Grace, Faith, and Works.

 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph.2:8-9).

This is, quite possibly, one of the most frequently quoted statements in the New Testament, after John 3:16. It deals with three essential aspects of the Christian Faith - grace; faith; and works. That faith (or belief, it's the same Greek word) in the substitutionary work of Jesus, the Christ, on the cross, is essential to salvation (see John 3:15-18, etc.). But faith does not stop there; it grows as a disciple of Jesus matures. Let us look at some of the characteristics of a growing faith in God.

One who has accepted God's gracious offer of forgiveness and salvation, one who, by faith, has found God trustworthy, comes to trust Him and His promises in other areas as well. Paul, who had been sorely persecuted for his faith, claimed, "I am not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed, and I am sure that He is able to guard until that Day what I have entrusted to Him." (II Timothy 1:12). God will faithfully fulfill His promises, and we can have faith that He will.

The great heroes of faith, some of whom are listed in Hebrews 11, all had one thing in common. They dared to trust God for great things, even impossible things, and moved out on that basis. Consider Joshua: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days." (Heb.11:30). Joshua was confronted with an impossible problem, but dared to trust God for a solution.

Then there is the mature faith which can "rest in YHWH, and wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 37:7) in the face of hardship and opposition. "For the wicked shall be cut off; but those who wait for YHWH shall possess the land." (v. 9).

But, as James reminds us: "What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (2:14-17). Some try to suggest that James and Paul were "at odds" with one another. Nothing could be further from the truth! Read on from those words at the head of this post! "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph.2:10). 

So, we are saved, by grace, through faith, for good works.

At every stage of our lives as disciples of Jesus, Father God allows us opportunities to exercise and expand our faith. Remember, "without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Hebrews 11:6). 

Unsung heroes

I'm never at ease with the word 'hero' being used to denote those who have not put their physical lives at risk in order to save the life of another.  However, the following, from the Evangelical Alliance, shows that there are those who are definitely going "the second mile" as they serve others, in Jesus' Name.

Unsung Christian heroes from across the UK were recognised for their community work at the Houses of Parliament yesterday (Nov.16th) as the 2011 Inspire Award winners were announced.  The winners were chosen from a list of more than 120 nominations submitted for this year's awards ceremony, which is organised by Inspire magazine and the Evangelical Alliance, and celebrated annually at a special ceremony hosted by Christian MPs.

This year's winners were chosen from three categories: an individual who is an inspirational role model, a church that is making a dynamic impact in its community, and a Christian-run project serving its local area.
Inspire magazine's editor Russ Bravo said of the awards: "It's been a privilege to find out about the way ordinary people are putting their faith in action in extraordinary ways. We're committed to telling these kinds of inspirational stories of Christians making life better for local communities, and the Inspire Awards is a great showcase for that."

Paul Slide, chief executive of CPO, said: "Hearing the practical difference Christians are making at grassroots level is a huge encouragement, and genuinely inspirational. These award winners are just the tip of the iceberg - we're looking forward to seeing a whole lot more local heroes in the future."  Steve Clifford, general director of the Evangelical Alliance, added: "It was truly humbling and inspiring to meet all the individuals, and representatives of churches and organisations doing amazing work in their local communities, to hear their stories and to celebrate with them. As Christians, we are passionate about community transformation. These fantastic, innovative projects being run up and down the UK are feeding the hungry, housing the homeless and restoring the broken. They are just some examples of how Christians are doing great things."

The winners are:
Inspiring individual
Christine Deponio, who runs Emmanuel House in Gateshead, a free service to those suffering with terminal cancer. Despite being blind and a full-time carer to her husband, who is also blind, she single-handedly fundraises for the project, which she set up in 2003. The project offers free lunches and physical therapy services such as massages, hair and nail care. Christine also owns three properties in the country that she lets cost-free to cancer patients and their families.
Christine said: "It was a huge surprise, it really was. I'm just doing what God wants me to do. They need someone to be here, to cry with, to laugh with, to share their hope with. That's where I come in."

Inspiring church
Lifeline Church, Essex, run Open Doors, a project for vulnerable and isolated women. The project was set up over 10 years ago and, by providing access to consistent friendship and a caring community, has given hope and freedom to countless women. Healthcare professionals working in the NHS mental health services regularly refer patients to Open Doors, recognising the vital role the project plays.
Sally Dixon of Open Doors said: "It's been a real surprise to get this award. We just feel like we are doing the work that God has given us to do. It's really exciting to see somebody who's been isolated come out of their isolation and find a place of belonging in the church family."

Inspiring project
Green Pastures, Southport, started when Pastor Pete Cunningham and other church members bought a pair of flats to house and care for two homeless couples. In 2005 the local authority recognised the significance of Green Pastures when it announced that there were no longer any long-term rough sleepers in Southport. Today Green Pastures houses more than 200 formerly homeless people.
Pete Cunningham said: "As well as caring for their physical needs we are sometimes given the privilege of leading our tenants to Jesus. In the last few years, 27 came to faith, 19 were baptised and 32 are attending local churches."

Heroes????

The headline merely stated what I have heard on news programmes over the last couple of days: "Barmy Ashes party for fans and cricket heroes".  Yes, in case there was anyone who was unaware of the fact, the English cricket team managed an apparently four-times-a-century victory over Australia, to win the Ashes trophy.

Actually, I have been confused about the whole series!  Five matches in total but, after having drawn one, lost one, and won two (i.e. a total of four) we were being informed that the Ashes had been retained!  What would have happened if Australia had won the fifth test?  My simple maths would have made that a draw!  Explanations, please, as comments!

But what is this silly business of referring to a bunch of cricket-bat-wielding sportsmen as 'heroes'?  How nonsensical can reporters and journalists be?  What is heroic about winning a sporting competition?  Commendable, perhaps; even inspiring (especially in events such as the Paralympics); but heroic?!!!

All that the use of such a word, in this context, does is to devalue it when it is applied to those who truly deserve it.  I think of those members of the Royal Logistic Corps who regularly risk - and, sadly, sometimes lose - their lives defusing Improvised Explosive Devices in Afghanistan; I think of firefighters, going into blazing buildings to rescue a fellow human being; I think of the volunteer members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, heading out to sea, in atrocious conditions, to save the lives of those in peril.

Those, and many others like them, are worthy of the description 'heroes' - not a bunch of cricketers who will doubtless now be the focus of advertising companies who will pay them handsomely to front the ad for some item of sportswear.

I think, too, of a hill called Calvary where, almost 2,000 years ago, on a Roman cross, a man voluntarily gave His life - not just for one or two, or even for a whole squad, but for all of mankind.  And He did so, not just to save their physical lives, but to give them the opportunity of eternal life - the very life of God, here and now.  He was, of course, Jesus of Nazareth, God the Son, the promised Messiah, Whose incarnation many of us celebrated just a couple of weeks ago.

Of course, just as I have the right to walk ahead of the bomb disposal expert (and get myself blown up); or to insist that I remain in the burning room when the firefighter arrives to rescue me; or go down with my boat in a raging storm when the lifeboat is alongside; so I have the right to reject the salvation that is offered through Jesus, the greatest Hero of them all.

Except that the latter is infinitely more foolish than the rest!