Hearers and Doers
By George Stroh
November 18, 2013
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome; So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17) No one is justified by his or her good works, including being a regular attendee or even the Pastor of Maranatha Bible Church. Our forgiveness of sins, our justification and our salvation, if it is real, is on the basis of our faith alone in the gospel of Jesus Christ; For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:28)
Now the order of faith followed by works is crucial. Justification is indeed by faith alone in the gospel Jesus Christ. But genuine faith is always manifested and proven by a Christian's good works (sincerely trusting and obeying the word of God). God says that if there are no good works, then there is no true saving faith; Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17) These without good works who claim to be Christians are deceiving themselves and maybe others, but not God. They are tragically still on the broad road that leads to eternal damnation in hell.
If you are a true hearer of the word of God, one who has truly believed the gospel of Jesus Christ, then you will also be a doer of God's word. You will be diligently trusting and obeying Him, not to earn your justification and salvation, but because of your justification and salvation. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Are you both a hearer and a doer of the word of God or are you still deluding yourself? Maranatha!
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