Faith & Love

Anyway, if you couldn't have guessed, it's Ivan who's posting.

Back to where I was!

2. What does dead faith entail?
Read: James 2:14-26
James 2:17: "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

If this passage doesn't wake sleeping Christians up, I don't know what will!

Those who profess themselves "Christian" but do not live their lives out like they should- that is a dead faith. If you truly have faith in God, you will NATURALLY carry out His works. Therefore, if you have faith but no works, your faith is a DUD, and so is your assurance of salvation!

And of course it would be apt to say here that we are not saved by works either, just that works are the natural proof of a living, true faith. To recap another memory verse: "For it is by grace, thhrough faith, that you have been saved- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God- not by works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 Proclaim Christ: Salvation Not By Works, Series B, Week 4

3. "In the absence of faith, love would struggle to exist." - Kam, R.

I must confess that I don't get this. Exactly what "love" are we talking about? Love towards the object of faith, or love as a whole?

Or let me hazard a guess... are you saying, Ryan, that if we believe not by faith, we do so by proof, a cold, mechanical proof that requires no love?

4. "Faith is our expression of love to God, that's why faith pleases God." - Kam, R.

What is the relation between faith and love? I don't think faith is the actual expression of love. It certainly is a prerequisite- you can't love something you don't believe in, but more than that, I think obedience, and not faith, is the expression of love to God. Once again, John 14:21...

"Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him."

Feel free to disagree.

Anyway, I must say that spiritual discussion is very beneficial to me and my own spiritual life. it forces me to think about issues, to read my Bible, and look at the things wrong in my own life...

There are two more discussion threads: on the Spirit, and on forgiveness. I'm too tired to write about them today... but there's a lot of good stuff to discuss! Let's really make this blog chunky...