True faith is more than a verbalization and leads to appropriate actions, according to Pastor Chuck Smith. He challenges us in our series based on his book, Why Grace Changes Everything, to align our actions with our faith.

But What is Real Faith?

It is interesting that James—who writes an epistle to kick some Christians in the pants to get them off of their duffs and get them moving—also uses Abraham as a picture of faith. His particular concern is to show that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). James says that Abraham's faith led him to do certain things, and therefore God recognized his faith:

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:22-23, KJV).

In other words, true faith is more than a verbalization. True faith leads to appropriate actions. If I truly believe a certain thing, then my actions will be in keeping with what I believe. I may vehemently protest a belief in something, but if my actions are inconsistent with my professed belief, then my belief must be called into question.

For example, I may say that I believe there is going to be a great stock market crash on Monday and that money is no longer going to be any good. The banks are all going to be closed, the savings and loans are going to shut their doors, and you will not be able to get your money out. Yet if I don't go down to the bank immediately and withdraw all of my deposits, you could rightfully say that I really didn't believe what I had said.

Our actions must be in harmony with what we believe, or our belief can be called into question. Because Abraham truly believed that through Isaac his seed would be called, he was able to take his son up to the mountain, place him on the altar, and raise the knife. He was ready to bring the knife down because he believed that God had promised that through Isaac his seed would be called (Isaac didn't at that point have any children), and he was willing to obey God in offering Isaac as a sacrifice. He knew that if necessary, God would raise Isaac from the dead to fulfill His promise (Hebrews 11:19). That is how much he believed the promises of God.

How much do we believe the promises of God? Many years ago, I heard of a fellow who ran out of fuel in the middle of a blizzard and needed to ask a neighbor for some oil. The river that separated his house from his neighbor's was frozen over, so he got down on his hands and knees and reached out as far as he could on the ice, rapping with his knuckles to determine the ice's thickness. In this way he inched his way across the river, reaching out and tapping. Soon his knuckles were bloody. Just about the time he reached the far bank of the river, he heard a rumbling behind him—seeing a team of horses thundering across the river.

Some of us say, “I believe the promise of God,” yet we are knocking to see if His promise will hold us up. We inch out so carefully. “I know God said He was going to supply all of my needs,” we say, “but I'm not sure He will. That bill is due—and I am knocking to see if He is going to hold me. I sure hope His promise holds up!” In contrast, others venture right out on the promises of God. They have learned that God always keeps His promises, no matter how bad the circumstances appear. At one time they may have been ice-tappers, too—but time after time they discovered that God is faithful. Eventually their belief was strengthened, and they began to act on their belief. All of us act out our true beliefs; they are demonstrated in our life.

Abraham's belief was demonstrated by his actions. Had he sat there and argued with God, he would not have truly believed. Imagine if he had said, “God, I can't offer Isaac. What do You mean, Lord? He is my son. You have promised that through him the nations of the world will be blessed. Lord, I can't do that.” A lot of people think that merely saying something makes it a belief. But belief isn't merely what you say; belief takes action. It is demonstrated by what you do.

That is why James and Paul cite the same passage from the Old Testament, to prove that faith without works is dead. To say you believe something and yet fail to live out that belief proves that you don't have real faith. True faith demonstrates itself in actions, which are in harmony with the faith that is declared. Abraham believed God, and his belief worked itself out in actions that were in harmony with his belief. Therefore, God considered his faith as righteousness.

Abraham was not righteous because of what he did. He was righteous because of what he believed. What he did was in harmony with what he believed. God took the belief and imputed righteousness to Abraham for his belief.

In our next installment, Pastor Chuck explains that when we as believers spiritually stumble or fall, God will continue to strengthen us in our walks.

Follow the series “A Portrait of Grace” at Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

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