is your faith authentic?

When a man has faith in something he will voice what he believes. Sometimes a man will say he believes in something but in reality he is just floating idle words. There are men who believe we are destroying our planet with our lifestyle. They give great speeches about their concern for mother earth and then they fly all over the world in their private jets. I question their commitment to saving the planet. I question any need to save a planet God created.

James 2:17 So faith, if it has no works (acts, deeds) is dead (no life) being by itself.

Positive confessions are very good and necessary but if they are only words they will profit nothing. When faith is taught to a disciple of Christ, the works of faith must also be presented. A confession of faith always sounds good but will it ever come to pass? When do the works of faith begin? Our works should begin the day we ask Jesus into our lives but they don't always start that day. Sinning is a habit and all sinners need grace to change their lifestyle. We need to be patient, with a new convert because they are in transition. They are turning from death to life. God has an abundance of mercy for all men who are trying their best to emulate Him.

Titus 1:16 They confess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and unto every good work a reject.

Not everyone who calls Jesus Lord is authentic, they could be just reading words off of a text. They call Jesus Lord but in works, deeds and acts they deny, contradict and disown Him. All men produce fruit and so by their fruit they are known, not by who they claim to be! A man can fake his claim to have faith but who will pay for his grievous error? Him.

James 2:14 My brethren, though a man say he has faith, and not works? Can faith save him?

The Bible is explicit when it comes to faith, there must be a corresponding action or it will just be words without meaning. I have known a lot of people who claimed to be Christian, but they acted more like devils. This does not bode well for them, but I am not their judge. What I take from all of this is one thing for sure, if I confess Jesus as my Savior and Lord, I had better act like it. There are some funny things in the Bible, but for sure and certain God did not joke around. Eternity is nothing to scoff at as many enjoy doing. It's how some deal with the pressure of not acknowledging God.

1 Peter 4:18 If the righteous scarcely (hardly, with much work) be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Some translations say if the righteous are barely saved! Perhaps some of the righteous are not acting righteous. Nevertheless, the focus of this Scripture is not on the marginal believer, it's on the sinner. There is no hope whatsoever for the sinner, but the righteous has many ways to maintain their righteousness. A believer can totally reject God and when they come to themselves and repent, God will welcome them into His mercy. Peter denied Jesus three times and repented. After Jesus rose from the dead He ordained Peter to feed His sheep. The church has a lot of prodigals, people left God believing they can make it on their own. The prodigal in the Bible realized he made a major mistake and he went back to his father. I pray above all things that all the prodigals return to their Heavenly Father.