FAITH AND WORKS | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 2, 1880

FAITH AND WORKS.

"I will show thee my faith by my works."

LOVING obedience to the will of God shows the power of the gospel in the heart. Early in the history of revelation God taught his people that in doing his commandments they should live. He has never untaught them that lesson. Christ came into the world to turn us from disobedience to obedience. He is the minister of life to the repentant transgressor. To talk of being free from God's law is to vitiate and dethrone faith. The gospel confirms the righteousness of the law. It offers pardon from the condemnation of the law upon the immediate and unconditional recognition of eternal and loving obligation. As penitents we obey, because we love. We are no longer under the condemnation of the "law, but under grace," and by loving faith "we establish the law" in which we now "delight," for to us it has become "holy, spiritual, just and good."

The great concern of the no-law believer seems to be to shrink from the inconvenience of obedience. A faith that is always seeking the convenient will not take us through stormy seas. The commandments of God are not grievous, as all who keep them "and the faith of Jesus" witness. Faith enjoys the language of the psalmist: "O how I love thy law. It is my meditation all the day. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver." This estimate of God's will shows the kind of faith needed in order to enjoy Christ and his work here upon earth; and such faith is to be seen in good works. "Faith works by love," and strengthens every righteous thought, plan, resource, and activity of its possessor. Let us "work the works of faith" to-day. There is no time to lose. Study, pray, decide, and act; and know that Jesus is with them who abound in his work.—Sabbath Memorial.