Achieving Obedient Faith

[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]

Despite external forces working to put out lights of righteousness, the potential of maintaining purity is just as high as in the first century. Times of great wickedness can often give opportunity for demonstration of the strongest faith. God noted that the intent of individuals’ thoughts in the ancient world were continually and only upon evil (Gen 6:5). Yet we also read of a man who did all according to what the Lord instructed and achieved salvation by the grace of God (Gen. 7:5, 23). Noah is described as a man of faith in Hebrews 11 because of his obedience to the word of God. Men and women today are capable of having a caliber of faith equivalent to that of Noah or a host of other examples in the Bible.

The common theme when looking at various examples of strong faith is actions of obedience. For obedience to occur, instruction must be given. “Now then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). The receipt of instruction will evoke in its purest simplicity one of two reactions: acceptance or rejection. If one accepts the instruction, the process shall continue. The one who accepts and believes what God has spoken yet does not act has a dead faith, which is useless or dead (Jms. 2:17). Therefore to act as instructed will result in the accounting of faith. However, rejection or failure to act according of the word of God will not yield the active faith that is described in the Bible.

In Romans 1:17 Paul states “The just shall live by faith.” The Christian lifestyle of faith is not automatic but requires patience and diligence. The child of God is not going to rely on his/her own sight or understanding, but rely on God and His infinite wisdom. As previously noted, faith as described by the Scriptures comes from comprehension of God’s word (Rom. 10:17). The gospel of Christ contains the power of God for salvation because of the instructions given. It describes the righteousness of God as well as His wrath that will be dealt to the disobedient (Rom. 1:16-18). We have the means to know what is pleasing, but we must make opportunity to become familiar with the gospel.

Many are able to understand the instructions given, but fail to comply and be committed to what was learned. This inactivity is precisely what James was addressing in James 2. One cannot claim to have faith without having actions of obedience to support the claim. “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (Jms. 2:18). The only way to account for something intangible is to observe what is done for it.

God determined for Christians to be active in good works (Eph. 2:10), and has defined good works within the Scriptures so that Christians may be fully equipped and zealous (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Tit. 2:14). Complying with the Scriptures allows one to ‘walk by faith.’ Noah was not considered a man of faith until he prepared the ark according to the word of God (Heb. 11:7). Noah did all that was expected and found grace in the sight of God (Gen. 6:8), and we can find the same grace, but only when we are found obedient. Our obedience allows us to be saved by grace through faith; therefore without obedience our faith is dead and nonexistent.

Individuals have blamed external forces for disobedience, but please note dear friend that the strength of faith is not based upon what others may do. Living in an ungodly world will not prevent us from being a person of faith unless we allow it. Association with poor company can corrupt one, but only when one allows the negative influence (1 Cor. 15:33-34). An individual’s faith is based on what the individual believes and follows. The responsibility belongs to each person. In the end, we will give an account of what we have done on our own volition (Rom. 14:12). Even when the whole world dwelt upon evil, yet eight souls were saved. Noah and his family did not allow the negative external forces to prevent them from being obedient to God. Why do we? In many cases we lose sight of the goal and faith in the fulfillment of the promises given by God.

God is faithful in His promises; we must believe it and follow through in obedience (2 Pet. 3:9, Heb. 11:6). The key is in how we live, whether in obedience or disobedience. We are presenting our bodies as servants of righteousness or of sin, and we will receive just compensation for our deeds (Rom. 6). The just shall live by faith and pursue righteousness (Rom. 1:17, 2 Tim. 2:22). It is not enough to have a mental ascent to what we have learned, but action in accordance to instruction will allow us to be holy sacrifices (Rom. 12:1-2). We will either work to present ourselves sanctified as holy or conform to the deeds of the world.

Consider Noah one more time, if Noah only had a mental ascent of the pending flood and did not build the ark, would Noah have been saved? You see Noah would believe God would be executing punishment on the ancient world and believe he could be saved, but only those found in the ark were saved. Noah was required to build the ark in which he entered. God has built the place for us to enter as we receive salvation from God-the Church, which is the body of Christ (Col. 1:13, 18). However only having a mental ascent will not allow us to gain entry, God has instructed us what is needed for admittance (Rom. 10:17; Jn. 6:29, 47; Lk. 13:5; Rom. 10:9-10; Gal. 3:26-29). So as we labor in the Lord, let us understand that is our obedience that completes our faith so that it is a living faith found pleasing in the sight of God.


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