Proof of belief...

Our Master, Jesus, was speaking with a group of Pharisees one day and a number of eavesdroppers put their faith in him. To these wet-behind-the-ears new believers, he spoke words of challenge and hope.

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, NIV)

When he says, “hold to my teaching,” please understand that Jesus isn’t talking about knowing what he teaches, he’s talking about living out what he commands. Jesus’ disciples, those who are really his followers, do what he says.

Isn’t that the point of the “house upon a rock” story our kids hear in Sunday School? “…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27, NIV)

Doing what Jesus teaches is proof of belief. James wrote more bluntly. He shouts it out loud: “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17, NIV)

By implication two things must be true. First, a child of God will do what Jesus teaches him to do. Second, anyone who does not do what Jesus teaches is not a child of God.

A quick point of clarification here. I am not saying that someone who slips up and sins from time to time is not a true believer. We all fail from time to time. We have our weaknesses. We aren’t perfect.

What I am saying is that a true believer will make obedience his regular habit. Sin will grieve him immediately. He will repent of it quickly. He will return to obedience without hesitation. He will find joy in the freedom that God gives to his children.

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