Passed the Test, Missed the Lab Who Wrote the Exam? 10/6/24 Scripture Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1(ESV) 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, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV) What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:14-26(ESV) Biblical Truth Justified- δικαιόω (dikaioó) to judge, declare, pronounce, righteous and therefore acceptable, vindicated, free Faith - πίστις (pistis) a fidelity of belief necessitating action A life of Faith and Action are INSEPARABLE If my Faith doesn’t call me to act then my faith isn’t in the REAL JESUS What you believe is CRITICAL for from it comes FAITH and through faith one is SAVED and CHANGE OCCURS IMAGINE IF . . . We wrote the TEST for God ourselves . . . . What would Faith look like? Is there even a reason to change? Why would action/works even be necessary? BELIEVE: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father; God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God; begotten not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen FAITH: God is Sovereign God is Infinite God is Self-Sufficient God is Omniscient (All Knowing) God is Omnipresent (Everywhere) God is Omnipotent (All Powerful) God is Good God is Just God is Immutable (unchanging) God is Love God is Wise God is Faithful God is Merciful God is Gracious It is IMPOSSIBLE to BELIEVE the truth about God and have FAITH in who He says he is and not be CHANGED in how I live the rest of my life. Its time to throw out some faulty beliefs about God Heard it on a podcast My God wouldn’t . . . Well I’m sure God doesn’t really mean. . . . Any and all (add-ons) to God - Let God define Himself Life is a LAB class and it isn’t optional, in fact genuine FAITH requires daily participation and growth because what I do with my FAITH is evidence of who and what I BELIEVE in!