Grace->Faith->Works

The writer of Ephesians said in chapter 2 verses 8 and 9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Likewise, Paul writes to Timothy saying, 

"Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, and for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. " (2 Timothy 8-14) 

Paul was so moved by Timothy's sincere faith, which started in his grandmother, Lois, continued with his mother, Eunice, and now resides in him. He counts his joy as suffering and invites Timothy to share in the suffering which is our holy calling. It is not because of our works that we are saved, but it is how we know that we are saved through the good works that our faith produces. The book of James talks about what is it to be "doers of the Word" and not simply "hearers". In chapter 1, the author of James has this to say, 

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." (James 1: 22-25)

When we accept Christ into our lives as Lord(1)  and Savior(2), we are called to be servants, obedient to the one we have committed our lives to, and as evidence of the change within, the rebirth into a family of God, we find ourselves doing things that we never would have before. This is because we have died to our sin and given ourselves over to new life in the light, where the Holy Spirit is given to guide us and convict us. The author of James goes on in Chapter 2 to saying, 

"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 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 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 2:18-26)

So to end, we are saved by faith, through grace, and was are justified and claim righteousness in the eyes of our Lord and Savior through works. 

1. Merriam-Webster's Definition of Lord: one having power and authority over others.

2. Merriam-Wesbter's Definition of Savior: one who brings salvation (or) one that saves from danger or destruction.

Here's to 2009

"My girl America's crying when she's lying in her bed at night

I can see that she's screaming when she's dreaming for her freedom

My girl America's dying while she's trying just to stop this fight

Don't stop believing my girl America...

I know she knows there's more because there is a voice she can't ignore

'Cause it was founded in the foundations, from the day of her creation,

In God We Trust engraved on the treasures of her nation

And the void that the boys can't fill

With the tipping of the bottle or the popping of the pill

But still most of her friends don't care as they glare

Ready to drown down the funnel as they frown down the tunnel

They stumble and they tumble breaking down into rubble

My girl American, stop can't you see

It's not the circumstances that determine who you're going to be,

  but how you deal with these problems and pains that come your way

It's for you that i pray with hope for a brighter day

And so I say, your deliverance is coming"

Mat Kearney "Girl America"

As an Atheist, I Truly Believe Africa Needs God...

"Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem- the crushing passivity of the people's mindset.

... [T]raveling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I've been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I've been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God. 

Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGO's, government projects, and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa, Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good. 

I used to avoid this truth by applauding- as you can- the practical work of mission churches in Africa... But this doesn't fit the facts. Faith does more than support the missionary; it is also transferred to his flock. This is the effect that matters so immensely, and which I cannot help observing...

Those who want Africa to walk tall amid the 21st-century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted. 

And I'm afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the itch doctor, the mobile phone, and the machete." --Matthew Parris (prominent Atheist)

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat." 

-Mother Teresa

Romans 1:20 says, "For since the creation of the world, god's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." 

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, the embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." 

-Allen Cohen

"To dream anything that you want to dream. That's the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed." -Bernard Edmonds

James 2:17 says "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

James 2:36 says, "Faith apart from works is dead" 

"Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work." 

-Mother Teresa

"Not only is another world possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." -Arundhati Roy

Colossians 3:12 says "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take what you will from this compilation of quotes, but what I see if what I am called to; an uncomfortable life, a life serving my Lord and Savior. I am constantly amazed at the Lord for opening my eyes to the blessings He has set before me. He has blessed me with a job, albeit part-time, I have one, a job which pays my bills and rent. I am consistently blessed by the friends that have stood by me as I've transitioned to adult life (and I'm not completely sure I'm finished). I am constantly blown away by the humbleness I see in the people placed in my life and in my church. How could I ask for more than the shelter I have over my head, the friends I am blessed with, the church I am blessed with and the uncomfortability I am blessed with. 

I don't say this often, but Revival come to America and revival come to the world, that we may ALL know the blessings that the Lord has for us in our lives, and that we may live in fullness because the joy of the Lord is our strength.