Faith vs. Belief

“For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” 2 Corinthians 4:20

BELIEF is only a passive form of awareness, like having the information and agreeing with it. People who ONLY “believe” DO NOT TAKE ACTION to prove their belief. They are lukewarm, wishful thinkers. Most ‘adjusted’ that story to fit their passiveness, with false phrases like, “Jesus died for me, I’m good,” and they go on sinning. Whoever keeps sinning is NOT covered with the Blood of Christ. 

James 2:19 “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” 

Mark 10:20–22

“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “THERE IS STILL ONE THING YOU HAVEN’T DONE,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, FOLLOW ME.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” 

• this man couldn’t prove his proclaimed faith by action – obeying what Christ commanded him

FAITH is the ACTIONS people take based on what they believe. They DO what God requires – REPENT AND FOLLOW HIM because they LOVE AND TRUST HIM. He gives them eternal life. Faith is based on the fulfillment of the most important commandment:

Mark 12:30 “And you MUST LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”

People do anything for the one they truly love. Love is the most powerful force that exists. Therefore, when a person truly loves God, giving up their possessions would not be an issue. It’s only an issue when a person loves their possessions instead. This proves they have no love for God. By breaking this commandment, they break all the other commandments.

1 John 2:15-17

“DO NOT LOVE THIS WORLD NOR THE THINGS IT OFFERS YOU, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. THESE ARE NOT FROM THE FATHER, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who DOES what pleases God will live forever.” 

James 1:22–25

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. YOU MUST DO WHAT IT SAYS. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and IF YOU DO WHAT IT SAYS and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” 

John 14:23–24 “Jesus replied, “ALL WHO LOVE ME WILL DO WHAT I SAY. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. ANYONE WHO DOESN’T LOVE ME WILL NOT OBEY ME. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.” 

1 Samuel 2:9 “HE WILL PROTECT HIS FAITHFUL ONES, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone.” 

FAITH = BELIEF + Obedience

FAITH ≠ BELIEF + Disobedience

Romans 3:31

“Well then, if we emphasize FAITH, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, ONLY WHEN WE HAVE FAITH DO WE TRULY FULFILL THE LAW.”

James 2:14-18

FAITH WITHOUT GOOD DEEDS IS DEAD 

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

So you see, FAITH BY ITSELF ISN’T ENOUGH. UNLESS IT PRODUCES GOOD DEEDS, IT IS DEAD AND USELESS. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “HOW CAN YOU SHOW ME YOUR FAITH IF YOU DON’T HAVE GOOD DEEDS? I WILL SHOW YOU MY FAITH BY MY GOOD DEEDS.”

Hebrews 11

GREAT EXAMPLES OF FAITH

“FAITH SHOWS THE REALITY OF WHAT WE HOPE FOR; IT IS THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS WE CANNOT SEE. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

It was BY FAITH that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

It was BY FAITH that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

It was BY FAITH that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. BY HIS FAITH NOAH CONDEMNED THE REST OF THE WORLD, and he received the righteousness that comes BY FAITH.

It was BY FAITH that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there BY FAITH—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

It was BY FAITH that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

It was BY FAITH that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

It was BY FAITH that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

It was BY FAITH that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

It was BY FAITH that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

It was BY FAITH that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

It was BY FAITH that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. HE CHOSE to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was BETTER TO SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was BY FAITH that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. It was BY FAITH that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

It was BY FAITH that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

It was BY FAITH that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

It was BY FAITH that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of THE FAITH of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. BY FAITH these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. THEY PLACED THEIR HOPE IN A BETTER LIFE AFTER THE RESURRECTION. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

All these people earned a good reputation BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH, yet none of them received all that God had promised. FOR GOD HAD SOMETHING BETTER IN MIND FOR US, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT REACH PERFECTION WITHOUT US.”

All Glory and Honor to Our God and Savior Jesus Christ! ❤️