What is the faith that will bring us salvation?
Is it enough to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
St John Chrysostom writes
He that believes in the Son has everlasting
life." Is it enough, then, to believe in the Son,' someone will say, 'in
order to have everlasting life?' By no means! Listen to Christ declare this
himself when he says, 'Not everyone who says to me, "Lord! Lord!"
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven'; and the blasphemy against the Spirit
is alone sufficient to cast him into hell. But why should I speak of a part of
our teaching? For if a man believe rightly in the Father and in the Son and in
the Holy Spirit, but does not live rightly, his faith will avail him nothing
toward salvation (Homilies on the Gospel of John 31:1[circa A.D. 391]).
Jesus himself tells us that mere belief is not
sufficient. The Lord Himself said,
“Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,'
shall enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 7:21). The Lord continues “Many will
say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast
out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will
declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!' (Matt.7:22-23).
Faith is not simply a belief but also a
life. You can test it by its fruits in your life... as the Lord said
“You will know them by their fruits….every
good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Therefore by their
fruits you will know them” (Matt. 7:16-20).
John the evangelist teaches us
“Now by this we know that we know Him”
how? “If we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and
does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him ” (1
John 2:3-4).
Faith
is tested through a life of obedience to God's commandments, and he who does
not have this obedience is not considered a believer of Truth, and can not
claim to know God.
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