Faith and Works

Karma is a key concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Karma means action, works or deed. Good intent and good deeds contribute to good karma and future happiness, while bad intent and bad deeds contribute to bad karma and future suffering. Karma is a Sanskrit term that literally means ‘action' or ‘works'. In a way, karma is everything in a person's life!

On the other hand, the Bible understands the frailty of Man and how no man's intent or action can be ‘pure' in the way God, in His holiness, expects. We can do nothing- no works or karma- can ever make us holy and acceptable to God. That is why Christ became the ultimate sacrifice and paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. By accepting Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf, we are saved by grace. We can never be saved by our ‘impure’ works or karma.

But the Bible also talks about ‘works' or ‘karma' and says that faith without works is dead (James 2:20,26). Paul when he writes to Timothy, he draws our attention to the 5th commandment. Paul says that while the church can take care of those who have no one, those who have children and grandchildren must be provided for and taken care of by their own family members. He says in 1 Tim 5:8, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever". What this means is how we treat our family members (works) shows our faith in the world. The same argument goes for every other commandment and the teachings of Christ.

It is amazing to see the way the Bible defines the relationship between faith and works. ‘Works' have to be the outworking of our faith! How we live our life (works) has to show what we believe in. That is why, how we live or what we do matters to God. What we do (works) do not make us holy but what we do shows whom we believe to the people around us.

My friend, the question that is facing us today is whether our lifestyle, our associations, our friendships, our choices reflect Christ to the people around. If in some way they do not, let us repent and return to the Lord who is merciful to forgive us and enable us to overcome our sins for otherwise we will be considered "worse than an unbeliever."

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 25th July 2018 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 25th July 2018

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