Believe and Do

Daily Reading: Romans 2

He will render to each one according to his works. (Romans 2.6)

Devotional Thought: Martin Luther, the Catholic priest who founded the Lutheran Church, was driven by the doctrine of sola fide ("by faith alone").  But how are we saved by faith alone when “He [God] will render to each one according to his works” (v. 6) and there will be “glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good” (v. 10)?  This is not an isolated concept.  James wrote, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2.17).  John wrote: “Do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand” (Revelation 2.5).

Perhaps we need to frame it differently.  Instead of asking the either/or question, “Is it faith or works?” we should ask, “How do faith and works function together in our salvation?”  Jesus answered this in John 6.29, when he said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”  Believing is our work!  After all, the Bible says that believing is the exact thing we need to do to be born again: “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1.12). 

Concerning those who have become children of God, Paul also wrote: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2.8-10). 

Thanks be to God that he saves us by grace through faith and then gives us something to do by faith.  As God's partners, we believe and do!  Amazing grace!

Prayer: I thank you, and you alone, O Lord, for the wonderful gift of salvation.  It is by grace I have been saved.  But I also thank you that it is through faith, for in faith you have made me your willing partner in salvation.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 18.35-45

35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.

36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.

37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed.

38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.

39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.

40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed.

41 They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.

42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

43 You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.

44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me.

45 Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses.