Faith

FAITH

By: Irnawan Silitonga

Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. However, a person who is dead in sin cannot possibly hear the Word of God unless the Father in heaven grants him the grace to hear. When someone receives the grace to hear the Word of God, the power of God that brings salvation enters his inner being (Romans 1:16). This power of God is ‘the energy of Christ’ that enables him to believe in God, to do the will of the Father, and to become a witness of Christ who boldly proclaims the Word of God.

Living faith is the power of God—or the energy of Christ—that drives a person to obey God. It is impossible for someone to have living faith without also having acts of obedience to God. James says that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Before we continue James’ explanation about works, let us first read Paul’s description of the Gospel in Romans 1:17.

In Romans 1:17 it is written, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written: ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” The phrase ‘from faith to faith’ (Greek: EK PISTEOS EIS PISTIN) cannot simply be translated as faith, because there is an important understanding within it that must be noticed. Let us quote Marvin Vincent’s commentary in his Word Studies: ‘the idea is that of progress in faith itself… faith is a progressive principle’ (Vol. 3, p. 14). Thus, the key understanding in the Greek expression above is the idea of progress. Faith is something that grows. Faith is not “static,” but continuously moves toward its perfection. Faith that does not grow and progress is dead faith—and this is not the saving faith that Paul refers to.

If so, what makes faith progressive? What makes faith grow? James affirms, “…faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect” (James 2:22). It is emphasized here that faith is made perfect through works. The ‘works’ referred to here are works that are born out of faith, because James says, “…I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Thus, not works apart from faith, but works that are produced by faith will perfect faith, causing it to grow toward perfection. In this way, Paul’s and James’ explanations about faith complement each other.

Indeed, Paul also affirms that faith cannot be separated from obedience. Romans 1:5 and 16:26 both explain the relationship between faith and obedience. In these verses, Paul says that he received the grace of apostleship to bring the nations to the ‘obedience of faith’ (as translated in the ILT version).

Therefore, we can conclude that faith produces obedience, and in turn, obedience perfects faith. Thus faith grows and progresses. This is biblical faith. This is saving faith. That is why James said that Abraham was justified by his works. This statement does not in any way contradict Paul’s teaching about faith, because the ‘works’ James refers to are works that spring forth from faith. Hallelujah, Amen.