HABIT FORMING

Readers, do you know that “grace” is a very addictive word, like a narcotic drug? We keep doing the wrong things because of “grace”. When we were younger we did the wrong things because we were stupid. But when we are older and smarter we still keep doing the wrong things. Why? Because of “grace”. Where did we learn grace from? We learn about grace in church. Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. The apostle James however argued, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” James 2:19-24. Here we see that the apostle James disagreed with the apostle Paul. So, who is right? Both cannot be right, and both cannot be wrong. Who inspired Paul to write Ephesians 2:8-9, and who inspired James to write James 2:19-24? This is an important question that we all should ask! Paul said that we are saved by faith only, and James said that we are justified by our works, and not by our faith only. We know that faith without works cannot save us. Quoting the apostle James again, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:19-20. And so, readers, what is the work that we must do? Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15. God said, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5. Have we loved our God with all our hearts, all our soul, and all our strength? If you say we have, my next question is have we kept all His commandments? Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15. We have to be honest with ourselves and with God. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” Matthew 7:21-23. Readers, are we practicing lawlessness? Are we doing the will of God the Father? Or are we doing our will? I believe that if we continue to live in sin without any desire to repent, we have rejected the grace of God to save us. The truth is simple. God can save only those who want to be saved. We cannot use grace as an excuse to commit sin. Many of us have never seriously attempted to do what God wants us to do, and we think that faith alone will save us. We bet on grace, like the thief on his last day on the cross. But we are not the thief on the cross. We are still alive. We can still repent, and we must repent.

Faith alone cannot save us. But faith, works, repentance, and do the will of God the Father, will save us. Matthew 7:21-23.