Don't Be Anxious About Works
Thou believest that there is
one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt
thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:19, 20.
The man that is so anxious
and so dreadfully afraid that you will not let him have any works to do, and
that you are going to destroy all his works, will find works to do—if
Christ is in his heart. Brethren, don't be so anxious about works; find the
Lord Jesus Christ, and you will find work, more than you can do!
The difficulty is, when the
people get their minds on works, and works, and works, instead of upon Jesus
Christ in order to work, they pervert the whole thing. Satan does not care
how much a man professes justification by faith, and righteousness by faith,
so long as he keeps his mind on works.
In this definition of faith
we read: "When we speak of faith there is a distinction that should be
borne in mind. There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith.
The existence and power of God, the truth of His word, are facts that even
Satan and his hosts cannot at heart deny." Satan believes, but what
power does his believing bring to him to make him righteous, or to enable
him to do good works? None.
No, it is away off there,
simply as a theory, held off to look at, held as a theory, as a creed; and
so, a spirit even, can believe in the existence and power of God. He can
believe the truth of the Bible. He can believe that Jesus is the Messiah,
the Son of God, the Holy One of God, and be a devil.
A.T. Jones, 1893 General
Conference Bulletin, p. 298.3 |
