Faith, Works, and Patience
The common assumption today is that all we need for salvation is a belief or faith, and in part that is true, but do you know what is necessary in belief or faith? Did you know that when you believe and obey God your going against the flow of the world? Obeying the word of God involves three important things? Those things are;
- Faith
comes by the hearing of the word of God. It is a strong belief in something you are not able to see or touch, believing that it does exist, or will happen. If there is any doubt in you, your faith is hindered, you must be in complete agreement with the word of God.- Works
are the demonstrations of your faith, and establish your faith. It is acting on God's word through trials that come your way.- Patience
is the endurance needed to overcome the trials that come along with faith and works, to endeavor until an answer comes. It is not losing hope when things look their worst, but holding out for the hope of better things. Patience works against doubt.Faith takes patience and patience enables our works to be perfect. So we see that without all three combined together, we are lacking.
Matthew 17:20 "Then Jesus said, If you have faith even as small as a mustard seed, you can say to a mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing is impossible for you."
Matthew 21:21 "And Jesus said to them, Indeed if you have faith and do not doubt, you can not only do this which I have done to the fig tree, but even if you say to a mountain, cast yourself into the sea it will be done.
Mark 9:23 "Jesus said to him, If you believe, then any thing is possible for him that believes."
Romans 2:10 "Glory, honor, and peace comes to every man that does good works, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."
Romans 2:13 "For those that only are hearers of the law are not just before God, but the doers of the law will be justified."
Romans 3:31 "Do we then make the law void do to faith? God forbid, for we confirm the law."
Romans 5:3-4 "But we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations work patience. And patience works experience, and experience works hope."
Romans 10:16-17 "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias said, Lord who has believed our report? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we live by faith and not by sight."
2 Corinthians 6:4 "We must in all things be demonstrating by our actions that we are ministers of God, through great patience,"
Galatians 3:12 "Do you not know that they which have faith, are the offspring of Abraham?"
Titus 2:2 "That older men be temperate, serious, solid in faith, in charity, and in patience."
Hebrews 6:12 "Do not be lazy, but follow them who through faith and patience will inherit the promise."
Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the heart of those things hoped for, and the validation of those things we cannot see."
Hebrews 11:6 "Without our faith it is impossible to please God for he that comes to God must also believe that he exists, and that he will reward them that eagerly seek him."
James 1:3-4 "Know that the trying of your faith increases patience. And patience leads to a perfect work, in that you may be perfect and in need of nothing."
James 2:17 "Faith if it does not have works is ineffective by itself."
James 2:20 "And do you know, o conceited man, that your faith without works is useless?"
James 2:22 "Do you see how faith was brought together with works, and by works faith was made perfect?"
James 2:24 "You can see how, by works a man is justified, and not through faith alone."
James 2:26 "As a body without a spirit is dead, so is faith without works."