before trust. This simple idea, which almost seems insignificant, will either direct one toward a performance based Christianity or one of faith. Of course we can be believers, but be of little faith, just enough for salvation. The nature of faith is that to those who are faithful in little, more is given.
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."19
Jesus is the Rock, and Peter a rock or little stone. The Church was built upon the apostles and prophets, with Jesus being the foundation stone, and as Paul writes, it is made up of "living stones." We think of this as authority or position, but is it possible, there is a greater point? Lets read in context, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it...”20 Seeking not food that perishes, drawn or revealed by the Spirit of God, Peter believes, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So we see as Paul writes, the blessings, the promise, comes through faith. Possibly, Jesus is saying on Faith I will build my Church.
Righteousness is declared apart from works.21
Obedience is a work of faith. Putting obedience before trust can create bitterness in a child.22 And can provoke a child to wrath.22 Think of an orphan adopted into a new family. The lack of trust in authority goes deep, for good reason, no one has been there to defend him, to care for him, evil men in authority would take advantage of him. It is what many orphans have experienced, it is what they know, not to trust. To try to develop obedience without trust would be disastrous in such a child, but many men think this would be right. If these men know the heavenly Father they do not trust him but fear him, this is how they have been raised.
“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”23
Faith is the evidence of things unseen, and the substance of things hoped for, and what is hope if it is in things we see.24 It is the natural that comes first, before the spiritual, through faith we see in the natural through love, thus “faith is working through love.”25 It is not how obedient we are to the “letter of the law” but to the “requirement of the law” which is expressed in the natural through love. Love God, because he first loved motivates one to please him by faith, to be a good child. The praise of a loving father, "well done..." is rewarding. Love my neighbor shows that I understand how important trust is to my Father and how it is used to build up others.
“Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”26
Against the fruit of the Spirit there is no law. Have you ever been thrown in prison for gentleness? Oh, but what a tool it is for building up. The purpose of the Church is the edification or building up of the body in faith, and nothing else matters as Paul writes but "faith working through love." I can meet the natural need and not the spiritual of building up in faith. I can adhere to the ”letter of the law” and tear down the faith of another. I can judge others and not build up in faith. I can excuse away the big beam in my own eye thus hurting the faith of another. I can witness to someone and walk away from his natural need, but how does the love of God abide in me? Now abides faith, hope, and love...
Only Grace