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Old 10-04-2008, 01:49 PM
Vendetta Ride
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Simons View Post
Faith is the action that revels what you believe and who you are, though it you can give prasie and glory to God.
With all due respect, that strikes me as a very odd, and inadequate, definition.

As has been noted, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Our actions, except when performed in private, are seen. And even the private ones - - - oh, me - - - are seen by God.

But faith cannot be defined in one verse alone. We mustn't forget the provenace of faith: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8,9). In verse 8, the antecedent of "and that" is faith: faith is the gift of God. It is certainly not my acts, or anything generated by my acts.

Of course, this God-given faith will result in actions: that's what the very next verse is about: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. But that's a far different thing than saying that faith is "the action that reveals what you believe and who you are."

Yes, my "good works," such as they are, might reveal what I believe in; or they might not. They might be misinterpreted. One of the great horrors of my life is the fear that unbelievers might say, "Oh, he did good things because he was a good man, or a nice guy." God forbid!

If you want to see the acts that reveal "who I am," look at my sins. I'm just a forgiven sinner.