Trifecta

Bible Matters 527: Trifecta

Nothing gets accomplished without Faith.  Once you have faith, God demands love:  Love God and Love your neighbor.  With Love, comes works.  Without those three, you are without God!    

Secret Book of James – Final Words

But in response to these comments Peter said, “Sometimes you urge us on to the kingdom of heaven, and again at other times you turn us away, Lord. Sometimes you persuade and draw us to faith and promise us life, and again at other times you cast us out of the kingdom of heaven.”

But in response the Lord told us, “I’ve given you faith many times. Moreover, I’ve revealed myself to you,  James, and you haven’t known me. Now again, I see you rejoicing often. And when you’re delighted about the promise of life, nevertheless you’re sad and depressed when you’re taught about the kingdom.

“But through faith and knowledge, you’ve received life. Despise rejection when you hear it, but when you hear the promise, rejoice all the more. Truly I tell you, whoever will receive life and believe the kingdom will never leave it – not even if the Father wants to banish them!

Jesus’s brother, James, made it clear that is all starts with faith.  The Trifecta – Faith, Love, Works.

Since I’ve already been glorified like this, why do you hold me back in my eagerness to go?  For after the [labor], you’ve made me stay with you another eighteen days because of the parables. For some people, it was enough <to listen> to the teaching and understand ‘The Shepherds,’ ‘The Seed,’ ‘The Building,’ ‘The Lamps of the Young Women,’ ‘The Wage of the Workers,’ and ‘The  Silver Coins and the Woman.’

“Be eager about the message! The first stage of the message is faith, the second is love, and the third is works, because from these comes life.

James’ message is rock solid.  You must believe in one God.  Faith with works comes life. Faith without works brings death.

James 2:17-26 – Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believes that there is one God; thou does well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  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.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Faith starts with God.  Do you have doubt about God the spirit?  Then pray to God often. 

Look, I’ll leave you and go away. I don’t want to continue with you anymore, just as you yourselves don’t want that. Now, then, follow me eagerly. That’s why I tell you that I came down for you. You’re beloved; you’ll bring life for many. Call on the Father. Pray to God often, and (God) will be generous with you.

“Blessed is the one who has seen you with (God) when (God) was proclaimed among the angels and given glory among the holy ones; yours is life. Rejoice and be glad as 11 children of God. Keep (God’s) will so that you may be saved. Accept my warning and save yourselves. I’m pleading for you with the Father, who will forgive you much.”

Out of love, look for ways to help with works.  Going beyond works, people may need charity.  Yes, charity.

Thomas – Saying 95: Giving Money – [Jesus said], “If you have money, don’t lend it at interest. Instead, give [it to] someone from whom you won’t get it back.”

Thomas and James recognized that with love comes charity.  Paul confirmed that all things are to be done with charity. 

1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians 16:14 – Let all your things be done with charity.

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.

Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Hindu love of neighbor, requires charity.

Some learned men declare that all kinds of fruitive activities should be given up as faulty, yet other sages maintain that acts of sacrifice, charity and penance should never be abandoned.

With charity, God is looking for your good works.

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

John 10:32 – Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Acts 9:36 – Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

1 Timothy 5:10,24-25 -Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.  Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.  Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

With righteous good deeds and good works, endure to the end that you may lay hold onto eternal life.

1 Timothy 6:18-19 – That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The Cow 62 Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

1 Peter 2:12 – Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

The Trifecta – Faith, Love, Works.  Unto good works and eternal life!

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.