“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Faith, by which a man is justified, is the great theme of the Reformation. Faith, however, has become a word in the mouth of ignorant religionists and unethical charlatans that bears no resemblance to the true Biblical doctrine. One’s ears have become accustomed to hearing such terms as “seed faith” (by which you give the preacher some money, and God, in turn, makes you rich), “faith promise” (in which you pledge to give a specific amount to a religious cause, believing that God will provide), “turning your faith loose,” and “putting God on the spot” by an act of faith. Faith, in this modern age, is a commodity through which to work miracles, attain riches for yourself, heal the sick, and raise money. It has become a coveted accessory to Christianity because those who can discover the secret to obtaining and using it believe there are no limits to their potential or what they can achieve.
Consequently, we see a multitude of preachers and writers focusing on faith. Some of them are overzealous, woefully ignorant men. Others are nothing less than (forgive me) religious pimps! They are purveyors of religious nonsense, catering to the carnal lusts of unconverted men or childish Christians. The racket is enormously profitable; for while the audience is being preached to about faith, caught up in the throes of irrational excitement generated by the promise of great things ahead, the charlatan is preying on their eager audience. They give you an opportunity to “try your faith” by giving everything you have to them. By the time you find out it doesn’t work as promised, they are long gone with your money in their pockets.
All of this is wicked enough, but it is not the chief mischief. The worst thing about it is that it has befouled the waters around the very fountain of life. It has clouded the most important subject of the Bible: faith. It may be well argued that love is greater than faith and that Christ is the most important person of the Bible, but the sinner has access to neither except through faith (Romans 5:1-5). Faith is not an accessory to Christianity; it is its very essence. Four times the Bible declares the just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). We are not justified by a “profession of faith,” as modern evangelism asserts, but by a walk of faith. Faith in God is the whole life of the believer in Jesus Christ, not something he picks up on option. It is impossible to please God without it (Hebrews 11:6). All his devotions, prayers, sacrifices, tears, penances, and services mean nothing until a man believes God; and the value of his work can be measured in exact proportion to how much faith in God is involved in it. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29, LSB).
Do you desire to know what work it is that God wants you to do? Then this is it. Believe Him. Nothing else matters until you do―and when you do, you will find yourself in a work of faith. If the religious work in which you are engaged can function without the supernatural hand of God, then it requires no faith on your part and is worthless in God’s sight. The Christian life begins, continues, and culminates in faith. Nothing less pleases Him, and you are capable of nothing greater.
