Devotional - July 8, 2004

Many believe that James is the only one in the New Testament who preached that faith is dead without deeds (Re: Jas 2:26), but Paul preached the same thing. His message however, has become a hard one for many evangelists, because far too many preach and teach something else entirely.

Today, most people believe salvation comes through a sincere profession of faith even when there's no evidence of change, or repentance in a person's life. And it's not only liberal hacks who push such nonsense, but rather theologians under the guise of being reliable interpreters of Scripture.

It's been said, "the proof's in the puddin'." Paul stood before king Agrippa and claimed his profession was proved by his actions. I think we can agree that Paul's life is a whole lot of puddin. He walked everything he talked.

The king accepted Paul's reasoning and concluded that Paul was not guilty of doing anything that deserved death. Had Paul not appealed to Caesar, the king concluded he would have likely been set free. But he was sent on to Rome to another trial.

Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians that on the surface seems to contradict his confession to Agrippa. He said, "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." This seems to put the issue to rest in favor of those who don't embrace repentance. But, notice that Paul never said works were necessary for a person to be saved. Instead, what he said was that works "prove" a person's saved.

God's grace is indeed greater than our sin. But Scripture never says grace is a substitute for repentance.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 1 Ch. 5:18-6:81 Ac. 26:1-32 Ps. 6:1-10 Pr. 18:20-21 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society